Arts Advocacy BC » Uncategorized

CARPE DIEM!

Tom Durrie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:35:05 +0000

Dear friends,

RE: Community Gaming Grants Review Report Government response

Excuse my frankness, yet I feel it is necessary to write this open letter

Two weeks ago Kevin Falcon admitted publicly the government did wrong by arts and culture and they need to make things right.

This is astounding. The government is vulnerable, desperate and seeking to boost their popularity rating

The Premier followed through on her promise to act on the Skip Triplett Report.

However, we need to let them know the solution to the gaming revenue issue is unacceptable. Yes, it was right to restore eligibility for many organizations but a frozen amount for 4 years means severe cuts for everyone.

The time is auspicious to tell them the truth. It probably should be $635M not $135M for the non-profit sector.

They also need to rectify their cruel errors with arts and culture grant cuts

We have an opportunity to make our case before the next budget. so the time is indeed right. Let us urge them to do the right thing, knowing they are listening now.

I know the arts and culture sector feels bruised, shamed, impotent, despairing and victimised. but we need to hold our heads high and fight for what is right.

We cannot let them buy us off with this unacceptable and unjust solution. If they succeed and we don’t complain they will win the PR battle and we will have lost an opportunity.

I urge you to write letters to the editor. For example there could be more responses to Pete McMartin’s excellent column in the Vancouver Sun. The Georgia Straight is open to our opinions. Community newspapers will print letters and the other media will take notice.

I know this is a busy time and too soon after Christmas, yet I believe we can turn this around.

For the sake of all the people whose lives are enriched by the non-profit sector, we need to seek justice now in the media and in social media

Let’s get the campaign going!

Carpe diem

With love and admiration,

Colin Miles

British Columbia Gaming Grant Review

Tom Durrie — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 04:15:02 +0000

FOUR PRESENTATION POINTS FOR THE GAMING GRANT REVIEW
SEE ALSO: ACTION ALERTS

AABC board member David Stewart is presenting the following four points to the Castelgar forum on Monday, August 15th:

Streamline the application and reporting process for organizations whose budgets are under $50,000 per year
Re-structure eligibility to include adult engagement in Arts, Culture, and Heritage activities
Use gaming grants to increase the Province’s funding to Arts, Culture, and Heritage to at least the National Average. BC has, for too long had the questionable distinction of ranking thirteenth of all the provinces and territories when it comes to arts and heritage funding.
Re-introduce and strengthen options for multi-year funding to enhance the sustainability of charitable organizations.

David is president of both the BC Choral Federation and the North Kootenay Lake Arts & Heritage Council.

You’ll find information about the review at this government website. Be sure to follow the links to location nearest you, how to make a written submission, etc. It’s also informative to Google “BC Gaming Grant Review” and see what other people are saying about it. Is this a serious request for citizen recommendations–or just the usual Liberal window dressing?

Don’t forget to see: ACTION ALERTS

We value your comments.

A Letter to Premier Clark

Tom Durrie — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:05:16 +0000

Dear Ms. Clark:

You are embarrassed about the hockey riots in Vancouver? Who is surprised? Our young people and every healthy society needs more than testosterone and beer: the people of B.C. need the moderating influence of Arts and Culture. When governments practice “cultural apartheid” against families and kids in arts and culture, then sooner or later you will see the crudification of society with predictable consequences.

What am I talking about? The fact that B.C. has the second lowest support to the arts in Canada! The fact that B.C. spends 600 million dollars on a new roof for a sports facility while cutting a modest grant to the B.C. Arts Council to the bone! The fact that the Federal Government has grossly discriminated against Canadian kids in the arts for five years, and only a week ago reversed this appalling discrimination in the new budget. The senior government Canada, in its wisdom, has made a momentous decision: that kids, that families who prefer the arts are now equal to families and kids in sports! Hurray!

I appeal to you to heed the leadership of senior government and take a hard look at B.C.’s up to now discriminatory policy against the arts. With the hundreds of millions of dollars for that new roof you could have given grants to 200 communities to build modest arts/culture/community centers throughout B.C. and do some real good for families and young people in B.C.

Good luck for your by-election and I hope you will bring more women into your cabinet.

Sincerely yours, (Mr.) Sigurd Sabathil

720 Gardner Lane

Bowen Island, B.C. V0N 1G0

604-947-0440

PS: I could tell you more horror stories how other levels of government discriminate against people in the arts, for example how the GVRD (now Metro) ruled that arts and culture have no place in recreation”. !

A Brilliant Article

Tom Durrie — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:52:57 +0000

In response to the Sun News Network interview with Margie Gillis.

