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WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?

On March 19, 2012, in Art and Culture Funding , Arts Advocacy , Uncategorized , by Tom Durrie

Maybe the blame lies on us. The follow article was sent to us by AABC board member Connie More.
We invite your thoughts.

Entire performing arts industry is to blame for the demise of the Vancouver Playhouse

March 17, 2012 00:03:00
Matthew Jocelyn

The Vancouver Playhouse announced on March 9 that, crippled by chronic deficit-related issues, it was closing its doors the very next day, a few months shy of its 50th anniversary. This was and is a day of mourning for Canadian theatre.

More significantly, it is a sign of the collective failure of all of us directly or indirectly involved in the performing arts industry in Canada, a failure to defend the indisputable need for strong, publicly funded theatrical institutions in our country.

Created in 1962, the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company was a forerunner of the boom of large regional theatre companies established countrywide throughout the 1960s, supported largely, at their inception, by the Canada Council for the Arts . Yet despite this generous support to create a network of centres for the performing arts, the intrinsic, lasting value of being an institution was never truly conferred upon them.

As with many such organizations, the Vancouver Playhouse remained a “company,” a rootless entity forced to rent its city-owned performance space and justify its existence through commercial success. The term “company,” though used widely in the theatre business, unwittingly and perversely infers a likeness to the private sector. Companies come and go, are bought and sold and in the end must turn a profit or die. Institutions, on the other hand, are part of the fabric of society, they give meaning while at the same time being engines for change, and for that reason are essential to preserve.

Which public school, which hospital, museum or university, which prison or military base, research centre or art gallery goes by the term “company” or is treated as one? Why then our country’s not-for-profit performing arts institutions, a fundamental part of our national identity, the home for the creation and transmission of our stories?

The bankruptcy of the Vancouver Playhouse is not a local problem — it is the failure of an entire system. It is a failure of the department of Canadian Heritage which, by allowing this disappearance, is depriving not only Vancouver but also the rest of Canada of a fundamental part of our national heritage. It is a failure of the Canada Council for the Arts, whose funding mechanisms are not attuned to the specific role of the country’s major performing arts institutions, forcing us to operate on an edulcorated commercial model as opposed to enabling us to fulfill the mandate of true creative licence and engaged public service that should be ours.

It is a failure of the province of British Columbia and the city of Vancouver. And it is a failure of the Playhouse’s board of directors, unwilling or unable to fulfill their charge as its guardians, or to actively rally support for its preservation.

It is also a failure of the performing arts institutional network of which I am a part, the large-scale not-for-profit theatres, each caught up in our own survival to such a degree that we have been unable to create a collective national voice. It is a failure of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT), an organization representing all professional theatre in the country, yet incapable of defending a major institution at a critical moment for fear of internal criticism from a membership dominated by smaller independent companies, most of whom also struggle to survive.

It is a failure of the two principal unions in the performing arts sector: Actors’ Equity and IATSE. Both were created as defensive mechanisms against American touring productions long before not-for-profit theatre came into existence in Canada, and both continue to confuse purely commercial theatre with theatre that has a mandate for public service, exacting often crippling conditions for our productions.

It is a failure of the media because, in general, the media are uninterested in the arts, and of theatre critics in particular, too many of whom assume that venting their (often alarmingly ill-informed) opinion is more important than “mediating” the work they are writing about, that is, helping audiences understand and appreciate its nature, its successes and failings, thus helping foster the curiosity and appetite without which theatre dies.

Sadly, it is also a failure of the artists — and here again I include myself — unable to produce a body of work that makes theatre a truly necessary, truly integrated part of our modern world, and of the audiences, insufficient in number, insufficiently curious, excessively influenced by the above-mentioned critical inadequacies.

It is, in other words, the failure of an entire system. And in this failure, each of us has lost, no one gained.

As with all true tragedies however, some form of catharsis can ensue. The disappearance of the Vancouver Playhouse can and must serve a purpose, must help us attain a deeper understanding of our profession, of the work we are (or aren’t) doing, the role we play (or don’t) within today’s world. This collective failure must be seized as an opportunity to undertake an uncompromisingly critical evaluation of how not-for-profit theatre has evolved in Canada over the past 50 years, of what we are doing (or aren’t) to ensure an artistically vital, socially integrated, institutionally rooted industry for the 50 years to come.

