Two Prince George organizations are getting a piece of the B.C. Arts Council grant funding pie.
The Prince George Symphony Orchestra Society (PGSO) and Theatre North West Society (TNW) are among the hundreds of artists and arts and culture organizations to receive money from the last round of B.C. Arts Council grant funding, according to a press release.
The PGSO will receive $3,080, and TNW will receive $13,300 in operating assistance funds. The funds are meant to help advance artistic development and further strengthen the 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 in a provincial release. "Support for arts and culture plays a key role in the vitality of B.C.'s creative economy."
This funding of almost $4 million in grants is more than $1 million over last year's amount, after the government's increased financial support to the B.C. Arts Council, according to the release. The increase means 66 one-time supplemental grants, totalling $876,000, to not-for-profit organizations around the province.
B.C. Arts Council grants are awarded through a peer-assessment process that draws upon the expertise of British Columbia's arts and culture community.
"We are pleased to announce these latest grants," said Susan Jackson, B.C. Arts Council chair in the press release. "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 B.C. Arts Council is the provincial government's lead agency for arts funding and development. In the 2018 budget, the Province increased its financial support of the B.C. Arts Council by $15 million over the next three years. With this increase, the B.C. Arts Council will award a total of $29 million in 201–19 to help artists and cultural organizations in more than 200 communities throughout the province.
