County providing earlier funding opportunities for arts, culture and heritage organizations affected by COVID-19 restrictions

Strathcona County not-for-profit arts, culture and heritage organizations, whose activities and operations have been adversely affected by reductions in revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic, can now apply for earlier funding assistance as part of the County’s Arts Culture and Heritage Community investment program.

The application deadline for earlier grant funding, of up to $5,000 per applicant, is April 16, 2021. The programs and services provided by the organization must be of value and available to the residents of Strathcona County. All activities must meet the provincial restrictions in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Many types of arts and culture activity expenses can be funded and the full details, including information on how to apply, are available at strathcona.ca/culturegrants. Funds must be used prior to June 1, 2021.

The additional application funding timeline is in response to requests from organizations seeking financial assistance due to the on-going COVID-19 impacts to their programming and/or services. The funding is intended to support organizations that are at risk of closing operations or cancelling significant 2021 activities and services to the local community due to financial shortfalls resulting from COVID-19 restrictions.

Please note, regular grant funding applications for the County’s Arts Culture and Heritage Community investment programs are still available at the regular application dates: May 8 (for activities between May and the end of the year), and November 30 (for activities at the end of 2021 and the first half of 2022). The annual budget for the investment program is $118,000.

These organizations and volunteers are vital to the community health of Strathcona County and provide innovative community-based arts, cultural and heritage programs, projects and activities.

Organizations looking for more information can contact Community Liaison Officer, Jenny Willson at jenny.willson@strathcona.ca or by calling 780-464-8058. Applications can be emailed to jenny.willson@strathcona.ca, dropped off in-person at the Recreation Administration Office (2025 Oak Street – Vic Bidzinski Way, Sherwood Park) or mailed (2001 Sherwood Drive, Sherwood Park AB T8A0W7).

To be considered for funding, organizations must be a not-for-profit that has been registered for a minimum of one year, under one of the following categories:

• Societies Act
• Libraries Act
• Agricultural Societies Act

This additional grant funding timeline is part of Strathcona County’s efforts to guide the community’s short, medium and long-term COVID-19 pandemic recovery and resiliency efforts. Over the past 12 months, the Economic Resilience and Vision, Citizen and Community Supports and Recovery Governance Task Forces collaborated to guide policy, program and service adaptation that would best support the community during these unprecedented times.
 

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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595