Jun 8th, 2011 | By Editor | Category: News

by Louis Laberge-Côté on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at 7:40pm

From: Louis Laberge-Côté–Contemporary dancer / choreographer / teacher / arts lover / taxpayer

If by attacking dance artist Margie Gillis on the Canada Live show aired on June 1st, Krista Erickson, anchorwoman for the Sun News Network, intended to publicly insult a well-respected artist on a sensationalist broadcast news channel, she certainly achieved her goal. Of course, Miss Erickson is allowed to have her own opinions and she has the right to express them. But when it comes to journalism, shouldn’t it be somewhat of a moral obligation for the reporter to put aside her personal opinions to look at a situation from different perspectives, gather information from different sources and, obviously, allow her guest to express her point of view? Isn’t it ridiculously unprofessional and profoundly inhumane to invite a woman such as Margie Gillis just to publicly bully her, with no possibility for real discourse, in the name of a few minutes of “great television”?

But behind the obvious lack of respect and consideration, what was most shocking during this interview is that Miss Erickson was clearly more interested in diffusing an extreme anti-arts agenda than honest and truthful information.

If Miss Erickson had done her homework more thoroughly (listing all the grants one specific artist received during the last 13 years, although impressive looking, is certainly not enough to discuss the subject of public arts funding as a whole), she probably would have arrived at different conclusions. Or at least, let’s hope so. She likes numbers, so let’s play her game:

In 2007, The Conference Board estimated that the economic footprint of Canada’s culture sector was $84.6 billion, or 7.4 per cent of Canada’s total real GDP, including direct, indirect, and induced contributions. Culture sector employment exceeded 1.1 million jobs in 2007. And by the way, culture sector workers (including artists) are taxpayers just like any other worker in Canada, something Miss Erickson seems to easily forget. Furthermore, according to The Conference Board, the “Arts and culture industries play a vital role in attracting people, business, and investment, and in distinguishing Canada as a dynamic and exciting place to live and work… The culture sector bridges geographical distances and creates greatly expanded social networks.” (Valuing Culture: Measuring and Understanding Canada’s Creative Economy. 2008.)

http://www.conferenceboard.ca/documents.aspx?did=2671

And this is not hard to believe. Each time an artist like Margie Gillis receives a grant, Canadians are hired: dancers, actors, musicians, composers, rehearsal directors, lighting/costume/set designers, photographers, administrative and marketing staff, to name a few. Rehearsal and performing space are rented. Eventually, posters, flyers, ads and programs are designed, printed and distributed. Many audience members go to a restaurant before or after the performance traveling by car, taxi, or public transportation. Previews and reviews are written in newspapers and magazines. Tourists come to a city or decide to stay longer to see a specific show or exhibition. Touring artists fly and travel all around the world on commercial airlines. The list goes on and on.

In fact, we should consider cultural public funding as a collective investment and certainly not as a “waste”, to use one of Miss Erickson’s favourite terms. According to Canadian Heritage, the federal cultural funding totals “$1.51 billion for the fiscal years from 2010 to 2015”, which amounts to an average of about $300 million a year. (Canadian Heritage – News Releases/ Statements. 2009.)

http://www.pch.gc.ca/pc-ch/infocntr/cdm-mc/index-eng.cfm?action=doc&DocIDCd=CJM090829

The Canadian federal budget expenditures totaled $276 billion in 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Canadian_federal_budget

Looking at it proportionally, it is easy to see that cultural funding doesn’t represent that much money in the big picture. In fact, wanting to cut these amounts to help the economy is somewhat similar to wanting to cut the toenails of an obese man, just so he could lose some weight. Somewhat ridiculous, don’t you think? Especially since by comparing these numbers with the ones from the Conference Board, we can also see that this “small” collective investment is actually quite a profitable one; the Conference Board estimates that in 2007, the expenses related to culture on all levels of government together (federal, provincial and local) reached $7.9 billion. This $7.9 billion generated $84.6 globally, something we all benefit from, and not only the “cultural elites” as Miss Erickson likes to believe. In fact, respected Danish researcher Bengt-Åke Lundvall clearly demonstrated that countries who do better economically and politically are precisely the ones who deliberately contributed to a “creative and cultural climate”.

But obviously, the cultural sector is about something much greater than the money it generates. The real power of the arts is not material and pretending otherwise is as ridiculous as saying that the car industry is about paying for the groceries of the builders, while ignoring that cars are made for transportation. According to a study published in the British Medical Association’s Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, cultured people are more satisfied with their lives, regardless of how educated or rich they are. Researchers led by Koenraad Cuypers of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology analyzed information collected from 50,797 adults living in Norway’s Nord-Trondelag County. The participants were asked detailed questions about their leisure habits and how they perceived their own state of health and well-being. “After adjusting for relevant confounding factors” — including socio-economic status — “it seemed that cultural participation was independently associated with good health, a low depression score and satisfaction with life”, the study’s authors write.

