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'Resilience supplements' to pay the bills for arts & culture groups

Supplements of up to $15,000 will be available through a $3-million Arts and Culture Resilience Supplement fund, created to help arts groups hit hard by COVID-19 and physical distancing requirements
concert

Arts and culture groups in the Tri-Cities can now apply for a government "resilience supplement" to help pay the bills during the COVID-19 crisis.

Last week, Lisa Beare, B.C.’s minister of tourism, arts and culture, said physical distancing restrictions have hit the arts sector, with shows and events cancelled during the provincial state of emergency. Supplements of up to $15,000 will be available through a new $3-million Arts and Culture Resilience Supplement fund, she said.

Administered by the BC Arts Council, the money is targeted for operating and eligible project clients and provides a 50% advance on 2020-’21 funding.

As well, the council will ease its requirements to help groups with their cash-flow crunches: Deadlines will be pushed for applications, reporting rules will be relaxed and organizations can use government grants to cover immediate operating needs.