Simply put, it is time for an audit, a detailed medical examination of our collective corps malade . And in the wake, it is time to pursue whatever measures are required, be they surgical or otherwise. Without such fearless self-analysis, our entire industry is potentially prey to the same fatal disease as that which got the better of the Vancouver Playhouse.

As the curtain closes on the Vancouver Playhouse, I can’t help myself from asking: Who’s next?

A more insidious question follows, one for which we are all responsible: Who really cares?

Matthew Jocelyn is artistic and general director of Canadian Stage .

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Form Follows Funding

On January 8, 2012, in Art and Culture Funding , Arts Advocacy , by John McLachlan

In a recent article by Clay Shirky about how newspapers are going to figure out their future in terms of revenue, I thought just how much it could apply to many non-profit arts organizations.

In many ways, especially for service organizations, they face a very similar situation. In their case, their subscribers are their members.

Here is the last paragraph from the article.

“It will take time for the economic weight of those users to affect the organizational form of the paper, but slowly slowly, form follows funding. For the moment at least, the most promising experiment in user support means forgoing mass in favor of passion; this may be the year where we see how papers figure out how to reward the people most committed to their long-term survival.”

The key phrase was “form follows funding.”

This is a complex article, but well worth it. You can read it here .

As public funding dries up I think arts organizations will need to look at what their “form” is and will be forced to sink or swim on a new model. Yes, we can scream and kick, but without public funding support the form of the organizations (the way they’ve operated) that have followed the funding are going to be shaken.

In Canada, here is what the Federal Minister of Heritage James Moore said in a Vancouver Sun article: “Moore underlined the fact organizations matching government support with significant private funding will insulate themselves best from cuts and prosper most during the Conservative era.” Full story here .

My read on this? Arts funding has always been political. The pendulum has shifted and we have in Canada a Conservative Government (and in BC a conservative government even though their name is “Liberal”) that a) doesn’t like funding arts and b) wants everything to be run like a business.

The good news is, “Culture” will not die because it’s not funded by public money. They know that. It just won’t be the culture that we who work in the culture business want to hear or see.

We will continue to make the solid arguments about why funding arts is valuable both socially and economically and we’ll adapt. Some will suffer and die, others will thrive. We are very lucky to be able to even have this discussion and debate.

-

PS – we shouldn’t overlook the fact that it is the Department of Canadian Heritage. Heritage being the main word. The current Government really likes “Heritage” whereas the arts are about moving forward. Perhaps it’s no wonder they take money from progressive programs to pay for multi-million dollar War of 1812 projects.

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Education and arts – Sir Ken Robinson

On November 15, 2011, in Arts Advocacy , by John McLachlan

Board member, Connie More came across this wonderful video of a speech by Sir Ken Robinson. He clearly lays out what’s wrong with our education system and why the arts are so needed.

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Italia bella e perduta

On July 16, 2011, in Art and Culture Funding , Arts Advocacy , by Tom Durrie

Here’s a message from Jon Washburn forwarded by our friends Colin Miles and Winifred Nowell. Be sure to watch the YouTube video of this remarkable and inspiring occasion.

singers, staff and board:
Here’s something for when you have a quiet moment. There is a rough (machine) translation into English after the Spanish and then a Youtube site to click on.
I suggest you have a kleenex handy.
Even in Italy and other European countries, governments are using their self-inflicted financial crises as an excuse to gut their arts and culture infrastructures. Muti’s protest is singularly compelling -  and inspiring to those of us who tire of the unending battle against the many short-sighted enemies of the arts.
Thanks to Vivienne and David, who passed it on to me.
Jon

Italia finalmente despertó. Les dejo saborear esto. Es conmovedor.