Is that something a conscientious government should care about? Obviously. Miss Erickson’s assertion on the May 18th edition of The Waste Report that apparently most Conservatives privately think that arts funding is ridiculous, if true, says much more about the Conservative party than about the value of the arts in our society. In fact, most countries financially support their cultural industry in a way or another. And this goes back to the Roman Empire, if not before. Behind the masterworks of Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Bach or Mozart, there is a pope or a monarch. Were these works directly profitable from a business sense as they were being created? Probably not. Do these works enrich the lives of many human beings from all around the world since their creation? Of course. I personally cannot imagine a world without the works of Beethoven, Molière or Da Vinci and I am extremely grateful that somebody allowed them to create such beautiful expressions of humanity.

But let’s use a more contemporary example; Cirque du Soleil started from nothing and is now worth around $2 billion. In the early ‘80s, the founders were a few unknown artists living in Baie-Saint-Paul with no rehearsal space. I am pretty sure Miss Erickson would have gladly described them as “walk like an Egyptian” “artsy fartsy” “cultural elites”, to use more of the colourful language she enjoys so much. But luckily, Guy Laliberté didn’t meet with Miss Erickson when he needed public support. He met with Québec Premier René Lévesque who took the time to listen. Thanks to a politician who had faith in culture, this little circus with no audience at the time became a highly successful international enterprise. But this didn’t happen in one day. It took many years of research, development, and trial and error which were at first not profitable.

Contemporary interpretive dance is not a commercial art form. In many cases such as Margie Gillis’, it is an intimate, personal journey, not meant to be shared in front of a huge audience, making profits more difficult to achieve. Does this mean this work shouldn’t be created? Certainly not. Artists like Margie inspire and enlighten many people on a very deep emotional, spiritual and intellectual level and act as ambassadors all over the world. They push and define the limits of imagination, research, difference, individuality, identity, language, humanity, compassion, criticism, connection, understanding, and beauty. Again, the fact that Miss Erickson cannot relate to any of it certainly says far more about her than the work itself. In fact, many artistic movements and creators were at first not appreciated by their contemporaries. For the longest time, jazz music had a very limited audience. Artists such as Van Gogh and Stravinsky, whose work is greatly appreciated nowadays, had very difficult beginnings. Many of the things we can enjoy today as “normal entertainment” would have been completely misunderstood just a hundred years ago. And that’s normal, as this is how humanity evolves. Should we stop artistic evolution just because it requires effort and personal exploration to fully appreciate it, especially knowing that this pattern (avant-garde works not being mainstream) has existed for centuries? Obviously no.

And of course, this pattern also exists in other fields. Take science for example. There is practical science which has clear direct function. And there is leading-edge research, which doesn’t necessarily have immediate results. But leading-edge research is the reason why diabetes treatments, X-rays and supersonic planes exist today. I don’t understand why artists are being publicly described as spoiled elitists when the government also supports the pharmaceutical industry, high-caliber sports or higher education. Everything is financed by the state. And everybody benefits from it. When an athlete competes on an international level, we’re all winners. When an artist like Margie Gillis presents her work internationally, the effect is the same.

I will conclude all this by quoting Laurent Simon who said, “The world that is coming scares the traditionalists, since its models are less controllable than the analysis of an economy centered around the classical schemes of production and return”. It is very saddening to see that this fear now results in aggressive, partisan and close-minded “journalism” on Canadian television. Let’s just hope that the world of tomorrow will be more respectful, wise, compassionate and, as opposed to Miss Erickson, willing to allocate a portion of the taxpayer money towards world peace.

“What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” – Oscar Wilde

I would like to thank Nova Bhattacharya, Michael Caldwell, Alexandre Chartrand, Pierre Duhamel, Jean-Philippe Joubert, Simon Jodoin, Tara Gonder, Catherine Lalonde, Graham McKelvie, Nathalie Petrowski, Brian Solomon, Jean-Jacques Stréliski and William Yong who were all a great inspiration and help as I was writing this. And of course, heartfelt thanks to Margie Gillis for being such an incredible example of wisdom, kindness and strength to all of us.

In the meantime, what can you do?

1. Do not watch Sun TV and avoid visiting their website as they receive money from their sponsors each time you do so. But of course, this is inevitable if you want to see the interview mentioned earlier (http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/971454253001) or send them your complaints (http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/about-sun.html).
2. Write to your MP about extreme political propaganda and misrepresentation in the media.
3. Send your complaints to the CRTC (http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/G8.HTM). Complaints need to be filed within 4 weeks following the broadcast, so be fast!
4. Ask the CRTC to remove Sun TV from basic cable programming. As of now, it is regulated that Sun TV is included in basic cable, which means that your cable TV provider won’t be able to do anything if you ask them to remove this channel from your bundle. Sadly, even if you never watch it, Sun TV will still make money out of your pocket since you are paying for basic cable.
5. If Sun TV ends up not being under basic cable regulations, ask your cable TV provider to remove it from your bundle.
6. Learn your statistics, numbers, quotes and facts about the importance and the benefits of the arts in our society. Be prepared for heated discussions.
7. Remind people that artists are taxpayers too.
8. Share this letter or any other relevant information with as many people as you can.
9. Support the arts proudly and let the people around you know how important and enriching it is to do so.
10. Stay gracious, open, creative and compassionate. Example is the best teacher.

