British Columbian arts and culture organizations hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic are getting a helping hand to enhance creative spaces throughout the province during this challenging time period.

The provincial government announced today (August 17) that the B.C. Arts Council will administer a new $2-million Arts Infrastructure Program.

The program will provide grants of up to $7,500 for improving arts and culture spaces, including acquisitions or renovations, or $40,000 for purchasing special equipment for arts programming to arts and cultural organizations, including Indigenous groups.

The program also seeks to support projects that will improve access to arts and cultural spaces, particularly for underserved communities and underrepresented practices.

As examples, B.C. Arts Council Susan Jackson explained in a news release that the funds can be used for “building new spaces for sharing traditional knowledge, expanding exhibition areas or acquiring equipment to share work digitally”.

The grants can also help organizations to adapt to pandemic restrictions.

For instance, Arts Umbrella president and CEO Paul Larocque explained in a news release that funding will help to “make the necessary facility upgrades to accommodate health and safety guidelines and online learning possible”.

Eligible disciplines span the range from festivals, community arts, and music to literary arts, media arts, and publishing.

Applications will be accepted from today (August 17) until October 19 and information is available online at the B.C. Arts Council website.