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 sa国际传媒榯urn it up to elevensa国际传媒� 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 societysa国际传媒檚 fixed and basic operating costs for 2020-21.

sa国际传媒淭his funding is really positive,sa国际传媒� Valstar said. sa国际传媒淥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 sa国际传媒� when you cansa国际传媒檛 gather people, you cansa国际传媒檛 raise funds.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淲e had just said, sa国际传媒榯his is a casualty but we can deal with it.sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�

But with this award, the team behind Western Canadasa国际传媒檚 largest metal festival wonsa国际传媒檛 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.

sa国际传媒淲hen we donsa国际传媒檛 have an event, we cansa国际传媒檛 really pay for that kind of stuff,sa国际传媒� Valstar said. sa国际传媒淭he B.C. government rolled in and actually helped us out quite a bit.sa国际传媒�

Looking to 2022, the festival is set to come back bigger and better than ever sa国际传媒� pending health orders.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e looking at ways to expand the festival from what it is right now but trying to sort things outsa国际传媒� we cansa国际传媒檛 do anything without knowing what wesa国际传媒檙e allowed to do,sa国际传媒� Valstar said.

Now, itsa国际传媒檚 a game of wait and see.

sa国际传媒淎rmstrong MetalFest and every other event and gathering has its struggles so wesa国际传媒檙e not unique in that aspect,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淵ousa国际传媒檝e just got to move forward with whatever yousa国际传媒檝e got.sa国际传媒�

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 .