Please watch this inspirational interview with paleontologist Donald C. Johanson about what makes us humans: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150175212469795&oid=95578378591&comments

You can also find the original of this letter here: http://ejazznews.com/2011/06/08/in-response-to-the-sun-news-network-interview-with-margie-gillis/

WHO SAYS THE ARTS CAN’T MAKE THINGS HAPPEN?

Tom Durrie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:53:19 +0000

How the Arts Brought Down the Mega Casino

Jessica Werb

Georgia Straight

April 21, 2011

If the B.C. government had never cut the arts groups out of Direct Access gaming grants, that Vegas-style casino might just have been a done deal after all—and the province would be reaping in an estimated $231 million a year from the site. (Currently, the Edgewater casino brings in $120 million a year. A 2009 report prepared by consultant HLT Advisory for the B.C. Lottery Corporation suggested the proposed expanded casino could generate an additional $132 million.)

In March of last year, the province announced changes to community gaming grant sectors, stating adult arts and culture, adult sports, environmental groups and school playgrounds would not receive funding in 2010-2011. The new eligibility rules came after the announcement in August 2009 that only a limited number arts and culture groups would be funded. (The province also attempting to tear up agreements with arts groups who had multiyear funding commitments, but ended up backtracking when the threat of legal action loomed).

But the arts fought back. They mobilized, joined with the B.C. Association of Charitable Gaming, and on October 14, 2010, they staged their first protest outside city hall. They demanded the city stop its review of gaming applications until the B.C. government promises to adhere to its 1999 memorandum of agreement with the BCACG, which sets the charitable share of gaming proceeds at 33 percent—just as the city was preparing to consider plans for an expanded Edgewater Casino adjacent to B.C. Place.

In March 2010, when Premier Gordon Campbell announced the major casino proposal for the land around the stadium, little opposition was voiced and there were few protests in the June open houses on the plan. It all looked like a done deal—until the arts got their back up and started asking the province to answer for their cuts to gaming grants in the wake of increased gambling revenues.

Soon, resident groups—the False Creek Residents Association, Strathcona Residents’ Association, and the Grandview Woodland Area Counci—joined the Alliance for Arts and Culture and the BCACG in opposition to the casino expansion, creating the Vancouver not Vegas coalition. and suddenly, what might have been a fairly routine rezoning process for the city turned into eight full days of public hearings, with over a hundred speakers signed up. Medical health officers and police turned up to voice their opposition and concerns about the mega-casino, alongside renowned architect Bing Thom, former city councillor and mayoral candidate Peter Ladner, and former NPA council candidate Sean Bickerton.

The province probably never realized what a gamble it took when cutting funding for the arts. The arts, in turn, upped the ante—and brought down the house of cards

Election Platform

Tom Durrie — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:25:35 +0000

An Arts Election Platform

The Canadian Conference of the Arts has released a Common Arts Election Platform.

The platform has been endorsed by the Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture, as follows:

“The Alliance is endorsing the Common Arts Election Platform, which brings together the concerns of many different arts and cultural organizations and artists across Canada. If you would like to also endorse this document, please let The Canadian Conference for the Arts know by Friday April 15^th. You can send your message to jessica.litwin@ccarts.ca You can also find specific questions and strategies to make the arts and culture part of the public dialogue with voters here on our site, and on the Conference for the Arts, Canadian Arts Coalition, and Arts Advocacy BC websites.”

We urge you to read and send your comments to us, to the Alliance, and to jessica.litwin@ccarts.ca

Please go to our Action Alerts for more information and questions to ask your MP candidates.

More Gaming Money to Charities??

Tom Durrie — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:29:41 +0000

Today, March 24th, Premier Christy Clark announced an increase of $15 million of gaming money to go to charities. Is this an improvement?
Please start by reading Jessica Werb’s article in today’s Georgia Straight. Also see Jessica’s follow-up interview with Minister Ida Chong.

Go to our Action Alerts for more information and how to respond.

A CULTURAL POLICY FOR BC

Tom Durrie — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:23:55 +0000

CREATING A POLICY FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
A DRAFT PROPOSAL

Why a cultural policy is important
By adopting an arts and culture policy a government recognizes the contribution of the arts to the health and well-being of the community as well as playing a vital role in the economy.

Let us talk about cultural policy. It has three objectives. The first and most important one is to put the creator at the core of our concerns. The second one is to strengthen our Canadian identity. Finally, the third objective is to promote accessibility. We want to ensure that people not only appreciate what our creators do, but that they have access to their work.
(Canadian Conference of the Arts, Committee of the Whole, November 16, 2004).

