Five key non-profit arts organizations in Campbell River, B.C., presented to council Tuesday on how they can become less reliant on municipal funds — a condition that council put in place before it agrees to renew the groups' subsidized leases.

Ken Blackburn, director of the Campbell River Arts Council, says the leases — which only cost $1 per year — are the foundation for the organizations’ stability and affects their ability to access more grants.

“The risk is huge. It will mean direct loss of employment for people. It will mean less service to the community,” Blackburn said of the potential loss.

“That's going to have dire consequences in terms of health outcomes, in terms of just economic activity, just in terms of quality of life for the residents of town.”

The Vancouver Island c

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