BC Artscape Announces Organizations Selected for Cultural Space Development Projects

BC Artscape, the non-profit organization mandated to 'make space for creativity and transform communities,' has announced the six non-profit organizations which will receive support through the first instance of the BC Artscape Cultural Space Development Mentorship & Coaching Program, a program funded by the City of Vancouver and Vancity Community Foundation. 

Art Space Action, The Association of Book Publishers of BC, Contemporary Art Matters, MakerLabs, the Powell Street Festival Society and the Vancouver Independent Music Centre Society will benefit from a free-of-charge year-long program designed to build their capacity to advance their own creative placemaking projects that will benefit local communities.
 
A total of 17 organizations and groups will receive support through the 2015 program. In addition to the six organizations named above, 11 groups have been selected to receive support via one-time consultations.
 
“We are very pleased to be able to offer our mentorship and coaching at no cost to groups in Metro Vancouver thanks to the support of our funders,” said Pru Robey (Vice President and Creative Placemaking Lab Director.) “We were all impressed by the level of interest in this program, and we received many remarkable applications.”
 
Artscape has become recognized as an international leader in creative placemaking, a practice that leverages the power of art, culture and creativity to catalyze change, growth and transformation in communities. Artscape achieves its mission through developing and managing unique cultural facilities, where currently 2,400+ artists and non-profit organizations work and live—including community cultural hubs, multi-purpose creative spaces and artist live/work projects —and delivering programs and services that promote creativity and cultural space development. 
 
BC Artscape is an independent not-for-profit organization based in Vancouver that is affiliated with Toronto-based Artscape. In May 2015, BC Artscape announced its inaugural Board of Directors along with its first President, Genevieve Bucher. The BC Artscape Cultural Space Development Mentorship & Coaching Program will continue in 2016—the next call for applications will be issued in January 2016.