Three aspiring artists from Prince George and five local arts organizations received financial awards from the B.C. Arts Council on Wednesday.
Benjamin Hawkins, Gillian Wigmore and Elizabeth Houg all received scholarships from the provincial agency through a peer review process.
Hawkins got $6,000 to study visual arts at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Wigmore received $5,500 to pursue a creative writing program at UBC. Houg was awarded $3,100 to study media arts at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.
In addition, the Fraser-Fort George Museum Society received $75,000 from the council and the Prince George and District Community Arts Council received $21,475 both for operating expenses.
The Prince George Folkfest Society got $30,000 to create an artistic/executive director position and the Theatre North West Society received $15,000 to hire an administrative assistant.Meanwhile, the Prince George Regional Art Gallery/Two Rivers Gallery received $63,000 for operating activities for the year and $16,000 to purchase capital assets.
