The B.C. government is funding a $2-million arts and culture initiative aimed at upgrading community art facilities across the province, Victoria announced Monday (Aug. 17).

Tourism Minister Lisa Beare explained the arts infrastructure program will allow for community arts organizations, including those run by Indigenous groups, to apply for a $75,000 grant for facility upgrades or a $45,000 grant towards art programming and equipment.

Emphasizing that the program will pay economic and social dividends, Beare said she鈥檚 鈥渄elighted鈥� that centres of art and culture will expand in communities and online, 鈥渨hether that鈥檚 building new spaces for sharing traditional knowledge, expanding exhibition areas or acquiring equipment to share work digitally.鈥�

Arts Umbrella CEO Paul Larocque welcomed the initiative, which he said will invigorate his organization鈥檚 mandate to 鈥渋nspire creativity in young people and provide arts education where it鈥檚 needed most.鈥�

The program will be run by the BC Arts Council and will accept applications from eligible organizations until mid October.