'Stories that affect us all': Council approves special funding to support York Region Arts Council

In late December of last year, council approved one-time grant of $250,000

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 4, 2022
Alieen Zangouei

York Region values art and the important role arts and culture play in our communities. In doing so, York Region council has approved a special one-time grant of $250,000 to the York Region Arts Council.

It was announced in late December of 2021 that this one-time grant was through the special Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF).

The RRRF is part of Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, and is granted to support and help affected businesses and communities cope with the impacts of the pandemic.

The fund will help to mitigate the financial pressure experienced by businesses and organizations to allow them to continue their operations, including paying their employees, and support projects by businesses, organizations and communities to prepare now for a successful recovery.

According to the executive director of York Region Arts Council, Sergei Petrov, York Region council approving this grant shows that "even in challenging times, Chairman Emmerson and Council value the contributions the arts and culture sectors make to York Region."

"We are absolutely thrilled to receive this funding," Petrov said. "Their commitment will help us deliver programs that enrich the community on many levels."

The York Region Arts Council is a non-profit charitable arts service organization focused on capacity building, creative place-making and community engagement in support of artists, arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs.

Through programs like Arts Mentorship, Artrepreneur and microgrant funding, York Region Arts Council has supported the efforts of more than 2,200 program participants, more than 300 artists and has worked with more than 60 community partners since its inception over 20 years ago.

Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt supported the funding, and said that there is no other organization doing the work that the York Region Arts Council does.

"If there is one silver lining to what we’ve been experiencing over the past two years, it would be the resiliency and the creativity of our arts community in response to the pandemic. York Region Arts Council plays a vital role in raising the awareness of our artists' stories -- stories that affect us all," Lovatt said.