The Manitoba government is investing $6 million in support of the province’s arts and culture sector, and local arts groups hope to get some of the funding.
Peter Nadolny, the coordinator for the Watson Art Centre in Dauphin, was previously successful in getting provincial funding for the centre and plans to apply for the new Arts and Culture Sustainability Funds if the centre qualifies.
“A lot of these grants are geared towards the artists themselves,” said Nadolny, “where we’re just a building that facilitates the arts.”
Whether the centre can get funding or not, Nadolny is happy if the artists at the centre qualify because as he says, “helping the artists helps the art centre, because this is their home.”
On top of dealing with the pandemic, the Watson Art Centre suffered a flood last month. Nadolny says even if they were given the go-ahead to open their doors, they wouldn’t be able to for a while because they are dealing with repairs.
The Dauphin and District Allied Arts Council, which runs the Watson Art Centre, aren't sure yet how the funding could benefit Dauphin.
Yvonne Lillie, president of the Dauphin and District Allied Arts Council, says “I would hope that we would be able to access some of this, especially given the fact that the flood has taken over our building right now,” she adds, “we’re in a very unique position that we’re going to have to work hard to make sure things are still available for people to use that building.”
When the Watson Art Centre is open, Nadolny says it’s used every day and is home to nine partner groups that include dance, theatre, and art.
