The Lakes District Arts Council (LDCA) is about to receive a $6249 grant from the B.C. Arts Council.
The LDAC has been successful in receiving this grant for several years now. John Barth, LDAC member, explained this grant matches the financial support from the Village of Burns Lake and the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako (RDBN). In 2014, LDCA received $4700 from the Village of Burns Lake and $2000 from the RDBN.
"We [LDAC] are very appreciative of the support we receive from the Village of Burns Lake and from the RDBN," he said.
More than $6.9 million is being provided to 277 artists, museums and arts organizations as part of the latest round of B.C. Arts Council grant adjudications.
According to Sandra Barth, LDAC president, this financial support is vital to volunteer arts organizations.
"Public funding supports the financial viability, artistic success and risk-taking of arts organizations," she said.
Sandra also mentioned some of the future projects of LDAC.
"In the year ahead, the Lakes District Arts Council will continue presenting live, professional entertainment. We have summer art, music and dance camps planned for young people. The LDAC is also focusing on developing partnerships with organizations in the community that can help us organize and present arts and cultural events," she said.
A partnership with the Lakes District and Health Centre will see the work of local visual artists displayed in its foyer, hallways and offices. The Lakes District Health Centre art committee is seeking to purchase visual art pieces from local artists in a variety of mediums and within a varied prince range. Local artists can submit a photo of their art piece along with a written description of it and their artist biography by March 31, 2015, to sdsbarth@telus.net.
This is the second year of a partnership between the LDAC and the community-owned movie theatre, co-presenting performances of The Met: Live in HD opera broadcasts.
"Audiences for these performances are enthusiastic and growing," said Sandra.
Another partnership will be with the local artisan cooperative - the Lakes Artisan Centre.
"This partnership will strengthen summer arts and cultural activities for youth."
Sandra also mentioned that the LDAC will continue its focus on the Aboriginal community.
"We are finding as many ways as we can to be inclusive in the programming and to engage First Nations audience members and youth in LDAC events."