Over $70,000 has been awarded to 19 projects in Lambton County through the Creative County Grant Program.
The program, which launched in 2013, provides up to $75,000 in funding each year for projects related to arts, culture, and heritage.
During this latest intake, the grant committee received 24 applications, with 19 being approved for the 2023 program year.
"We're seeing a return to festivals and events within the community," said General Manager of Cultural Services Andrew Meyer.
"Pre-pandemic we would typically see about 30 applications per year, during the pandemic we had altered the criteria and we saw it dip to below 20 over the last couple of years, and then this year we received 24 requests for funding."
A total investment of $70,530 was awarded to projects ranging from camps, murals, and book or film productions.
"This year we were pleased to see among the 19, that they were spread out across the county. There was really representation from every corner of Lambton County and very good geographic distribution," said Meyer.
During the 2022 program year, 21 projects were supported by a total of $101,965.
The next application intake is expected to take place in the fall of 2023, for initiatives planned the following year in 2024.
"[The committee] is looking for projects that really strengthen the creative community and help to define the county's unique identity, and enrich the quality of life for all residents of Lambton County," Meyer said.
Funding provided through the grant cannot exceed 50 per cent of the total project costs.
Successful applicants are listed below:
- $6,700 to support the Town of Plympton-Wyoming with the restoration of their 1932 Chevrolet Pumper at the Wyoming Fire Station
- $6,500 to support the E’Maawizidijig Heritage & Culture Club with a live Indigenous Dance performance at area schools
- $6,400 to support the Bluewater Wind Ensemble with their concert series
- $6,000 to support the Optimist Club of Forest with its Kid Food Nation local food program
- $5,795 to support the Petrolia Discovery Foundation with the restoration of the Canadian Rig and other site projects
- $5,500 to support the Lambton Centre with its Explore the Arts Summer Camp
- $5,000 to support filmmaker Kyler Wigle with the production of the short film Food for Thought
- $5,000 to support historian Mat Johnson, Marathon of History, with the publication of a book on the history of the St. Clair River railway tunnel
- $5,000 to support Krista Klompstra with the cost of artist fees for the Sombra Community Mural project
- $2,500 to support the Centre Communautaire Francophone de Sarnia-Lambton with their Diversity & Inclusion sidewalk project
- $2,500 to support the Town of Petrolia with the publication of their Petrolia 150th Events Calendar and Commemorative Booklet
- $2,500 to support local historian Kim Thomaes with the publication of a book on the history of the Village of Port Lambton
- $2,205 to support the Bridgeview Public School with their Student Mindfulness Dance Program
- $2,000 to support Lambton Central Collegiate Vocational Institute with their school theatre production
- $1,800 to support the Forest Business Improvement Area with its Forest Mural Project
- $1,540 to support the Municipality of Brooke-Alvinston with the reproduction of murals located in the community auditorium
- $1,500 to support the Wiiwkewdong Arts Collective with its Indigenous Culture event
- $1,200 to support the Forest Agricultural Society with the Skilled Trades & Small Business Portrait Exhibit
- $890 to support local historian Paul Janes with the Township of Warwick: A Story Through Time anniversary video project
