Provincial program to support arts and culture

Aug 23, 2022 | 7:00 AM

A new funding stream will support equity-deserving arts and cultural organizations.

The B.C. Arts Council (BCAC) will launch its Accelerate Program on September 21.

The two-year pilot program will offer flexible funding up to $30,000 over two years to eligible equity-deserving arts and cultural organizations and collectives.

The funds could be used to cover costs associated with artistic growth, development, production or exhibition, and organizational capacity-building, expansion and operations.

“The Accelerate Program is responding to a call to action to set a new direction that will open doors for artists and cultural organizations from all walks of life and all parts of our province,” said Melanie Mark, Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.

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“It’s a provincial priority to expand funding opportunities for organizations and collectives that have faced systemic barriers to accessing BC Arts Council funds in the past. This is part of the essential work we are doing to strengthen our commitment to reconciliation and equity for public arts funding in British Columbia.”

The BCAC will prioritize artists and organizations from Indigenous communities, people of colour, deaf and disability art groups, and communities outside the capital region and Greater Vancouver to build a more diverse and equitable funding structure.

“The introduction of the Accelerate Program responds directly to the feedback from the sector that emphasized more needed to be done to support Calls to Action for Reconciliation and to enhance equity, diversity and inclusion within B.C.’s art community,” said Bob D’Eith, Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film.

“This program is one of many actions the BC Arts Council will be taking in partnership with our government to ensure B.C.’s arts and culture sectors have the funding they need to grow and develop.”

Applications for the Accelerate Program’s first year will open on September 21, 2022. Submissions are due no later than November 15.

by Liam Verster

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