A country’s culture is its body and soul, reflecting the way its inhabitants act and think. In its broadest sense, its culture includes a community’s knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, customs, traditions and distinctive institutions.—The Arts and Canada’s Cultural Policy, Government of Canada publication, 1999. You can read this entire document here:
http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/CIR/933-e.htm#ISSUE-t

Fundamental principles of a cultural policy

The following is freely adapted from the report of Groupe-conseil sur la politique culturelle du Quebec, Une politique de la culture et des arts, chaired by Roland Arpin, 1991

First: Culture is essential for the life of any society.

Second: Culture must be made accessible to all of that society’s citizens.

Third: The state has the obligation to support and to promote culture to the same degree that it does the society’s economic and social dimensions.

If imbalance is allowed to disturb harmony in the relationship between the economic, social, and cultural dimensions of a society, that society will find itself degraded and will rapidly become unjust.

A Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage

Essential to the implementation of a cultural policy is the formation of a Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Heritage. Following are the guiding principles of such a ministry:

1. Create cultural policies that encourage artistic creation, maintain professional quality of cultural industries, protect intellectual property, and ensure the stability and blossoming of cultural institutions.

2. In order to encourage access to the life of culture, there must be heightened emphasis on arts education for adults and children, and a concerted program of cultural development in the regions that favours both local heritage and contemporary artistic works.

3. To increase the effectiveness of government in managing its cultural mission, the Ministry, working with the British Columbia Arts Council, should concentrate on elaborating the overall policy, filling the role of initiator, assuring support for the arts through its arms length arts council, and co-ordinating its partners in other ministries, local governments, arts organizations, the artistic milieu and the private sector.

Four questions about the British Columbia Arts Council

What would be the relationship between the British Columbia Arts Council and the new Ministry?
The British Columbia Arts Council is the arms length funding agency of the Ministry. The Ministry sets broad policies as listed in items 1, 2, & 3 above. The Arts Council processes applications and funds organizations and individual artists. Funding decisions are made completely independently of the Ministry.

How would that differ from what we have now?
It would seem that relations between the Arts Council and the Ministry have not always been productive or cordial. The roles of the Arts Council and the Ministry must be clearly defined.

What is wrong with what we have now in any case?
In our opinion, the main problem with the Arts Council at present is lack of sufficient funding. Again, arms length practices must be defined and adhered to, and a mutually productive relationship must be exercised. In accord with item number 2 above, the Arts Council should have a vigorous public presence.

Is the present structure of the British Columbia Arts Council viable? If not, how to amend?
The structure of the Arts Council seems to us to be viable. Appointment of Council members, however, should be based on recommendations from the arts community. This must be a transparent process.

AABC Joins with Alliance to Question Leadership Hopefuls

Tom Durrie — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:42:30 +0000

AABC is now working with the Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture to pose these questions to the candidates for the leadership of each party. Check here to follow our progress.

Here they are:
(The asterisk indicates that answers will be found below.)

LIBERAL
George Abbott*
Christy Clark*
Mike de Jong
Kevin Falcon*

NDP
Adrian Dix*
Mike Farnworth*
John Horgan*
Dana Larsen*
Nicholas Simons*

GREEN PARTY
Jane Sterk, leader*

BC CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Wayne McGrath, president*

BC FIRST PARTY
Blake MacKenzie

We’ll be posting their answers here as we receive them.

FROM GEORGE ABBOTT, LIBERAL LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE AND MLA FOR SHUSWAP

Dear Amir Ali Alibhai, Executive Director:

Thank you for your letter and the opportunity to respond. Here are my answers to your questions:

1. Yes. As I committed in my news release of December 3, 2010, I would restore both funding for the arts through gaming grants and through the BC Arts Council to 2008-09 levels. I would also restore the eligibility criteria for direct access grants so that adult arts and culture activities would once again be eligible. Finally, I would undertake a review of the BC Arts Council to help restore its independence as an advocate on behalf of the arts in this province.

2. It is important to recognize that while a portion of gaming revenue is returned to charities on an annual basis, gaming revenue is also an essential revenue stream to fund health, education and other social programs for our citizens. While I remain a proponent of boosting gaming grants in key areas like the arts as I have announced, I do not believe that in our current deficit situation that it will be realistic to provide the level of overall gaming grant funding that would be required to meet the standard laid out in the 1999 MOA. However, I do hope that as our fiscal situation improves we will be able to direct more resources to charities through gaming or other means to move ourselves closer towards the spirit of the MOA.