El último 12 de marzo, Silvio Berlusconi debió enfrentar la realidad. Italia festejaba el 150 aniversario de su unificación y en esa ocasión se dio en la ópera de Roma la ópera “Nabucco” de Giuseppe Verdi, dirigida por el maestro Ricardo Muti. Nabucco es una obra tanto musical como política: evoca el episodio de  la esclavitud de los judíos en Babilonia, y su famoso coro “Va pensiero” es el canto de los esclavos oprimidos. En Italia, este canto es el símbolo de la búsqueda de libertad del pueblo, que a fines del siglo XIX -época en que se escribió la ópera – estaba oprimido por el imperio Habsburgo, al que combatió hasta la creación de la Italia unificada.

Antes de la representación, Gianni Alemanno, alcalde de Roma, subió al escenario para pronunciar un discurso denunciando los recortes al presupuesto de cultura que hizo el gobierno, a pesar de que Alemanno es miembro del partido gobernante y viejo ministro de Berlusconi. Esta intervención política, en un momento cultural de los más simbólicos para Ialia, produciría un efecto inesperado, puesto que Berlusconi en persona asistía a la representación.

Relatado luego por el Times, Ricardo Muti, director de la orquesta, contó que fue una verdadera velada de revolución: “Al principio hubo una gran ovación en el público. Luego comenzamos con la ópera. Se desarrolló muy bien hasta que llegamos al famoso canto Va pensiero. Inmediatamente sentí que la atmósfera se tensaba en el público. Hay cosas que no se pueden describir, pero uno las siente. Era el silencio del público que se hacía sentir. Pero en el momento en que la gente se dio cuenta que empezaba el Va Pensiero, el silencio se llenó de verdadero fervor. Se podía sentir la reacción visceral del público ante el lamento de los esclavos que cantan: “Oh patria mía, tan bella y perdida.”

Cuando el coro llegaba a su fin, ya se oían en el público varios “bis”.  El público comenzó a gritar: “¡Viva Italia!”, “¡Viva Verdi!”, “¡Larga vida a Italia!”. La gente en el gallinero comenzó a arrojar papeles con mensajes patrióticos. En una única ocasión Muti había aceptado hacer un bis  para el “Va Pensiero” en la Scala de Milán en 1986, puesto que para él la ópera no debe sufrir interrupciones. “Yo no quería sólo hacer un bis. Tenía que haber una intención especial para hacerlo”, relata. Pero el público ya había despertado su sentimiento patriótico. En un gesto teatral, Muti se dio vuelta y miró al público y a Berlusconi a la vez, y dijo:

“Sí, estoy de acuerdo con esto. “Larga vida a Italia”. Pero….
Ya no tengo más 30 años y he vivido mi vida, pero recorrí mucho el mundo, y hoy tengo vergüenza de lo que sucede en mi país. Entonces accedo a vuestro pedido de un bis para el Va Pensiero, nuevamente. No es sólo por la dicha patriótica que siento, sino porque esta noche, cuando dirigía el Coro que cantó “Ay mi patria, bella y perdida” , pensé que si seguimos así vamos a matar la cultura sobre la cual se construyó la historia de Italia.

En tal caso, nuestra patria estaría en verdad “bella y perdida”.

(Aplausos , incluidos de los artistas en escena)

Continuó: Ya que reina acá un clima italiano, yo, Muti, me callé la boca muchos años. Quisiera ahora… tendríamos que darle sentido a este canto; estamos en nuestra casa, el teatro de Roma, y con un coro que cantó magníficamente bien y que acompañó espléndidamente. Si quieren, les propongo unirse a nosotros para que cantemos todos juntos.

Entonces invitó al público a cantar con el  coro de esclavos. “Vi grupos de gente levantarse. Toda la ópera de Roma se levantó. Y el Coro también. Fue un momento mágico en la ópera.
Esa noche no fue solamente una representación de Nabucco, sino también una declaración del teatro de la capital para llamar la atención a los políticos.”

Acá está el video de ese momento lleno de emoción:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/G_gmtO6JnRs

Italy finally woke up. I leave you to savor this. It is moving.

Last March 12, Silvio Berlusconi had to face reality. Italy celebrated the 150th anniversary of its unification, and this time was at the opera in Rome’s opera “Nabucco” by Giuseppe Verdi, conducted by Maestro Ricardo Muti. Nabucco is a work both musically and politically: it evokes the episode from the bondage of the Jews in Babylon and its famous chorus “Va pensiero” is the song of the oppressed slaves. In Italy, this song is the symbol of the quest for freedom for people, who in the late nineteenth century period when he wrote the opera – was oppressed by the Hapsburg Empire, who fought to the creation of a unified Italy.

