The Whistler Community Arts Council is the big winner in this year’s municipal grants-in-aid lottery.
The arts council will receive $67,500 once the Resort Municipality of Whistler approves the funding recommendations.
"We’re very pleased to have this type of support," said WCAC chair Dixx Milstein.
Much of the money – $47,500 – will be in their hands by mid-July, while the outstanding $20,000 will be paid out once the RMOW adopts the municipal cultural plan and the arts council hires a strategic planning consultant.
Milstein told Pique Newsmagazine the WCAC wants to act as an umbrella organization for Whistler’s 20-odd arts groups, which includes choirs, theatre companies, dance troupes and professional artists.
"We recognize this will be a lengthy process," she said of the arts council’s plans.
The arts council originally asked the municipality for just over $92,000, but Milstein said that figure was scaled back due to changes in their budget.
Other large grants include $40,000 to the Whistler Museum and Archives Society and $28,550 to Mountain Community Health Alternatives.
AWARE, Whistler Animals Galore and the Jennifer Jones Bear Foundation will each pick up $10,000, while WORCA will scoop $8,000.
Fifteen other community groups – from the angling club to the search and rescue team – will receive funding ranging from $300 to $4,000.
The RMOW received 33 grant-in-aid applications this year totalling more than $484,000. Council will award a total of $200,000, which will be distributed to the groups by July 15.
Also, the Whistler Mountain Ski Club will get $5,000 from contingency in the municipal council’s operating budget and the Whistler Chamber of Commerce will collect $35,000 from hotel taxes.
