The BC Arts Council provided almost $300,000 in grants to Prince George arts groups in the past year.
Some of the recipients included Theatre North West ($65,000), Two Rivers Gallery ($53,000), Prince George Community Arts Council ($21,157), Prince George Symphony Orchestra ($19,500), School District 57 ($14,000) and the Prince George Conservatory of Music ($9,750)
"We've been really lucky because we're able to maintain our grant even through the period of time where most organizations got cut," said Samantha MacDonald, artistic producer at Theatre North West. "It goes toward operating the theatre -- so things like wages, purchasing wood and paint and screws for the sets, renting lighting when we need to do that and just all the basic operations of the theatre."
The symphony operating grant will help with the cost of musicians and day-to-day management, said Teresa Saunders, vice president of the symphony board.
The PGSO had seven conductors audition during concerts held throughout last season and chose Kevin Zakresky as the musical director best suited for the position.
"The operational grant will allow the conservatory to create programs to encourage people to try different things," said Jose Delgado-Guevara, artistic director of the Prince George Conservatory of Music. "We're trying a flute choir this term and we're also trying two adult classes. One is to teach adults to read music. We have a lot of parents who want to help their kids at home but they're not acquainted with music that much so this will help them a lot. We also will teach music appreciation for adults and thanks to this kind of grant we can do these types of classes."
Some of the money will also go to the Youth Orchestra and chamber music groups that gives students the opportunity to get out of the classroom and see what it's like to play in an ensemble, he added.
To see the entire list of arts grants received by Prince George organizations, visit http://www.bcartscouncil.ca/documents/publicationforms/pdfs/awards_listing_2011-2012.pdf