3. I believe that stable funding is necessary for the sector to thrive; however, I do not believe that our arts funding approach should be solely be judged by per-capita funding. Rather, I believe we have to approach this question from the position of outcomes — what is the quality of arts experience in our communities and economic contribution from our arts sector that we are trying to achieve, and how can we use the resources we have to get there? As Premier, that is a discussion I am willing to have with the community. With the commitment to returning to 2008-09 levels and new programs such as the $60-million Arts Legacy Fund, the arts sector will see a significant boost in the coming years. Through our budget process, we will keep examining opportunities to support those outcomes and objectives as our fiscal situation improves.

4. I would be very interested in an ongoing process between my government and the arts community to develop a sustainable vision for arts in the province and examine new ways to address ongoing needs for resources. As a province, it is our obligation to balance the fiscal needs of the arts community with the fiscal needs of the myriad of other programs supported by government. If we are going to advance arts in this province and still respect the need to achieve that balance, we must build that vision openly and collaboratively.

Once again, thank you for the opportunity to respond, and I wish you and your organization all the best in the coming year.

Regards,

George Abbott

BC Liberal Leadership Candidate and MLA for Shuswap

FROM KEVIN FALCON, LIBERAL LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE AND MLA FOR SURREY-CLOVERDALE
Mr. Falcon has now replied twice with the following:

Thank you for your email regarding the importance of arts and culture in B.C. Unfortunately, leadership campaigns are substantially different than full elections, and we do not have the resources to respond to questionnaires. However, we are looking at all corresondence submitted to us and will endeavour to answer as many as time permits during the campaign. Best regards, Corrie

FROM CHRISTY CLARK, LIBERAL LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE

1.
Q. Would you restore arts funding to the 2008/09 levels?
A. As a strong believer in the work done by the select standing committees, I support their recommendations and would return to the 2008/09 funding
levels.

2.
Q. Will you honour the 1999 agreement to allocate 33.3 percent of gaming revenues to non-profits, or agree to re-negotiate that agreement in good faith?
A. These are difficult economic times and I want to make sure that we maintain our fiscal discipline. At the same time, groups who count on gaming grants
as a source of revenue need some assurance, which is why I will ask a retired judge to chair a review of the way gaming grants are allocated to all groups in the province to ensure there is a stable and sustainable funding formula.
The arts community will have a voice at the table during the review of gaming grants as we all work to create a funding system that works for government and the groups that count on the funding.

3.
Q. Would you take measurable steps during their first mandate to raise BC’s per capita funding of the arts to at least the national average?
A. As a supporter of the arts, I know the contribution the sector makes. I want to consult with stakeholders to review the issue of funding the arts. It’s important to ensure that we are using measures that are comparable from province to province.

4.
Q. Would you engage in an arts community driven consultation to create a cultural development and arts funding policy for BC?
A. Yes. I believe the arts and culture community is important to the social and economic health of the province. It is time to put an end to the yo-yo effect on funding and realize the positive impact of arts and culture in British Columbia, from our youngest resident to the oldest.

FROM NICHOLAS SIMONS, NDP LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE AND MLA FOR POWELL RIVER AND THE SUNSHINE COAST

Dear Advocates for the Arts:

There is overwhelming evidence to support stable, long-term funding for the Arts both for economic reasons as well as to promote community health. The Arts are not a luxury or a frill; they enrich our communities, promote social well-being, and strengthen our economies. I say “yes” to the four policy requests of the Alliance.

British Columbia has the lowest per capita funding for the Arts in all of Canada. According to the government’s own report, for every $1.00 invested, there is a $1.36 return. Simons says that benefits of the Arts go far beyond their economic value, adding that decisions about the Arts should always involve real consultation with the Arts community.

The BC Arts Council should be independent of Government and receive stable funding.
Per capita Arts funding should be raised to, at minimum, the national Canadian average.
Expand access to community Gaming Grants in accordance with the commitment government made when it expanded gambling, and permit multi-year funding to charities and non-profits.
Promote maximum access to, and participation in the arts.

I graduated from a Fine Arts high school (FACE), and have played and taught cello for over 25 years. I have performed and recorded with numerous musical groups and orchestras and hold one Gold Record. My late father, Jan Simons (baritone), was a professor of voice and co-founder of CAMMAC, a non-profit organization founded in 1959 dedicated to promoting participation in musical endeavors and the enjoyment of music.

“I’m slightly troubled by the fact that so often the arts are relegated to a secondary or tertiary role in our societies when, in fact, they really form the cornerstone of our cultures.”
–Nicholas Simons, Inaugural Speech, Legislative Assembly, September 19, 2005

Please feel free to visit my website at www.nicholassimons2011.ca, or visit me on facebook or follow me on Twitter @nicholassimons.

Thank you for the questions.

Harmoniousy,

Nicholas

FROM MIKE FARNWORTH, NDP LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE AND MLA FOR PORT COQUITLAM

Amir Ali Alibhai
Executive Director
Alliance for Arts and Culture

Wednesday February 9, 2011

Sent by email to: aabc@artsadvocacybc.ca

Dear Mr. Alibhai,

Thank you very much for your letter regarding arts funding.

