Vancouver has a robust music ecosystem that is strongly embedded in the city’s multicultural and diverse fabric. The various talented music communities channel their creative energy to foster collaborations between the government, audience, artists, and tourists. Music also plays an important role in the city’s economy.
However, in these times of Covid-19, when going out is restricted to store runs for your daily needs, the music industry has taken a big hit and musicians are struggling. The pandemic has led to the cancellation of many concerts and the shutting down of venues all around the world. However, keeping the spirit of the city intact, Vancouver’s art and music scene has gone virtual. While virtual concerts are being held weekly, a cinema is also running virtual film screenings.
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Grants For Musicians
In order to help the music industry and provide grants to musicians struggling during the pandemic, the BC government has launched an online music hub to showcase artists through livestreaming concerts. The main aim of this initiative is to support the musicians by giving grants to emerging and established artists.
The BC government, in collaboration with Creative BC, has created a free platform that will livestream concerts, live performances and other entertainment featuring BC artists. To participate in this showcase, musicians can apply for one-time grants. Emerging artists can apply for a grant of $500 and established artists can apply for a $2,000 grant for live performances. Creative BC will offer grants to amplify all BC applicants.
Meanwhile, the responsive neighborhood small grants or R-NSG is a new grant stream created to support small-scale projects that adhere to the social distancing norms. This project is run by The Vancouver Foundation and its NSG community. You are eligible to apply for a grant of up to $500. Some of the eligible projects for this grant will include jobs like dropping of packages to elderly homes or providing digital workshops or performances like music performances through online platforms like Zoom.
Artists Gear Up For Livestreaming Shows
While the city copes with social distancing and no public gatherings, musicians and artists have been shifting gears to quickly adapt to virtual ways for creative expression. For most, livestreaming virtual shows are a means to provide an experience to the audience, like a live show that captures the beauty and essence of a performance, providing momentary escape from the current situation. Not only seen as a method for emergency funding, livestreaming shows have proven to reflect how art can be expressed in times like these.
Upcoming Shows
Below are a few shows livestreaming for the week of the 22nd to the 28th of June. You can watch the shows on https://showcasebc.ca/:
- Sound Bath Sanctuary – Virtual Sound Bath
When: 22nd June
Category: Music
What: Mike Reed is a musician and a sound healer with several years of experience as a life coach, counselor, and healer. Mike creates a virtual sound space with the sounds of gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, and steel tongue drums to create healing sound vibrations for relaxation.
- Krystle Dos Santos – Underneath The Harlem Moon Cabaret
When: 23rd June, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm PDT
Category: Music
What: Krystle Dos Santos is a jazz, blues, and soul singer from Vancouver. She will be performing with guests Jackie Nguyen and Susana Williams.
- Feed My Soul – Live Morning Coffee Chat
When: 24th June, 10:00 am – 11:30 am PDT
Category: Music
What: Instagram morning conversations hosted by Krystle Dos Santos with musicians, artists, and other performers from Vancouver.
- Nick Mintenko With Eryn Sharpe Livestreaming At Harmann’s
When: 25th June, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm PDT
Category: Music
What: Nick will perform his original music with Eryn on vocals.
- Escape Feat. Khanvict And Guests
When: 26th June, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm PDT
What: Live electronic music and visuals by Khanvict and friends that transport you to another realm.
- Michael Frazer’s Presents Brain Freeze Live
When: 27th June, 8:30 pm PDT
Category: Interactive and digital
What: Michael showcases his creativity and talent by mixing his beats with live violin, providing a unique experience.
- Summer Livestream Series With Natalie Ingram
When: 28th June, 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm PDT
Category: Music
What: A live concert featuring genres like folk roots, country, swing, and blues.
Conclusion
This significant step taken by the government to promote the musicians of Vancouver has received a lot of support from artists. Livestreaming shows is now seen as a safe way to entertain people even in these uncertain times. From offering grants to providing a free platform for talented artists, the government is all to support and strengthen the music community. Though this program will help the musicians make money, it will also give them an opportunity to improvise and upgrade their art to match the need of the hour.
Hopefully, once things get back to normal, this virtual showcase can be reflected upon as an experiential event that made the artists think out of the box and manage to provide fine entertainment to people in the middle of a pandemic.
