The Vernon Art Gallery Society is one of a dozen local groups getting community gaming grants (Vernon Matters file photo)

By Liam Verster

Arts & Culture Grants

Vernon and Okanagan groups secure gaming grants

Dec 8, 2022 | 12:00 PM

Okanagan and area arts and cultural organizations are benefiting from a round of provincial grants.

There are 12 North Okanagan groups benefiting from community gaming grants that are aimed at supporting people participating in a range of arts and culture activities, such as theatre and dance, as well as enhancing access to museums and cultural centres.

The local organizations are:

• O’Keefe Ranch and Interior Heritage Society – $35,000
• Arts Council of the North Okanagan – $15,000
• Caetani Cultural Centre Society – $13,500
• Greater Vernon Museum and Archives Society – $28,500
• Okanagan Military Tattoo Society $25,000
• Powerhouse Theatrical Society – $25,000
• Sadok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Vernon – $6,000
• Vernon Concert Band Society – $2,000
• Vernon Public Art Gallery Society – $91,000
• Vernon Winter Carnival Society – $35,000
• Caravan Farm Theatre Society (Armstrong) – $27,500
• Interior Provincial Exhibition Association (Armstrong) – $100,000

“We are so grateful to have many organizations in our community that are dedicated to improving the lives of others in our community through sports, arts and cultural programming, which helps people to explore their talent and improves their mental and social well-being,” Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee, said.

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“With these grants, we are supporting this important work and helping organizations to make our community a bright, vibrant and positive place to live. This funding will help people in the region to participate in a variety of activities, like theatre, music, sports, cultural programming and access to these services.”

The local grants totalling $358,500 are part of a $3-million investment in support of 117 non-profit organizations across the province.

There were also dozens of grants issued to other Okanagan and surrounding area organizations through this funding stream.

• Lake Country
  • Kelowna Pipe Band Society – $4,600
  • Lake Country Art Gallery Society – $25,500
• Kelowna
  • Arts Council of the Central Okanagan – $20,800
  • Central Okanagan Heritage Society – $19,500
  • Centre Culturel Francophone De L’Okanagan – $40,000
  • Friends of Fintry Provincial Park – $8,500
  • Kelowna Art Gallery Association – $70,000
  • Kelowna Community Music School Society – $38,000
  • Kelowna Museums Society – $72,000
  • Kelowna Visual and Performing Arts Centre Society – $39,800
  • Kiwanis Music Festival Society of Kelowna – $18,000
  • New Vintage Theatre Society – $8,000
  • Okanagan Artists Alternative Association – $35,000
  • Okanagan Symphony Society – $164,500
  • Opera Kelowna Society – $22,900
  • Inspired World Cafe Society – $5,500
  • Kelowna Ballet Society – $46,800
  • Kelowna Liedertafel Society – $8,500
  • Dolyna Ukranian Cultural Society – $6,000
  • Kelowna City Concert Band Society – $8,000
  • Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking – $2,500
• West Kelowna
  • Interior Highland Dancing Association of B.C. – $6,000
• Salmon Arm
  • Salmon Arm Folk Music Society – $45,000
  • Salmon Arm Museum and Heritage Association – $39,500
  • Shuswap Association of Writers – $4,000
  • Shuswap District Arts Council – $35,500
  • The Salmon Arm and Shuswap Lake Agricultural Association – $27,250
• Penticton
  • Penticton and District Community Arts Council – $36,500
  • Penticton Academy of Music Society – $20,000
  • Penticton Art Gallery Society – $85,500
  • Penticton Peach Festival Society – $15,000
  • Penticton Scottish Festival Society – $6,000
  • S.S. Sicamous Marine Heritage Society – $15,000
  • The Okanagan School of the Arts – $17,000
• Peachland
  • Peachland Community Arts Council – $8,200
• Summerland
  • Ryga Festival Society – $17,200
  • Summerland Action Festival Association – $20,000
  • Summerland Community Arts Council – $24,500
  • Summerland Museum and Archives Society – $7,500
• Kamloops
  • Association Francophone de Kamloops – $32,000
  • Sum’ya Ukranian Society – $3,000
  • Chamber Musicians of Kamloops – $3,000
  • Desert Sounds A Cappella Plus Society of Sweet Adelines International – $5,000
  • Kamloops Art Gallery – $84,000
  • Kamloops Art Council – $24,500
  • Kamloops Exhibition Association – $41,000
  • Kamloops Film Society – $25,000
  • Kamloops Music Collective Society – $42,500
  • Kamloops Symphony Society – $61,500
  • Project X Theatre Productions Society – $45,000
  • The Laughing Stock Theatre Society of British Columbia – $10,000
  • Vivace Chorale Society – $800
  • Western Canada Theatre Company Society – $88,500
• Revelstoke
  • B.C. Interior Forestry Museum Society – $23,500
  • Flying Arrow Productions Society – $10,000
  • Revelstoke Arts Council – $25,000
  • Revelstoke Museum and Archives Society – $6,700

“People’s lives are enhanced by the sports, arts and cultural programming that not-for-profit organizations offer throughout British Columbia,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs.

“Healthy, vibrant communities are key to a healthy, vibrant province and these grants are one way our government is helping people in communities thrive.”