Before the performance, Gianni Alemanno, Rome’s mayor, took the stage to deliver a speech denouncing the culture budget cuts made by the government, although Alemanno is a member of the old ruling party and Minister Berlusconi. This political intervention in a cultural moment of the most symbolic for Ialia would produce an unexpected effect, since Berlusconi himself attended the performance.

Then reported by the Times, Ricardo Muti, conductor, said he was a true evening of revolution: “At first there was a standing ovation in the audience. Then we started with opera. It developed very well until we got to the famous song Va pensiero. I immediately felt that the atmosphere was tense in the audience. There are things you can not describe, but you feel them. It was the silence of the public who made her feel. But at the time that people realized that began Va Pensiero, the silence was filled with real fervor. You could feel the visceral reaction of the audience to the cry of the slaves sing, “Oh my country, so beautiful and lost.”

When the choir came to an end because the public could be heard several “bis”. The crowd began shouting: “Viva Italia”, “Viva Verdi”, “Long live Italy!”. People in the house began throwing papers with patriotic messages. Only once Muti had agreed to do an encore for “Va Pensiero” at La Scala in Milan in 1986, since for him the opera does not suffer interruptions. ”I did not just want an encore. Had to be a special intention for it,” he says. But the public had awakened his patriotism. In a theatrical gesture, Muti turned and looked at the audience and Berlusconi at a time, and said:

“Yes, I agree with this.” Long live Italy “. But ….
I have no more than 30 years and have lived my life, but traveled a lot over the world, and today I have shame of what is happening in my country. So I agree to your request for an encore to Va Pensiero, again. It is not just for the joy I feel patriotic, but because tonight, when he directed the choir who sang “Oh my country, beautiful and lost,” and I thought that if we’re going to kill the culture upon which they built the history of Italy .

In this case, our country would truly “beautiful and lost.”

(Applause, including the artists on stage)

He continued: As an Italian climate reigns here, I, Muti, I shut up for many years. I now … would have to make sense of this song, we are in our house, the theater of Rome, and a choir sang magnificently and beautifully accompanied. If you want, I propose to join us to sing together.

Then he invited the audience to sing the chorus of slaves. ”I saw groups of people up. All the Rome Opera House stood. And the choir as well. It was a magical moment in the opera.
That night was not just a representation of Nabucco, but also a statement of the theater in the capital to call attention to the politicians. ”

Here’s the video of that moment full of emotion

http://www.youtube.com/embed/G_gmtO6JnRs

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OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNMENT

On June 21, 2011, in Art and Culture Funding , Arts Advocacy , BC Place , Christy Clark , Sport and Cultural Development , Vancouver Riot , by Tom Durrie

OPEN LETTER TO EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT IN CANADA

I am an advocate for Arts and Culture. For 20 years I have warned every level of government not to discriminate financially against youth in arts and culture because it will have dire consequences sooner or later.Every intelligent government in the world – except British Columbia- knows that arts and culture have a calming effect on society. B.C. already has the lowest support for arts and culture in Canada and a few years ago decided to cut the arts even more while authorizing a new roof for yet another sports facility, the cost of which now stands at $ 660 million dollars and rising. I clearly warned that the few dollars they scrape from the arts sector will be minimal compared to the policing and court costs when the predictable “chickens come home to roost”.

Well, unfortunately “the chickens have come home to roost” and the total costs are not only for police, courts and glass, but the damage to tourism and investment that are sure to follow – not to speak of the shame and embarrassment for Vancouver and Canada. When every level of government discriminates against a group or segment of society, it is not discrimination anymore – it is a form of apartheid. Cultural apartheid.

But there is hope. The federal government four years ago instituted a tax credit for children in “fitness”only. After 4 years of protests across Canada, the Canadian government finally corrected this blatant discrimination and offered the same tax credit for children in the arts. When the senior government of Canada, in its wisdom, decides there shall be no more financial discrimination between sports and the arts. there is hope that all levels of government right down to local governments will heed this momentous decision and follow suit.

