BC Artists Coalition
Scotiabank Dance Centre
September 27, 2010
Introduction by Judith Marcuse
Welcome. This meeting has been called to get us caught up with each other and to do some creative advocacy work together.
I’m delighted to recognize the wealth of perspectives and knowledge we have here all in one room. I am very hopeful that our different individual and collective ideas will enable us to move forward on the many fronts of our concerns about arts and culture in BC. And that this gathering will provide energy and action for positive change, both in the short term and into the future.
It’s just over a year ago that the BC government made the unprecedented, surreal and illogical cuts to investment in our 78,000-person-strong sector. Over the course of the year there have been some victories as a result of the extraordinary advocacy work that has taken place.
Indulge me here as I acknowledge and celebrate some of that work…in no particular order. The 10,000 letters that have been sent to politicians and others from BC citizens and from across Canada; the rallies, the dances, the Grey Square relay, the Solidarity photo project of miners, loggers, farmers holding signs supporting the arts; the postcards and the videos; the petitions; the hundreds of speeches at arts events across the province; the many press releases and media campaigns that got wide-ranging public coverage, local, national and online; the meetings with ministers and other government representatives; the presentations to the BC Budget Finance Committee, the toolkits provided by the Arts Alliance, now also being used by the informal coalition of BC arts service organizations that the Alliance is facilitating;.the publishers, music associations, touring council;—the list is here if you want to see it—the celebrity statements; the statistics and other data assiduously gathered to clarify confusing information from the government; the hiring of a lobbyist paid for by a coalition in Victoria and some of the large Lower Mainland arts organizations with the Alliance which has contributed thousands of hours of staff time; the resignation of the chair of the BCAC, Jane Danzo; the launch of new websites that are providing up-to-the minute news on the advocacy front; the promise by the Minister of a Day at the Legislature; the Alliance’s work to co-ordinate meetings with every MLA in the province. The ongoing initiatives of the Grey Square, PAARC, Stop BC Arts Cuts; the Alliance, the Assembly of BC Arts Councils, the lobbyist, Mark Marissen; and Arts Advocacy BC, which has a pan-provincial mandate. And many other initiatives. The list goes on and on. So many new conversations with new contacts, honing our positions and the languages with which to present them.
We have some short term and possibly-sustainable victories to celebrate. We now have a public commitment from the present government at least NOW, to the principle of arms-length investment in arts and culture, a critical position that we must be vigilant to ensure is imbedded both in the short term and in the provincial policy we hope to see created one day soon.
Some of the cuts were restored: $7 million was restored to the BC Arts Council and the outcry overthe Spirit Festivals changed some of the policy surrounding that program, but we have a long way to go. Many of you will know that some of the arts funding stats—nearly $40 per person in Saskatchewan, more than $20 in Alberta, for example, and in BC $6.45. Triple the BC budget, and we’re still at the bottom. There are serious inequalities between the various regions of the province, as well.
There are serious problems with the Embrace BC program which many arts groups are trying access. These.include issues of intellectual property rights. The Gaming situation, of core concern to many of us, is a morass of confusion.
We have begun to come to together as a community to recognize our strengths and our allies, our audiences, our boards, our children, educators, other civil society organizations, citizen groups, chambers of commerce, businesses, health and justice system individuals and organizations, and we are connecting in new ways with the private sector, which in fact, in Canada, outstrips the public sector in its investment in arts and culture. (We must reposition the words…not grants or subsidies.)
There will be an election in a few years and work toward that is much longer-term, but here are the starting point goals that the planning committee offers to you.
Goals:
1. Increased and stable investment in our sector (e.g. three-year BCAC support programs like Canada Council). To include funding for operating, projects and individuals. A tripling of pre-cut levels, still would be lowest in Canada.
