COVID-19 and CKCA

This is an update regarding COVID-19 global pandemic impacts on the Columbia Basin Trust arts and cultural funding programs, managed by the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance.

COVID-19 is having significant impacts, locally and globally, with sweeping changes to our daily lives and communities. We appreciate that changing regulations and uncertainty with timelines may have significant impacts on arts and cultural projects, especially those that require travel, people working together, or have public engagement as a component of their grant activities. It is imperative that we all comply with government directives and regulations to ensure everyone’s health and safety.

CKCA funding cannot be used for any activities that contravene government guidelines and regulations. As a result, we will be flexible with project completion and reporting timelines, and recognize that some project activities may have to change. We are committed to working with funding recipients to find solutions in response to this crisis.

If you have an approved CKCA grant which is:

• Completed

  If you have not done so already, please submit your Final Report as per the original directions in your acceptance package. If you face any barriers, please e-mail wkracassistant@telus.net for guidance.

• In Progress

  Please only contact the CKCA regarding significant changes, such as cancellations, adjustments in scope, or dates of activities significantly beyond the original project end date. Minor adjustments to your plans as a result of COVID-19 that can be accommodated within the scope and within a similar timeline of the original proposal, do not require approval and should simply be outlined in your Final Report.

  If your remaining project plans are not compliant with government COVID-19 protocols, or the COVID-19 protocols are creating significant barriers to completion at this time, you may need to request a project extension, a change in scope / activities, or both.

  CKCA is recommending a minimum of 6 month extensions, and are also open to alternatives and innovations in collaborations and presentation, such as using online methods to engage with project participants or community. If taking your project engagement online, you may list your online exhibition or event for free on: kootenayartsebulletin.wordpress.com and cultureonline.ca to help get the word out.

To discuss or request an extension or significant change, please email wkracassistant@telus.net as follows:

• E-mail subject: “file number” and “extension” or “change request”
• E-mail contents: include the details in the body of the e-mail. If you are proposing changes in activity, timeline or budget, describe what the original activity, timeline or budget was and what the proposed changes are, including the new proposed end date. If there are significant budget changes, you can attach your new proposed budget.

Please note: Response times will be slower than usual because of staff working offsite, the volume of inquiries, and the processing of the current year funding applications.

If you applied for CKCA 2020/21 funding in March:
 
The CKCA is continuing with processing the current funding intake. As outlined above, once projects are approved the CKCA will be flexible in working with grantees regarding completion and reporting deadlines as well as project changes in response to COVID-19 protocols. As a result of coordinating offsite staffing and remote adjudication in response to COVID-19, we anticipate 2020-21 funding approvals will be released later in June.

Columbia Basin Culture Tour
 
The latest information about the status of the Columbia Basin Culture Tour is available on the website https://www.cbculturetour.com/

Resources and Funding Information
 
Please visit https://basinculture.com/resources/ to access COVID-19 resources for artists, cultural workers and organizations, including risk assessment for event planning and online tools to report losses to let governments know the impacts and the needs of the cultural community. For the latest news, visit the Kootenay Arts E-bulletin: http://www.wkartscouncil.com/ebulletin.html
 
 
CKCA staff and Steering Committee hope you are remaining healthy and safe during the COVID-19 global pandemic, and wish you all the best during these times of uncertainty.

Warm regards (from a distance),
 
Krista Patterson
Executive Director