A portion of the leftover 2010 Sport and Arts Legacy funding earmarked for arts has been allocated to a number of anniversary celebrations, in communities that include Victoria and Esquimalt.

A news release from the Ministry of Community, Sport, and Cultural Development, stated that $800,000 will be provided to communities to support local arts and culture as part of “important anniversary celebrations”, such as 25th, 50th, 100th, 120th, or 150th, during 2012.

”Last year, the City of Victoria and the Corporation of the Township of Esquimalt inquired about support to celebrate their respective municipal anniversaries in 2012,” said Ida Chong, minister of community, sport, and cultural development, in the news release. “Communities approached government looking to partner in celebrating their milestone and we responded. I’m happy to announce the province will provide financial support to communities around B.C. to enhance arts and culture as part of local anniversary celebrations.”

It was not immediately clear which other communities would be receiving the funding, nor were any individual amounts of funding specified. The Straight has a call in to the ministry requesting clarification.

The announcement still leaves approximately $2.4 million in Arts Legacy funding to be dispersed before the end of the month, in time for the province’s fiscal-year end.