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 香蕉视频直播榯urn it up to eleven香蕉视频直播� 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 society香蕉视频直播檚 fixed and basic operating costs for 2020-21.

香蕉视频直播淭his funding is really positive,香蕉视频直播� Valstar said. 香蕉视频直播淥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 香蕉视频直播� when you can香蕉视频直播檛 gather people, you can香蕉视频直播檛 raise funds.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淲e had just said, 香蕉视频直播榯his is a casualty but we can deal with it.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

But with this award, the team behind Western Canada香蕉视频直播檚 largest metal festival won香蕉视频直播檛 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.

香蕉视频直播淲hen we don香蕉视频直播檛 have an event, we can香蕉视频直播檛 really pay for that kind of stuff,香蕉视频直播� Valstar said. 香蕉视频直播淭he B.C. government rolled in and actually helped us out quite a bit.香蕉视频直播�

Looking to 2022, the festival is set to come back bigger and better than ever 香蕉视频直播� pending health orders.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e looking at ways to expand the festival from what it is right now but trying to sort things out香蕉视频直播� we can香蕉视频直播檛 do anything without knowing what we香蕉视频直播檙e allowed to do,香蕉视频直播� Valstar said.

Now, it香蕉视频直播檚 a game of wait and see.

香蕉视频直播淎rmstrong MetalFest and every other event and gathering has its struggles so we香蕉视频直播檙e not unique in that aspect,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檝e just got to move forward with whatever you香蕉视频直播檝e got.香蕉视频直播�

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

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Caitlin.clow@vernonmorningstar.com
Like us on and follow us on .