NDP MLA Toporowski says arts funding helps inspire and connect people in the Cowichan Valley
DUNCAN – New Democrat MLA Debra Toporowski says that provincial funding for local artists, arts organizations and events is helping to make the Cowichan Valley a more vibrant and connected community.
“The Cowichan Valley continues to punch above it’s weight for our arts and culture output,” said Debra Toporowski, MLA for Cowichan Valley. “From museums to storytellers to musicians, it’s great to be supporting artists contributing to and growing our local arts community.”
In the Cowichan Valley, 10 organizations received over $200,000 total in funding via the B.C. Arts Council in the 2024/25 year, including:
- BC Forest Museum, $56,000
- Chemainus Theatre Festival, $20,000
- Kaatza Historical Society, $22,500
Across B.C., more than $37 million in grant funding was distributed to 1,303 arts organizations, events, and individual artists through the B.C. Arts Council (BCAC).
The BCAC is an agency of the provincial government that nurtures and supports arts and cultural activity in communities throughout B.C., and administers provincial funding to community arts in rural and urban centres, to individual artists, professional performing arts companies, Indigenous artists and cultural organizations, art galleries, local museums and music festivals, supporting a range of activities while engaging with artists and communities to inform policies and programs.
The BC New Democrat government has increased the BCAC budget from $24 million in 2016-17 to more than $40 million in 2025-26.
Learn More: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025TACS0029-000682