Let me say quite simply that I am in complete agreement with you that British Columbia must reinvest in the arts, and that it’s necessary to do so not just for the cultural health of our province, but also for the many and varied social and economic benefits provided by a thriving arts and cultural community.

It is an embarrassment in my view that, after ten years of Liberal neglect, BC stands last in it’s level of public investment in grants for arts organizations.

In answer to your specific questions, I say:

1. Will you restore arts funding to the 2008/09 levels?

Yes, it is critical that this funding be restored. One of the things that is so problematic about these cutbacks is the way in which they impacted especially smaller and artist–‐run organizations. These groups are vital not just to allow diversity in expression, but also and often to provide needed cultural outlets for smaller populations, and especially those in rural and remote areas. People across British Columbia and from all backgrounds deserve access to arts and culture, and that is one of the reasons stable funding is so important.

2. Will you honour the 1999 agreement to allocate 33.3 percent of gaming revenues to non–‐profits, or agree to re–‐negotiate that agreement in good faith?

I actually signed the original Memo of Agreement on behalf of the BC Government as Minister of Employment and Investment, so my answer is yes.

3. Will you take measurable steps during their first mandate to raise BC’s per capita funding of the arts to at least the national average?

Yes, taking steps towards meeting the national average would be a priority for the first term of a Mike Farnworth government.

4. Will you engage in an arts community driven consultation to create a cultural development and arts funding policy for BC?

Yes. One of the core values of my campaign is a belief that government must understand that the answers to the challenges facing British Columbia don’t all lie in Victoria. I believe we must reach out, and that innovative solutions to our problems will be found and in some cases already exist in the communities that are most affected by those problems.

Not only will I commit to a consultation driven by the arts community, but I will also ensure that the arts community has a seat at the table of my commission on education in the 21st Century. Arts and culture should not be an after thought for society, but should be embedded into how and what our students are learning, as well as presented in the school system as viable avenues for employment.

I hope you find these answers satisfactory, and I look forward to a continuing dialogue on these important issues.

Sincerely,

Mike Farnworth

FROM DANA LARSEN, NDP LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE

By telephone:

1. Will you restore arts funding to the 2008/09 levels?
Yes. As a start.

2. Will you honour the 1999 agreement to allocate 33.3 percent of gaming revenues to non-profits, or agree to re-negotiate that agreement in good faith?
Yes. And I would work to re-negotiate the agreement. I am not in favour of expansion of gambling.

3. Will you take measurable steps during their first mandate to raise BC’s per capita funding of the arts to at least the national average?
Yes, though I want to look at the figures before I decide just where BC should be placed. Being at the bottom of the list is not acceptable.

4. Will you engage in an arts community driven consultation to create a cultural development and arts funding policy for BC?
Yes, and definitely in consultation with those who are affected by funding policies. This is only fair.

FROM JANE STERK, LEADER, GREEN PARTY OF BC

Green Party of BC
PO Box 8088, STN Central
Victoria, BC V8W 3R7

Toll free: 1-888-473-3686
In Victoria: 250-590-4537

February 9, 2011

Tom Durrie, executive director
Arts Advocacy British Columbia

Amir Ali Alibhai
Executive Director
Alliance for Arts and Culture

Dear Tom and Amir,

Sorry for the delay in responding to your request. We hoped to discuss these four questions at our Provincial Council on January 29 and 30. Unfortunately, we were unable to consider your request and it has been referred to our research and policy team for comprehensive discussion.

I am answering to the extent possible without that review being complete. I have also elected not to answer with a simple Yes or No as requested because I believe the issues are too complex for such an approach. I am answering the questions in reverse because that seems the more logical order.

4. Will you engage in an arts community driven consultation to create a cultural development and arts funding policy for BC?

Yes. This seems to be the best starting place to ensure we get to a common understanding of the value that arts and culture play in BC society and communities and from there determine a strategy for development of arts and culture in BC and a funding policy that is sufficient to achieve the goals that are identified.

3. Will you take measurable steps during their first mandate to raise BC’s per capita funding of the arts to at least the national average?

Yes. I expect this would be part of the plan developed out of the process identified in 4 above. At a minimum, BC should ensure per capita funding for the arts at the national average.

2. Will you honour the 1999 agreement to allocate 33.3 percent of gaming revenues to non-profits, or agree to re-negotiate that agreement in good faith?

A qualified yes to the first part of the question and an unqualified yes to the second. In principle, we support the agreement to allocate 33.3 percent of gambling revenues to the arts, charities and non-profits. However, the provincial government has become reliant on the gambling money that has been clawed back and which it now puts into general revenue. Therefore, adequate funding for the arts from gambling revenue would have to be looked at within the context of budgetary realities. In addition, the Green Party of BC believes we must wean ourselves off gambling revenue. Once successful at doing so, arts funding would decrease and the problem of inadequate funding would continue. In terms of re-negotiating the agreement, the re-negotiation should be done in good faith and it should result in predictable, long term funding for the arts and non-profits.

