Vancouver Opera has received a $50,000 grant from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation to support its educational outreach programs.

The educational outreach includes “Vancouver Opera in Schools,” “Project Opera,” “Opera Lab,” and “The Capstone Mentorship Program,” all of which aim to provide opportunities for students across grades 1 to 12 to engage with opera. The programs may reach up to 20,000 students.

“Vancouver Opera’s education programs deliver incredible impact to students who would not otherwise have the chance to connect with the performing arts in a meaningful way,” said Tom Wright, General Director, Vancouver Opera, in an official press statement. “This programming would not be possible without the generous support we have received from the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation. We are deeply grateful for this continued partnership.”

The grant was given in conjunction with Seaspan and Southern Railway of British Columbia.

“We are proud to continue supporting Vancouver Opera’s important work to engage students and make the arts more accessible to them,” added Kyle Washington, Executive Chairman, Seaspan. “By bringing diverse opportunities to students to learn about opera and spark their creativity, Vancouver Opera is strengthening the arts and helping to enrich our communities.”