Provincial funding to assist local artists and art organization in the Fraser Valley

For Immediate Release

April 1, 2021 

NDP MLA Kelli Paddon says strengthened recovery funding will help support local artists and organizations in Agassiz, Harrison and Kent

AGASSIZ – New Democrat MLA Kelli Paddon says strengthened support from the BC NDP government will help local artists and art organizations in Agassiz and Harrison recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

“Arts and culture organizations are the heartbeat of our communities. It’s great to know this funding will give Seabird Island Band, the Harrison Festival Society, and the Kent-Harrison Arts Council a boost so that they can continue to enrich our lives through arts and culture programming,” said Paddon, MLA for Chilliwack-Kent.

Through Resiliency Supplement Funding Grants, the Harrison Festival Society and Kent-Harrison Arts Council will receive $16,500 each. Meanwhile, Seabird Island Band is receiving a $30,000 Arts Impact Grant.

This funding to local artists and organizations comes from more than $12.4 million in one-time funding to the BC Arts Council. The BC Arts Council will distribute $7.9 million in resilience supplements to over 300 organizations currently receiving operating assistance.  These grants recognize the impact the pandemic has had on sector organizations. Grants will range from $15,000 to $60,000. Additionally, BC Arts Council will direct $4.5 million to top up the Arts Impact Grant program.  Arts Impact Grants enables applicants to prioritize what activity or activities will provide the greatest and most meaningful impact to their organization, practice and/or community.

This grant program signals a new focus on flexibility, equity, inclusion and diversity in how the BC Arts Council supports arts and culture organizations. Funding is available to organizations and collectives with an arts and culture mandate and/or offering dedicated arts and culture programming, including non-profit organizations and Indigenous governments and community organizations.

Learn More:

To learn more about these grants and see the list of recipients, visit: link to govt NR

More recovery support coming for B.C.’s art, culture sector | BC Gov News