Arts/Culture investments in Williams Lake

Courtesy of the BC Government Caucus:

Three arts and culture organizations serving the community of Williams Lake have been awarded $28,517 in BC Arts Council grants, announced Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett and Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes today.

The Denisiqi Services Society will be receiving $17,000 in funding contributing to the development of the Tsilhqot’in Fiddle Project. In addition, the Central Interior Regional Arts Council will receive $6,000 and Community Arts Council of Williams Lake will receive $5,517 to fund their organizational operations this year.

“Arts and culture in British Columbia has a tremendous impact in communities large and small, in every region of our province,” said Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes. “Residents of the Cariboo and Williams Lake benefit from having a strong, healthy and thriving arts scene right here in our region.”

“I am pleased to see our government support these arts and cultural organizations continue to do great work in Williams Lake,” said Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett. “There is a diverse and vibrant arts and cultural scene in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, and this funding will certainly help this sector continue to grow and prosper.”

As B.C.’s lead agency for arts funding and development, the B.C. Arts Council enlists the expertise of British Columbia’s artists to evaluate grant applications through a peer review process independent of government.

Established in 1995, the B.C. Arts Council consults with the arts and culture community to develop policies, programs and strategic priorities for the sector. Last year, the Council approved more than 1,000 grants in over 200 communities in every region of the province.

The provincial government is providing $24 million to the B.C. Arts Council this year, the highest funding level in the Council’s history. Overall, it is investing $60 million towards B.C.’s artists, arts organizations and cultural institutions during the 2014-15 fiscal year.

For more information about the B.C. Arts Council, including information on how to apply for grants, visit BCArtsCouncil.ca