Victoria, BC– The Capital Regional District (CRD) Arts Commission has approved $167,320 in funding for 37 local not-for-profit arts organizations through the Arts & Culture Support Service.

“Supporting the arts remains a priority,” said CRD Arts Commission Chair Jeremy Loveday. “The lives of people who work in the arts and culture sector are being greatly impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the data from our recent Progress Report we know that our community is better off when we invest in these organizations.”

Many grantees will offer programming that can be enjoyed at a distance this summer. For example, the Esquimalt Farmers Market will bring live music to Bullen Park, the Metchosin Arts and Cultural Association is planning a community mural and the Yellowhouse Art Centre on Galiano Island is organizing multiple ‘Art at Home’ classes, concerts and exhibits available to everyone in the region. This is in addition to an extensive list of arts and culture initiatives offered at a distance by CRD grantees.

The grants were awarded through four funding programs; Equity, IDEA, Incubator and Project, Series & Extended Programming grants.

• View a list and amounts of Equity, Incubator and IDEA grant recipients (PDF)
• View a list and amounts of Project, Series and Extended Programming grant recipients (PDF)
• View a list of arts that can be explored at a distance funded by the CRD (PDF)
• View the 2019 Arts & Culture Progress Report (PDF)

The CRD Arts & Culture Support Service is provided by Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, View Royal, Highlands, Metchosin, Sooke and Southern Gulf Islands. For more information, visit www.crd.bc.ca/arts.

Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Jeremy Loveday, Chair
CRD Arts Commission
Tel. 250.634.2327
jloveday@crd.bc.ca

James Lam, Manager
CRD Arts & Culture
Tel. 250.360.3205
jlam@crd.bc.ca