People working on cultural projects and seeking funding can apply for Lambton Creative County grants again.
Article content
The application window for the annual program’s 2025 intake opened Monday, and runs until Nov. 18 at 4 pm
“We certainly welcome as many applications as possible,” said Brad Loosley, chair of the committee that approves grants.
The last round, awarded earlier this year, included $65,600 for 21 projects, including for a Kettle and Stony Point First Nation bus shelter art project, Lambton Concert Band 25th anniversary celebrations, and for Le Center Communauté Francophone de Sarnia-Lambton to create a French -language song and video about Sarnia-Lambton, officials said in a news release.
The committee received 29 requests for funding for the 2024 grant program, totaling more than $197,000 in requests.
Article content
Program funding — every year up to $75,000 is available — goes to every section of the county, said Loosley, also Petrolia’s mayor and a Lambton County councillor.
About $40,000 a year is earmarked for different county quadrants, and the rest is set aside for top applications from anywhere in Lambton.
“A lot of these projects would never happen or be able to complete without our assistance,” Loosley said.
Applications can be for new projects, or to enhance existing ones, and must be completed within 18 months of receipt of funds, according to the program guidelines.
Details, including applications and past projects, are available at lambtononline.ca/creativecounty.
The program is about building local cultural capacity, strengthening the creative community, and enriching local quality of life, officials said in a news release.
County staff evaluate applications and help the committee pick grant recipients, Loosley said, noting grants cover up to 50 per cent of a project’s cost.
“It’s quite a detailed report,” he said about what committee members consider after applications close.
Funding has gone to more than 200 Lambton cultural initiatives since 2013, when the grant program began, officials said.
“It’s really important for the different types of projects,” Loosley said.
Share this article in your social network