Hundreds of artists and arts and culture organizations are benefiting from the latest round of BC Arts Council grant funding.

These funds will help advance artistic development and further strengthen a dynamic creative workforce throughout the province.

“I’m excited by the diversity and range of recipients all over B.C. that are benefiting from these grants,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “Support for arts and culture plays a key role in the vitality of B.C.’s creative economy. We are helping to grow the full potential of B.C.’s arts and culture community by enhancing opportunities for British Columbians to succeed in their creative careers.”

This funding of almost $4 million in grants is more than $1 million over last year’s amount, thanks to the government’s increased support to the BC Arts Council. The increase provided an opportunity to deliver 66 one-time supplemental grants, totalling $876,000, to not-for-profit organizations around the province.

BC Arts Council grants are awarded through a peer-assessment process that draws upon the expertise of British Columbia’s arts and culture community. This latest round of funding focuses on four areas and includes:

• $1.3 million for project assistance and early career development;
• $876,000 for operating assistance for not-for-profit organizations;
• $550,000 for media arts;
• $450,000 for assistance and strategic opportunities; and
• $807,000 for scholarships.

“We are pleased to announce these latest grants,” said Susan Jackson, BC Arts Council chair. “These grants are an important part in supporting the development of B.C.’s creative communities to ensure our vibrant arts and culture sector stays strong.”

The BC Arts Council is the provincial government’s lead agency for arts funding and development. In Budget 2018, the Province increased its support of the BC Arts Council by $15 million over the next three years. With this increase, the BC Arts Council will award a total of $29 million in 2018-19 to help artists and cultural organizations succeed in more than 200 communities throughout the province.

Quick Facts:

• The United Nations has identified the creative economy as one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors for income generation, job creation and export earnings.
• In Budget 2018, the Province increased its support of the BC Arts Council by $15 million over the next three years. With this increase the BC Arts Council will award a total of $29 million in 2018-19.
• B.C. consistently has the third-largest culture GDP and employment in the country, behind only Ontario and Quebec.
• Since 2010, B.C. has the highest growth in cultural-sector jobs as compared to other provinces, and that growth is accelerating at a higher rate than all of Canada.