2. Guarantee of arms-length funding policy as part of the creation of an overall arts policy for the province
3. Restoration of clear access to Gaming revenues
4. Re-establishment of intellectual property rights specific to Embrace BC new rules
5. More equitable policies and actions for artists and organizations in rural areas of the province
[Judith then went on to describe the break-out groups which were to follow and report at the meeting’s conclusion.]
What Our Members Are Saying
Here are a few comments from our new members.
Want to add your comment? Send it to us.
I am proud to be a part of a sector that is standing up for its rights as an essential component of a healthy Society.
Stop the Cuts! We don’t want to be a nation of buffoons.
Art is civilization’s oxygen.
BC’s policy—rather non-policy—on the arts is shockingly deficient. In fact it is a policy of attacking our vital culture and the remarkable contributions of the arts community. Congratulations on pushing this forward. We need a strong voice and we need to make this an important issue during the next election.
Art is not a luxury. It is a critical part of our personal and cultural heritage as human beings.
Wonderful initiative!
Artists bring beauty and balance to the world and offer their creativity and knowledge to the Art of Living.
If ever there was a need for advocacy is this province, it is now.
Commit to Arts Funding Now!
I support the voice of all British Columbians, which is kept strong through arts and culture in this province.
Thanks for your great work!
Each and every great culture supports the arts. The arts are our culture and creativity, and innovation is our future. To cut the arts funding at this stage in BC’s history is tragic and very short sighted.
I’m glad to have the opportunity to add my voice to this worthwhile cause.
How arts organizations are treated by the Government truly reflects the soul of the politics of our leaders. In this case, our leaders have failed us.
A healthy society MUST have art!
Art is civilization’s oxygen.
Superb organization to be a part of and thank you for the FREE introductory membership!
Thank you for advocating on my behalf and on behalf of artists across the province of BC. Please let me know what I can do to help! I would like to be more involved in your organization and bringing your message to the wider public.
I would like to see funding for post-secondary schools’ arts programs restored. I would also like the province to restore specialized training funding in place for young artists struggling to hone their respective crafts.
I’m currently taking a cultural arts and management program which includes a class on arts lobbying and advocacy, what a great find! Being a younger member of the vibrant culture of Victoria these cuts effect me greatly, I’m so happy to know there’s lobbying efforts out there and that people still care about the arts!
Let’s stop the down turn of our civilization by supporting the arts!
Thank you for getting this started. You have my total support.
Remind this public, over and over again, of the jobs created by arts and culture, of the tax revenue generated that pays for healthcare and education, of the community renewal and prosperity enacted through the arts that is attractive for business and investment.
Its time to take back the arts in BC away from a government that neither cares nor is capable of making budgetting decisions.
Returning funds promised to off-set societal damage from gaming and the collateral chaos it causes is essential. This governnent in the same breath as cutting arts and charities off at the knees, to save a whopping 1% of their overall budget, has upped gambling limits and dailt maximums causing even more harm to our society and encouraging those with no hope to be voluntarily taxed for the slim hope of being rich. Its time for these criminals to stand up and do what we all know is the right thing to do.
If there has to be gambling that is sanctioned by any BC Government, it should be considered a tax on those foolish enough to “play against the dealer”. The ‘revenues’ from gambling and lotteries are supposed to go to the arts, to charities and to community groups that do the work that government should be supporting. These monies should not be going to general revenue.
I’m a patron (and some times a participant) of the arts in my community. I’m a supporter of community groups that work to make life better and culture survive. This organization is one that can help to make sure the money from gambling and lotteries will be distributed as it should be, according to laws and agreements, which the current government has decided to ignore.
Paint on!
Arts Funding is vital to fulfilling a community’s potential in a modern British Columbia. By reducing arts funding it is British Columbians who suffer through reduced visibility of culture, and therefore reduced confidence and initiative.
Awareness about the need for support of the arts to be brought back up and beyond? Yes please.
I think we need to think about dedicating 1% of the provincial revenue to Arts funding so that it becomes anchored in policy rather than subjective to ignorant political interference that has no basis other that hatred of the creative and challenges to the status quo.