Two Tri-City cultural institutions are getting a financial shot in the arm, thanks to grants from Metro Vancouver.
Grants of $5,000 have been awarded to Coquitlam Heritage Society, which operates the Mackin House Museum and heritage programs, and to the Theatrix Theatre Society, which is celebrating 30 years of children’s theatre programming in the Tri-Cities.
Both are long-standing organizations with a history of cutural and community engagement.
The funds are being awarded as part of a major effort to support regional cultural organizations that have taken a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year Metro Vancouver is awarding $300,000 in regional culture project grants to 54 local arts and culture organizations — the highest single-year grant award in the program’s history.
Through its annual grant program, Metro Vancouver helps organizations research and produce new cultural programs, reach new audiences and cover project staffing and administrative needs, with grants of up to $10,000 per project.
This year Metro Vancouver used a portion of its provincial Safe Restart funding to make a one-time increase to this year’s grant fund, doubling it to $300,000.
“We saw record-setting demand for cultural grants in 2021, both in terms of the number of applications and how much funding was being requested,” said Sav Dhaliwal, chair of the Metro Vancouver board of directors.
“Being able to award an additional $150,000 will help promote employment within creative sectors and enhance exposure to some of the most vibrant and artistic minds in our region.”
