The provincial government has announced it is distributing more than $9.8 million in grants to arts groups across B.C., through the BC Arts Council.
In all, the province says 394 grants are to be handed out in more than 50 communities.
B.C. MInister of Labour Harry Bains announced the funding last week at the Royal Academy of Bhangra in Surrey, where a bhangra performance was performed to celebrate.
“As MLA for Surrey-Newton, I’ve seen first-hand how people in Surrey are working through the arts to build bridges and bring the communities together,” he said, announcing that the bhangra studio will receive $15,000 as part of the funding announced.
“These grants are vital to support arts and cultural organizations and partners in more than 200 communities all across the province,” Bains said.
Click here for the full list of recipients across B.C.
Director of the Royal Academy of Bhangra Society, Hardeep Singh Sahota, said they are “delighted to receive provincial support for our upcoming event Folk Lok Live: Borderless.”
Jane Brindley, vice-chair of the BC Arts Council, said announcing the funding at the academy “seems particularly significant.”
Not only does it demonstrate the very vibrant diversity of arts practice taking place across B.C., it also highlights how the arts can build bridges between communities.”
Bains said Sahota was part of a group of people in 2012 who has “a vision to create a professional bhangra organization,” adding that “where they are today is commendable.”
According to a release, the BC Arts Council’s new strategic plan aims to “enhance arts and cultural development throughout the province is to increase equity, diversity and access.”
“The result is more first-time recipients, such as the Royal Academy of Bhangra Society, which offers bhangra classes for all ages, genders and backgrounds, as well as creating collaborative, inclusive events that build cultural bridges in the community,” the release notes.
Susan Jackson, chair of the BC Arts Council, said the organization’s “renewed strategic vision focuses on strengthening arts and culture funding opportunities for all the people of B.C.”
“Not only are we supporting more artists and organizations than ever before, we’re focused on making sure groups not previously funded have access to our grants,” she added.
Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said B.C.’s “rich cultural diversity gives people an opportunity to experience artistic traditions from all around the world and to promote inclusion and understanding in our communities.”
Beare added that one of the province’s goals in increasing BC Arts Council funding is “to record levels is to provide a platform for expression for artists and arts and culture organizations that were previously under-served, in order to showcase the variety of creative perspectives and voices of B.C. artists.”
The BC Arts Council, an agency of the provincial government, allocates grant funding for arts and culture throughout the province. BC Arts Council grants are administered through a peer- review adjudication process. Grant recipients include artists and arts organizations, including Indigenous groups, scholarship students and community arts councils.
editor@mondaymag.com
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