CACSP grants $10,000 to SD63 “Arts in the Schools” program

?Thank you to Frankie Allen, Executive Director, Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula for providing us with this post.

On January 21, 2015, representatives from the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula (CACSP), Councillor Barbara Fallot of the Town of Sidney and Councillor Alicia Cormier of the District of Central Saanich, (Councillor Geoff Orr of the District of North Saanich sent his regrets) attended the Saanich School Board’s (SD63) first 2015 board meeting to present this year’s “Arts in the Schools” grant. Through dedicated fundraisers the CACSP is, for the second year running, able to grant $10,000. The Saanich School Board was gracious in receipt of the grant. One Board member expressed his appreciation as a parent of students within the District and another Board member related how his school has received $900 of these grant monies to provide additional arts experiences in his school this year. For the CACSP, it is gratifying to know these funds are making a direct impact on the quality of arts education for students in our district.

 “Art in the Schools” enables teachers to access professional artists, musicians, writers and performers to provide opportunities for students to engage with and learn from practicing local artists. In 2015, nearly 4,000 students will benefit from the generosity of contributors to this program.

With minimal initial support of municipal and provincial funding to the CACSP, the CACSP is able to leverage further funds that make this and other worthwhile arts and cultural events happen for our community.

In photo from left to right: Saanich Board Chair Victoria Martin, District of Central Saanich Councillor Alicia Cormier, Town of Sidney Councillor Barbara Fallot, CACSP President Richard Julien, CACSP Vice-President Danny Daniels and CACSP ‘Arts in the Schools’ Outgoing Director Audrey Waugh. 

If you would like to support the CACSP in fundraising for the 2016 grant, please visit the CACSP website and click on “Donate Now” on the left hand side of the screen. This will direct you to CanadaHelps where you can tag your donation directly to the “Arts in the Schools” Program. You may also contribute by purchasing a raffle ticket during the upcoming Sidney Lego Brick Festival February 7-9, 2015; at the raffle during the October 16-18, 2015 Sidney Fine Art Show; by attending the ArtSea Gala Fundraiser October 21, 2015; or by dropping a donation off at our Tulista Park Gallery. Your support will go a long way to ensuring that local students receive the benefits the arts provide in cognitive, social and emotional development.