Sincerely, Sigurd Sabathil, Greater Vancouver, B.C.

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A Letter to Premier Clark

On June 16, 2011, in Art and Culture Funding , Arts Advocacy , Christy Clark , Uncategorized , Vancouver Riot , by Tom Durrie

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”. !

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WHAT WILL YOUR MLA SAY ABOUT ARTS FUNDING

On November 26, 2010, in Art and Culture Funding , Arts Advocacy , BC Arts Council , BC MLA , British Columbias Legislative Assembly , Bruce Ralston , Claire Trevena , Dawn Black , Gambling , Gaming Revenue , Gordon Campbell , Iain Black , Jagrup Brar , Joan McIntyre , Kathy Corrigan , Leonard Krog , Mable Elmore , Randy Hawes , Rich Coleman , Rob Fleming , Shane Simpson , Solicitor General , Spencer Chandra Herbert , Sport and Cultural Development , Stanley Hamilton , Stephanie Cadieux , Sue Hammell , Vicki Huntington , by Tom Durrie

Who will answer?

On the 18th of November AABC sent a letter to each MLA in British Columbia. Yes, all 84 of them! See them here .

The letter posed the following two questions:

RE: Arts and culture funding in British Columbia

1. Are you satisfied with our standing in comparison with other provinces? If not, how would you like to see this changed?

2. What portion, if any, of gaming revenue do you think should go to charities?

To see the complete letter and accompanying background information, go to Questions for MLAs . You can find your MLA and ask them to reply to the questions from AABC.

UPDATE: On January 6th and 7th, we sent an email to each MLA that we had not heard from. All the replies will be posted below in alphabetical order. See what your MLA has to say on this issue.

Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster

Hello Mr. Durrie,

Thank you for your letter re arts funding in BC.  This is a very important issue and my colleagues and I in the Official Opposition Caucus have been very concerned about the detrimental actions taken by the current provincial government.

Spencer Chandra Herbert, our spokesperson for arts and culture, responded to your questionnaire in early December and I am copying his letter below which summarizes our stand on this question.

Best wishes to all those involved in Arts Advocacy BC.  Your work in the community is worthwhile and appreciated!

Regards,

Dawn Black

Dawn Black, MLA (New Westminster)
Opposition Critic for Advanced Education
and Labour Market Development.
737 6th Street,
New Westminster, BC  V3L 3C6

Phone: 604-775-2101
Fax: 604-775-2121
[email protected]
www.dawnblack.ca

Iain J.S. Black, Liberal, Port Moody-Coquitlam

Dear Mr. Durrie,

A response is in the process from Minister Black’s staff in Victoria.

Linda Kingsbury
Constituency Assistant

Hon. Iain JS Black, MLA Port Moody-Coquitlam
#203 – 130 Brew Street
Port Moody, B.C.
V3H 0E3
Tel:  604-949-1226
Fax: 604-949-1281

Jagrup Brar, NDP, Surrey-Fleetwood

Dear Mr. Durrie,

I really appreciate that you have taken the time to write to my office regarding the arts funding. I apologize for the delay in responding to you as I had been away out of the country.

Our Official Opposition Critic for Arts and Culture, Spencer Chandra Herbert will be responding to your questions on behalf of our caucus. However, I would like to reassure you that the Official Opposition has been very active and very vocal opposing the cuts to arts investments.

Again, thank you for taking the time to write to me and I will continue to work with my colleagues to support BC’s Art and Culture Sector.

Regards,
Jagrup
Jagrup Brar, MLA
Surrey Fleetwood

Hon. Stephanie Cadieux, Liberal, Surrey-Panorama
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development

January 19, 2011

Mr. Tom Durrie
Arts Advocacy British Columbia
307—1683 Adanac Street
Vancouver, BC  V5L 2C7

Dear Mr. Durrie

Thank you for your recent letters regarding arts and culture funding in British Columbia.  As Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, I am pleased to respond on behalf of the Province of British Columbia (Province).

