The Beneath the Arch concert series will be able to provide bursaries to even more young performers this year.
Thanks to a full slate of shows and the introduction of an adventure raffle, the not-for-profit society behind Diamond Valley’s long-running concert series has over $4,000 to distribute through its annual bursary program.
The society typically awards about $1,500 in bursaries on an annual basis through money raised from 50/50 draws at concerts, but this year, thanks to several local businesses, an adventure raffle was added that has substantially increased the pool of available money.
Cathy McVee, a Beneath the Arch board member overseeing the bursary program, said Tom’s Marine & Sports was so excited by what the concert series was doing to support local kids that it decided to donate a canoe with all the accessories for a raffle.
Turner Valley Golf Club then stepped up with a golf package for four, while Rollick and The Market donated an e-bike adventure package, complete with charcuterie board and wine, for the adventure raffle launched last fall.
Time is running out to buy tickets for the raffle as the draw will be made at the final concert of the season on Saturday, April 29. Tickets will be available at the concert as well as at various businesses whose locations are listed on beneaththearch.ca.
“I am over the moon excited that we have so much money to give away to the children of our community this year,” said McVee. “These kids work really hard and are very deserving of the help this bursary provides and there is so much talent right here in our own backyard.
“It’s been a big team effort from the volunteers, local businesses and all the people who have bought tickets that make this possible.”
The bursary program is only open to students in grades 4 to 12 who live or go to school in Diamond Valley, Longview, Millarville and Priddis, but not Okotoks and High River. The boundary is west of 16 Street West.
The program is open to all performing artists, and the bursary can be used toward lessons, tuition, event or rental fees, materials and more.
Students can apply online by going to beneaththearch.ca. The application form and details are under the bursary tab. Deadline to apply is May 3.
The Beneath the Arch series had a seven-concert lineup for the 2022-23 season, which concludes on April 29 with a performance by the Lonesome Ace Stringband at the Flare n' Derrick.
