Letter from Chris Gilpin re Capital Regional District Arts & Culture Support Service

RE: Capital Regional District Arts & Culture Support Service

As Manager of the Arts and Culture Support Service (Arts Service) at the Capital Regional District, I am writing to thank you for your valued participation. As a sub-regional service, the Arts Service provides support through grant programs to non-profit organizations, who in turn develop programming that creates artistic, social, and economic benefits for the region. Enclosed with this letter are copies of the CRD Arts & Culture 2024 Impact Report, which highlights the value and impact of arts activities in our participating jurisdictions.

In this report, you will read how the Arts Service invested over $2.7 million dollars in local arts non-profit organizations and artist-led partnerships in 2024. Through 101 awarded grants, over 9,500 arts events and activities took place in the region, entertaining over 1.1 million people in 2024. This year’s report also emphasizes the significant role the arts play in fostering a sense of community and connection in the region, and provides updates on the progress of the Arts & Culture Support Service’s 2024 – 2027 Strategic Plan.

The current participating jurisdictions of the Arts Service are Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, View Royal, Sooke, Metchosin, Highlands, and Southern Gulf Islands. As you are aware, each member jurisdiction selects a representative to serve on the Arts Commission, which oversees the administration and operations of the Arts Service. We are grateful for the leadership of Gery Lemon, who serves on your behalf.

I encourage you to visit the CRD Arts and Culture webpages at: www.crd.bc.ca/arts for more information on the Arts Service. There you will also find a link to sign up for our e-newsletter, which provides information about upcoming grant intakes, workshops for potential grant applicants, reports, and related events. Once again, thank you for partnering with us to support a flourishing arts community!

Sincerely,

Chris Gilpin Manager, CRD Arts and Culture