The B.C. Arts Council has approved three grants for Kamloops organizations, which together total $166,000.
Western Canada Theatre Company will receive $125,000, Project X Theatre Productions Society $12,500, and Kamloops Symphony Society $28,500, according to a news release from the provincial government.
“This is the highest level of support we’ve ever received,” said Lori Marchand, general manager of Western Canada Theatre (WCT).
Last year, WCT received $106,000 from the Arts Council for operating costs.
The Council has provided operating funds to WCT ever since it started giving out such grants, said Marchand.
The organization was counting on the money, and Marchand said WCT felt its application was strong and had budgeted accordingly. Other years, she said, they’ve had to do some quick thinking and adjusting.
Marchand said the increase in funding this year was expected in part because of the demise of the Vancouver Playhouse, a flagship institution of live theatre in the province, which had to close its doors in March.
“When a company like that goes down, other companies have to step up and pick up the burden,” said Marchand. “And Western Canada Theatre is one of the three companies in the province that (has the infrastructure to do that).”
Theatre B.C. is also set to get a grant of $70,800, and although the organization has its head office in Kamloops, the grant funding, which hasn’t changed much over the years, goes toward operating expenses all over the province, said Theatre B.C.’s executive director Vance Schneider.
The B.C. government is providing $16.8 million over the 2012-13 fiscal year to the B.C. Arts Council to support arts and culture in B.C.
Artists and cultural organizations can apply for grants.
The Arts Council is a publicly-funded independent agency of the B.C. government. It evaluates funding applications through an independent peer review process with input from the B.C. arts community.
It was established in 1995 by the B.C. government, which appoints the 15-member board.
Last year 1,027 grants were given to applicants from more than 200 B.C. communities.
Grants are given to community arts councils, art galleries, museums, orchestras, film societies, theatres and publishing companies.
Marchand said other organizations in Kamloops such as the art gallery receive funding, but it is released at other times of the year.
For more information or to apply for a grant, visit the B.C. Arts Council’s website at: http://www.bcartscouncil.ca.
