Some arts grants are safe
Email
Print
Letter to Editor
Share
Updated: September 04, 2009 5:02 PM
by Jason Roessle
Black Press
The provincial government said last week it will honour all three-year community gaming grant commitments, reversing letters sent out previously to groups, stating there would be no funds coming for 2009.
The Mission Folk Music Festival Society was one of the local groups which had a three-year agreement, but earlier received a letter saying they wouldn’t be getting their 2009 allotment.
“It’s difficult to know what to say. The word from the government changes so fast it is hard to keep up. It is all confusing in the extreme,” he wrote in an e-mail from Denmark. “With regards to gaming money, the message is clear. The money belongs to community charities, not the government.”
Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton said these three-year grant commitments may be phased out, requiring groups to apply every year.
Priorities for the remainder of 2009/2010 grants will be:
- Programs that support low-income and disabled British Columbians.
- Programs that provide food, shelter and support to at risk individuals.
- Programs that support community health services.
- Programs that fund nutritional and similar programs in schools for underprivileged children.
- Public safety programs.
- A limited number of arts and culture activities.
- Community education programs, such as daycares and preschools.
- Public community facilities like community halls and recreation facilities.
- Youth and disabled sports.
- Non-sport youth groups, such as scouts and cadets.
v2
