The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Arts Council received a grant from Westminster Saving of $14,000 to help with its Arts Angels program. Arts Angels allows youth to access programs at The ACT at a subsidized rate and sometimes provides free tickets to performances for those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to take part. The funding will allow more than 800 students from local elementary schools and high schools to take part in a variety of arts programming.

The funding comes from Westminster Savings Project Better Balance, which encourage physical activity or participation in the arts and remove barriers to participation.

Funding will also go toward a bursary program as well as subsidized access to the arts for local families, providing increased opportunities to engage in arts programming such as dance, theatre, music and pottery.

“Westminster Savings has been an integral and long term partner in helping to bring balance to the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows communities. We are committed to increasing access to the arts in our communities, and we are exceptionally pleased to forward our support for Arts Angels, subsidized arts programming and live performance at the ACT”, said Doug King, board director, Westminster Savings. “The arts bring diversity and balance to our communities and this support will help local children and families experience the many long term benefits of participating in arts programming such as self-confidence, goal setting and enhanced creativity”.

“Westminster Savings’ very valuable support gives more than just tickets to a fun show or something to do after school or on the weekend,” said Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council board director Dawn Flanagan. “Involvement in the arts has been proven to access emotion and attention, as well as reason and logic. The arts help engage and develop the very integrated parts of the brain. As a school teacher, I see how the arts can affect learning and development and support social interactions. For this, I believe that investing in the arts, in the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council and our work in the community, is a wise investment in education as well as healthy living.”