Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Randene Neill has indicated that provincial funding for local artists, arts organizations and events is helping to make communities on the Sunshine Coast more vibrant and connected.
“Powell River-Sunshine Coast is known around the world for its vibrant, talented arts community," stated Neill, in a media release. “By providing funding for the arts, we are creating opportunities for visitors and residents alike to come together, whether at a gallery, a concert, a book launch or a musical, and enjoy what makes their community great.”
A total of 25 organizations in Neill’s constituency are receiving more than $700,000 for the 2024/2025 intake.
PRISMA is receiving a total of $100,000 through four different funding streams. qathet Arts Council was granted $69,000 though four funding streams. Artist Annie Robinson was allocated a $2,850 grant.
qathet Film Society’s grant total came to $15,000. Townsite Jazz Festival is the recipient of $25,000, and Tla’amin Nation is receiving a $30,000 grant.
Across BC, more than $37 million in grant funding was distributed to 1,303 arts organizations, events, and individual artists through the BC Arts Council (BCAC).
According to the release, the BCAC is an agency of the provincial government that nurtures and supports arts and cultural activity in communities throughout BC, and administers provincial funding to community arts in rural and urban centres, to individual artists, professional performing arts companies, Indigenous artists and cultural organizations, art galleries, local museums and music festivals, supporting a range of activities, while engaging with artists and communities to inform policies and programs.
The provincial government has increased the BCAC budget from $24 million in 2016/2017 to more than $40 million in 2025/2026.
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