Pandemic recovery funding for Woodland Cultural Centre

BRANTFORD — Woodland Cultural Centre, the home of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School, will receive pandemic recovery funding from the Ontario government.

In Brantford-Brant, two organizations — WCC and Outside Looking In will be given financial assistance issued by the Arts Recovery Support Fund to help the arts community get through COVID-19 lockdowns.

“The Woodland Cultural Centre is extremely thankful for receiving funding from the Arts Recovery Support Fund” said Janis Monture, Executive Director.  “As we move into the recovery stage from this pandemic, this funding will assist Woodland in being able to sustain our operations, create new programmes and prepare to re-open once it is safe to do so.  Woodland looks very forward to welcoming everyone back to our programming spaces and to engage with our visitors once again”.

The total contribution from Ontario into the Arts Recovery Support Fund is $24 million dollars divided amongst 140 organizations like the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival and the National Ballet of Canada. It includes an additional $1 million to provide support directly to artists and creators from across Ontario.

The funding is being administered by the Ontario Arts Council. A list of all 140 recipients and the amounts being contributed to each organization was not listed by press time.

“This support will help organizations like Outside Looking In and the Woodland Cultural Centre to continue to make important contributions to our community, while building the groundwork for long-term economic recovery,” said MPP Will Bouma. “Artists and creators have been deeply impacted by the pandemic but continue to work hard every day to keep our communities engaged and connected. Providing the help they need will make a real difference in the lives of individuals in Brantford-Brant and their families.”

“Ontario’s arts sector, like so many of the province’s heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries, was among the first and hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a ‘high-touch’ sector that depends on gatherings of people, and will take the longest to recover,” said Minister MacLeod. “That is why I am proud that our government is providing much-needed support through initiatives like the Arts Recovery Support Fund. Arts and cultural festivals, live musicians, writers, filmmakers, art galleries, and dance and theatre companies are vital to the cultural fabric of this province. They also play an important role in the mental health and well-being of Ontarians and an equally important role in the province’s economic and social recovery.”

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