Project grants support new and established arts organizations as they produce one-time projects, a short series of events, or extended programming
VICTORIA – This year, the Capital Regional District (CRD) Arts & Culture Support Service (Arts Service) has awarded 101 grants totalling $2,738,370 to support local not-for-profit arts programming. Both the number of grants awarded and the funding total were record highs. 15 grants were awarded to first-time recipients, also a record number.
“We anticipate an outstanding year of arts programming in the region,” said Arts Commission Chair Marianne Alto. “The proposals that were put forward this year were impressively varied, and I am thrilled that the Arts Commission is able to support so many unique initiatives that strengthen the region’s arts sector.”
The Arts Service delivers funding via five granting programs: Equity, IDEA, Incubator, Project and Operating grants. Equity grants aim to remove barriers to access for marginalized groups, broadening the reach of funding to support a greater diversity of artistic expression. One of this year’s Equity grant recipients is the BC Black History Awareness Society, who will be producing Vibes & Verses: a showcase of Black artists, writers, actors, poets, spoken word performers, storytellers, dancers, and musicians.
IDEA (Innovate, Develop, Experiment, Access) grants fund organizations without an arts mandate to present arts projects and events. Edward Milne Community School will utilize its IDEA grant to produce the Sooke Arts & Culture Podcast, a student-created weekly podcast highlighting Sooke arts and culture events and featuring interviews with local artists and organizers.
Project grants support new and established arts organizations as they produce one-time projects, a short series of events, or extended programming. With its Project grant, the Victoria Poetry Project will present its 20th consecutive season of Tongues of Fire Community Stage events and the 16th annual Victorious Voices Festival, a youth-centred spoken word festival.
Incubator grants focus on the development of emerging arts organizations. This summer, TimeTheft Theatre will use its Incubator grant to produce Endgame, a one-act tragic comedy by Samuel Beckett.
Operating grants enable long-term planning through stable funding for established arts organizations and can be used both for programming and administrative expenses. New operating grant recipient this year, Wonderheads, is a theatre company specializing in visual storytelling. Their work is performed wordlessly, in full-face mask. Over the past fourteen years, they have developed five original productions which have toured to festivals and performing arts centres throughout Canada and the United States.
View the full list of recipients
Source: CRD
