Amplify BC delivers $106K to support new and emerging artists in British Columbia

Vancouver, B.C. (August 27, 2024) – Today, Creative BC announces 53 Amplify BC grants through the Demo Recording program (the Program), totalling $106,000 distributed to recipients across the province.  

The Program supports new and emerging artists from systemically excluded groups living in B.C. to create demo recordings and engage in mentorship with local music producers. The Program provides $2,000 grants to reduce barriers to music creation for new and emerging artists.  

These grants will support artists with a mentorship to provide feedback, guidance, and other necessary opportunities for career growth, including assisting with budget development, networking, release strategies, and preparing music for release. Recipients will be able to use their grants to create demo recordings of original songs or compositions; and arrangements or interpretations of existing works for classical, jazz, opera, and other genres where this is common practice. 

The Program is designed to support systemically excluded artists and producers in gaining opportunities in the music industry, engaging in skills development building professional capacity for new and emerging artists, investing in producers to mentor and develop new talent, and creating new business opportunities for producers and recording studios. 

The 2023/24 Demo Recording program is part of the Province of British Columbia’s investment into B.C.’s music and sound recording industry via Amplify BC. These provincial funds are part of B.C.’s $42M historical investment which includes supporting the music industry’s infrastructure and assisting the recovery and growth of B.C.’s music industry through 2027.  

Applications were scored according to the priorities of the program, including economic impact, investment in B.C. talent, innovation, and support for equity-deserving groups who experience systemic barriers to industry participation. Creative BC together with panels of industry professionals representing a variety of genres, industry backgrounds, regions and demographics, selected the successful recipients of the Program. 

Acknowledging that there have been systemic barriers to access, and that supporting new and diverse talent is crucial to a vibrant and thriving music and sound recording industry, 100% of the funding is distributed to artists representative of the following systemically excluded groups: Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, Women, Non-binary, or people with disabilities. This program embodies Creative BC’s actions for equity and inclusion in program delivery. 

The following 53 new and emerging musicians will be granted $2,000 for eligible activities: 

View a list of the recipients by program online here.    

To learn more about the Music Company program, visit Creative BC’s website: www.creativebc.com/funding-programs/demo-recording 

Quotes: 
Honourable Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
“Mentorship plays a central role in building skills and increasing opportunities for new and emerging artists in the music industry. I’m proud of what’s being accomplished through the Demo Recording program. We are supporting business opportunities for producers and recording studios and opening doors for artists who face barriers to accessing career development. Our government is committed to ensuring B.C.’s music industry reflects the rich diversity within our province.” 

Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC 
“Creative BC is proud to announce the 53 recipients across B.C. that have received funding to produce a demo under mentorship from a B.C. producer. Recognizing the vital role mentorship plays in career growth, we are proud to deliver this program as a continuation of our City of Vancouver partnership, now funded by the Province of BC, which has funded 122 projects to date.” 

Lyndsay Sung, Foxgloves,  Program Recipient
“Foxgloves is so excited to be recipients of the Creative BC Demo Recording grant this year. As longtime musicians in Vancouver, we’ve long represented the sparsely populated “Asian Canadian women of colour in indie rock/punk rock” over the last 2+ decades. To be given this opportunity to record our music in a professional, supportive, and creative setting like The Noise Floor is a true gift for not only our band Foxgloves, but for future Asian and woman-identifying artists and musicians – to see that performing, recording and sharing our music is not only possible, but supported and encouraged!” 

Media Contact:
Creative BC
Lisa Escudero
media@creativebc.com
+1 604-730-2235 

– 30 –  

About Creative BC
Creative BC is an independent society created and supported by the Province to sustain and help grow British Columbia’s creative industries: motion picture, interactive and digital media, music and sound recording, and magazine and book publishing. The organization delivers a wide range of programs and services with a mandate to expand B.C.’s creative economy. These activities include: administration of the provincial government’s motion picture tax credit programs; delivery of program funding and export marketing support for the sector; and provincial film commission services. Combined, these activities serve to attract inward investment and market B.C. as a partner and destination of choice for domestic and international content creation. The agency acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help B.C.’s creative sector reach its economic, social, environmental, and creative potential both at home and globally. Website: www.creativebc.com 

View PDF