The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council announced Tuesday the recipients of the 2010 grant and scholarship programs, this despite cutbacks that have hurt arts organizations.

The announcement was also made with the Maple Ridge Jazz and Blues Festival missing from the list due to the fact it's not likely to take place this summer.

Upon announcing this year's grants and scholarship recipients, Lindy Sisson, executive director, said that "though our own B.C. Arts Council support was cut by 46 per cent and our gaming funding has been cut by 55 per cent, it was very important to the board of directors to continue this tradition. It is vital for the health of the community in this region that the Arts Council continue to support our grassroots community arts organizations to the best of our ability as they too are feeling the crunch of decreasing funding."

In support of their activities over the 2010/11 season, 11 arts organizations will receive funding, including: Garibaldi Arts Club, Clear Focus Camera Club, Maple Ridge Choral Society, Maple Ridge Historical Society, Emerald Pig Theatrical Society, BC Girls Choir Society, Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Art Studio Tour, Millennium Players, United Circle of Arts, SPECC-tacular Productions and the Caribbean Festival.

In support of School District 42 students pursuing further arts education, the Arts Council provided four scholarships of $1,000 each to the following students: Aimee Marie Oliverio (Maple Ridge Secondary) for Music, Cecilly Rose Day (Maple Ridge Secondary) for Musical Theatre, Colleen Dixon (Maple Ridge Secondary) for Visual Arts and Jamie-Leigh Gonzales (Garibaldi Secondary) for Media Arts.

Board president Roger Welch noted that reviewing the scholarship applications and auditions has become an annual highlight for the Scholarship Committee, saying "the organization is very pleased to be able to help young artists to further develop and share their significant talent and skills and we hope that our contribution increases their ability to reach their goals."

ARTS AWARD

In other Arts Council news, the presentation of the new play RICK: The Rick Hansen Story during the Paralympics, the Arts Council was recently awarded with a certificate of appreciation from the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Municipal Advisory Committee on Accessibility Issues for demonstrating the promotion of inclusion for people with disabilities.

This world premiere production by Canadian author Dennis Foon took audiences in two school presentations and one public performance back to the beginning of this remarkable man's story, whose Man in Motion World Tour changed the lives of millions.