1. Will you restore arts funding to the 2008/09 levels?

While I would like to commit to this, the Green Party of BC is not yet represented in the legislature. Only the answer from the party in power is relevant. If the other three questions are satisfactorily addressed, this one would become moot.

Sincerely,

Jane Sterk, Leader
Green Party of BC

FROM WAYNE MCGRATH, PRESIDENT, BC CONSERVATIVE PARTY

Hello Tom,

I must apologize for not responding to your earlier emails.

As you may be aware, the BC Conservative Party will be holding a Leadership Convention on May 28 in Surrey. Nominations for Leader will be received from March 1 until March 29. Further, our Policy document is currently under review and will be adopted by our membership at a Special General Meeting probably to be held in conjunction with the May 28 Convention.

Therefore, it would not be appropriate for the Party to respond at this time. During the Leadership race, all of our candidates would be able to respond with their views.

Thank you for giving us this opportunity to respond to your questions.

Wayne McGrath, President

BC Conservative Party

FROM JOHN HORGAN, NDP LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE AND MLA FOR JUAN DE FUCA

We met with John Horgan on February 10th and discussed the arts funding and the Alliance questions. This is our report:

1. Mr. Horgan agrees with question number one that arts funding should be restored, as a start, to 2008-2009 levels. He sat on the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services and heard the many presentations from arts groups around the province.

2. He firmly believes that the 1999 agreement should be renegotiated. This especially in light of the fact that revenues from gambling have increased substantially since 1999.

3. Regarding BC’s standing with per capita funding for arts and culture at the very bottom, he believes that BC should rank according to its population in relation to other provinces. That would put it at about third, just below Ontario and Quebec.

4. John Horgan is a strong believer in arms length funding through the BC Arts Council. He also would engage with the arts community to develop a culture policy for the province. He wants the arts community to know that they would have an ally in his leadership.

FROM ADRIAN DIX, NDP LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE AND MLA FOR VANCOUVER-KINGSWAY

1. Follow the unanimous recommendation of the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services’ to immediately return “to overall actual funding levels of 2008/09 to encourage an independent and creative cultural sector” and restore previous eligibility and access criteria?

Answer: Yes. This would be a good interim measure. The government’s cutbacks damaged BC arts organizations in every part of BC. This hurt in particular artistic expression and diversity, particularly in rural and remote communities.

The BC Liberal government cut arts and culture funding at a time when they cut taxes for the banks. Given that arts funding creates jobs and is critical for community building, this is counter-productive. Ironically, since this action was taken, there has been a net loss of jobs in the banking sector, while arts organizations have paid the price. It is time to give the independent and creative cultural sector the priority it deserves.

2. Honour the provincial government’s 1999 Memorandum of Agreement with the BC Association for Charitable Gaming to allocate 33.3 percent of net gaming revenues to charities and non-profits, or renegotiate that agreement in good faith?

Answer: I supported the 1999 Memorandum of Agreement and believe it serves as a good model.

I have met with arts organizations and many other groups to discuss this issue in the past few weeks. For example, Theatre North West representatives recently described to me the direct impact of funding cuts and instability on their organization, based in Prince George. While in Prince George, I put the pressure on the BC Liberals to cuts in gaming grants instituted since 2008.

Given the very significant changes that have occurred with gaming policy, the overall provincial budget and other policies related to the non-profit sector, I believe that negotiating a new memorandum of agreement would be the best approach. We should sit down together and develop an agreement that works for everyone. This would include three-year funding agreements for organizations that ensure stability.

Charities and non-profit organizations have been let down by this government. Working together, we can do better.

3. Take meaningful and measurable steps, in your first mandate, towards raising BC’s per-capita funding of the arts, cultural and heritage sector to at least the national average?

Answer: Yes, I recognize the importance of the arts and cultural sectors in our communities and in our economy. We should move per-capita funding to the national average in the first term of an NDP government.

4. Engage in an arts community driven consultative process with the goal of developing a coherent and sustainable cultural development and arts funding policy for the province of British Columbia?

Answer: Yes. I appreciate the need for stability and predictability after this period of policy uncertainty and financial cutbacks. BC needs a long term strategy for arts and culture that is based on the fact that we all gain from strong and growing cultural communities and industries.

CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER

Tom Durrie — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:24:09 +0000

“Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English).

Now read about the Vancouver Symphony withdrawing from the Alliance for Arts and Culture. Join us in scratching our head in wonder, or …

Georgia Straight, December 1

Georgia Straight, December 2

Vancouver Sun, December 2

With friends like this, do we need enemies?