BRAVO
Here is the press release from Minister Krueger:
BC Arts Council Receives Additional Funding (PDF)
NEW RELEASE FROM MINISTER
Sept 1, 2010
BC ARTS COUNCIL RECEIVES ADDITIONAL FUNDING
VICTORIA – The British Columbia Arts Council will administer $7 million in funding provided through the B.C. government’s 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy to support their strategic plan, Kevin Krueger, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts announced.
“I am confident in the council’s strategic plan to deliver on the legacy’s goals through its work with B.C.’s vibrant arts community,” said Krueger. “This will increase the council’s budget to just over $16 million for the current fiscal year, demonstrating our government’s commitment to a strong, creative and growing arts community, even in these difficult economic times. These monies will be distributed to the arts community through the independent peer-review adjudication process that has been established by the council.”
The government respects and values a strong independent council and is committed to ensuring this independence is maintained and enjoys the confidence of the arts community.
“In 2009, the council board established its priorities and asked staff to prepare programs to fulfil the goals of the strategic plan. The additional funding announced today means the council will be able to advance the goals set out in our strategic plan, with a large portion of these funds going towards increased support for council’s operating clients, as indicated by the minister last month,” said Stan Hamilton, interim chair of the council. The council’s board will immediately review the programs that council staff has been developing in recent months in order to ensure that the program details and the funds may be released to the community promptly.”
“Some of the programs to be implemented may include: support for the commissioning, creation, development and production of new works; artists in education; opportunities for the next generation of artists and further support for our operating clients in the spring and autumn rounds. The legacy vision is consistent with these plans,” added Hamilton.
As announced in the most recent Provincial budget, the 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy provides $60 million over three years to enhance sports, arts and cultural opportunities for all British Columbians. Of this amount, $10 million has been budgeted for culture and the arts during the current fiscal year, with $3 million allocated for the BC Spirit Festivals.
The BC Arts Council supports arts and arts organization across the province and is governed by a 15-member council, which represents the regions, cultural diversity and artistic communities of British Columbia.
For more information about the BC Arts Council and their strategic plan, please visit www.bcartscouncil.ca .
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| Media Contact: |
Gordon Keast
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts 250 356-8177 |
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca .
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While this is very welcome and overdue, it is not the final word in provincial arts funding. We thank the Minister for this, but let him know that we are not sitting back quietly and will continue to advocate for regular funding increases to the British Columbia Arts Council.
Since the Minister mentions the BC Arts Council’s 2009-2013 Strategic Plan, it’s worth noting some of its key aspects:
“The plan outlines four primary goals designed to help the Council support its mission over the coming years. The goals include:
· Fostering artistic excellence.
· Strengthening community engagement.
· Supporting the unique role of Aboriginal artists and communities.
· Enhancing financial and other services.”
Hmmm.
Well done. Although not as much as we’d like to see, it appears to bring some balance back relative to where it was before. Drastic reductions of 50% are hard for any business or group to cope with. So, a reduced reduction is at least a bit more manageable.
In the long run, though, some slow budgetary increases to match the other provinces would be wise, showing the strategic value of investing in the arts, as for R&D in other disciplines.
Your effort to make amends by reversing some of the damage is to be commended. However, do not surprised if this elicits cautious expressions of gratitude. If I may use an analogy from your days at ICBC, perhaps you will see another point of view. $19M – $2.7M – $9.7M
Imagine you were to restrict all traffic on the Coquihalla and Trans-Canada to 4 days a month convinced that no drivers would complain and then when they did, you increased open days to 15 days per month
Do you confidently expect they would be overcome with joy and gratitude for your acumen?