COVID-19 may have silenced Armstrong MetalFest (AMF) this year, but thanks to a provincial grant, the festival will be kept on its feet until it can 91裸聊视频榯urn it up to eleven91裸聊视频� in 2022.

AMF, a part of West Metal Entertainment, was awarded relief funds through the BC Arts Council and co-founder Jesse Valstar said the grant will cover all of the society91裸聊视频檚 fixed and basic operating costs for 2020-21.

91裸聊视频淭his funding is really positive,91裸聊视频� Valstar said. 91裸聊视频淥ne of the most challenging parts during the COVID pandemic is for a (non-for-profit) society that depends on people gathering to make money 91裸聊视频� when you can91裸聊视频檛 gather people, you can91裸聊视频檛 raise funds.91裸聊视频�

Earlier this month, AMF announced it had to pull the plug for the second year in a row due to provincial health orders restricting events and Valstar said the volunteer-based society had come to accept the costs of the pandemic.

91裸聊视频淲e had just said, 91裸聊视频榯his is a casualty but we can deal with it.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

But with this award, the team behind Western Canada91裸聊视频檚 largest metal festival won91裸聊视频檛 have to start two steps back.

The funding will cover website operations, society maintenance and the annual Armstrong Metal Fest Music Bursary, awarded to a graduating Pleasant Valley Secondary student.

91裸聊视频淲hen we don91裸聊视频檛 have an event, we can91裸聊视频檛 really pay for that kind of stuff,91裸聊视频� Valstar said. 91裸聊视频淭he B.C. government rolled in and actually helped us out quite a bit.91裸聊视频�

Looking to 2022, the festival is set to come back bigger and better than ever 91裸聊视频� pending health orders.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e looking at ways to expand the festival from what it is right now but trying to sort things out91裸聊视频� we can91裸聊视频檛 do anything without knowing what we91裸聊视频檙e allowed to do,91裸聊视频� Valstar said.

Now, it91裸聊视频檚 a game of wait and see.

91裸聊视频淎rmstrong MetalFest and every other event and gathering has its struggles so we91裸聊视频檙e not unique in that aspect,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檝e just got to move forward with whatever you91裸聊视频檝e got.91裸聊视频�

The BC Arts Council was created in 1995 to support the arts and cultural activity in communities across the province.

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Caitlin.clow@vernonmorningstar.com
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