The Nicola Valley Community Arts Council has received $6,020 from the provincial government via the B.C. Arts Council, which received a record-high $24 million to support the arts in 2015-16.

As B.C.’s lead agency for arts funding and development, the council enlists the help of B.C. artists and arts administrators to evaluate grant applications through a peer review process independent of government.

“The arts are a vital part of what makes a community a great place to live,” said Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart in a press release.

The Princeton Community Arts Council has also received provincial funding in the sum of $10,800.

“These organizations contribute so much to the well-being of Merritt and Princeton, and I am pleased that our government is supporting them,” Tegart said in the release.

The B.C. government is spending more than $60 million on artists, arts and culture organizations in 2016-17, including about $17.5 million in community gaming grants.

In 2016-17, the B.C. Arts Council, an independent agency funded by the Government of British Columbia, will provide $24 million to help artists and cultural organizations flourish in communities throughout B.C.

Tegart acknowledged that arts councils like the one in Merritt would have a very difficult time paying all of their bills if it wasn’t for grants being made available by senior levels of government.