The City of Victoria is awarding nearly $400,000 in grants to several non-profit arts and culture organizations.
The grants include funding to improve performance and rehearsal spaces, and efforts to make venues more accessible to artists and audiences.
Seventeen organizations were approved for funding, with the largest grants of $50,000 each going to Open Space gallery, Société Francophone de Victoria and White Eagle Polish Hall.
Open Space and the Polish Hall will use the funds to install elevators, while the Société Francophone de Victoria will use its grant for an outdoor elevator and other accessibility improvements.
In total, 20 organizations applied for city grants, with the Victoria Events Centre, the Khalsa Diwan Society and the African-Caribbean Cultural Society being rejected in their applications.
“The arts and culture sector was hit hard by the pandemic, and high market rents continue to make it challenging for these groups to thrive,” Mayor Lisa Helps said in a statement Tuesday.
Other grants include awards for new LED lighting in the Baumann Center and Alix Golden Hall, and improvements to the stage and shared offices at Theater Skam’s performing arts center at 846 Broughton Street.
The city says the arts and culture sector contributes $435.8 million a year to the local economy and employs 5,588 people.
A full list of grant recipients of $395,879 is available here.
