As part of British Columbia’s new Creative Economy Strategy, 11 arts organizations across the province are receiving up to $50,000 each as part of the 2015-2016 Collaborative Spaces pilot project. The funding will go toward renovating spaces or purchasing specialized equipment, resulting in stronger partnerships, increased innovation and a more robust creative economy.
The Collaborative Spaces pilot project builds on B.C.’s commitment to promote the value of creativity and encourage cooperation, innovation, productivity and entrepreneurship.
“Collaborative arts spaces enrich B.C.’s creative landscape by increasing resources for artists, improving access for audiences, and supporting the creative people who drive the BC Jobs Plan,” said Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Peter Fassbender, in a press release. “These facilities are a key resource for our province’s growing creative economy, and we are proud to target $1.5 million over three years toward collaborative arts spaces through the Creative Economy Strategy. Congratulations to all recipients.”
Among the recipients of funding under the pilot project are the Presentation House Theatre Society in North Vancouver, which is receiving $20,000 for new performance and creative space; the En’owkin Centre in Penticton, which is receiving $27,500 to upgrade space and equipment; and the Wachiay Friendship Centre in Courtenay, which is receiving $50,000 to create a new digital media facility, generate new business opportunities for local artists and expand youth engagement.
The aim of these investments is to help promote artistic creation, increase shared resources and facilitate collaboration for artists in British Columbia. To help build the creative sector, the Creative Economy Strategy plans to contribute $1.5 million over three years toward collaborative arts spaces.
Details on the 2016-2017 Collaborative Spaces project will be released in June 2016, including an open call for applications to qualifying not-for-profit arts and culture groups across the province.