As you note in your letters, the Province has made a decision to provide the British Columbia Arts Council (Council) with $7 million in additional funding through the 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy (Legacy).  The funds are helping to achieve the Council’s strategic goals and priorities including providing support for operating clients, innovation, commissioning, capacity building, sustainability and professional work experience.

I am proud of the Province’s track record.  We have provided unprecedented support to the arts and cultural community in the province, totaling more than $500 million since 2001.  This includes direct funding to artists and groups as well as long-term support for the arts through major endowment funds, continued funding to major institutions such as the Royal British Columbia Museum and funding for several significant arts and culture projects including the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, the 2009 Juno Awards and the 2009 Canadian Country Music Awards.

My cabinet colleagues and I recognize the critically important role that arts and culture play in the lives of British Columbians and we are committed to the long-term health of the arts and culture sector.  We continue to make the arts a priority and invest in the creative sector. Even in the midst of a recession, the Province is providing over $30 million directly to artists and art organizations in 2010/11, including:

Ÿ $10 million a year over three years to enhance opportunities in the arts through the new Legacy;
Ÿ Over $16 million in grants funding through the Council, ($7 million of which is  coming from the Legacy);
Ÿ $1.5 million in interest earned on the $170 million BC Arts and Culture Endowment  fund;  and
Ÿ $11.5 million in gaming grants to arts and culture groups for youth, fairs, festivals,  museums, and groups with three-year gaming grant commitments throughout  British Columbia.

My cabinet colleagues and I strongly endorse the Council’s independence, and believe that its arm’s length relationship is critical to the fulfillment of its mandate as it is well positioned to adjudicate questions of artistic excellence.  No one would question the Council’s record when it comes to this critical issue.  The Council also plays a critical role in informing art policy and decisions the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development make on behalf of the arts community.  The Council, particularly Board Chair Stan Hamilton, played a vital role in putting together the plan that led to allocation of the Legacy funds.

I believe through our support of programs such as the 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy, which honours the cultural legacy of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and with guidance and strategic direction provided by organizations such as the BC Arts Council, the Province has made an important impact on the arts in British Columbia.

I look forward to working with artists, arts organizations, members of the creative sector and the public at large to ensure that the arts and culture community in the province continues to thrive and flourish.

With regard to gaming grants, this fiscal year the Province committed $120 million for community gaming grants, up from $113 million last year.  This funding will go to approximately 6,000 community organizations that assist public safety, youth and disabled sports, people in need, fairs, festivals and museums, community services such as preschools, and Parent Advisory Councils.  Almost $79 million has been allocated to date.

In order to ensure these core priorities continue to receive support, grants for adult arts events and programs will not be available in 2010/11, unless the organization previously received a multi-year commitment.  Organizations offering arts and culture programs for youth and persons with a disability may be eligible for grants supporting those programs.

It should be noted that funding to arts and culture organizations are also made through a variety of other avenues including local governments who use their gaming revenues to fund the arts at the community level.  Other provinces have different funding models and I am not in a position to comment on decisions made by other jurisdictions.

It is too early to speculate about funding levels and eligibility for communty gaming grants in future years.  Such funding decisions are determined through the annual budget planning process and are tabled as part of the provincial budget each year.

It is also important to note that over $648 million in gaming revenue was allocated for other government programs that directly benefit British Columbians, primarily health care and education. More information about how gaming revenues are distributed can be found at: www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/revenue/index.htm .

The Province remains steadfast in its commitment to help build strong communities through community gaming grants and other programs.

Thank you again for writing to convey your support of this decision and for your ongoing support of the arts in this province. I look forward to further discussions when we meet in January.

Sincerely,

(signed)

Stephanie Cadieux
Minister

Gordon Campbell, Liberal, Vancouver-Point Grey

December 1, 2010

Dear Mr. Durrie:

Thank you for your letter and accompanying notes and citations relating to provincial funding for the arts in British Columbia. I appreciate the time you have taken to bring this information to my attention.

Since 2001, the BC Arts Council has provided over $124 million to assist artists and arts organizations. We look forward to better days when we can be even more supportive of our lively arts and cultural sectors–not just because of their great importance to individuals and communities but to British Columbia’s overall economy as well.

I have shared a copy of your correspondence with the Minister responsible for gaming grants, the Honourable Rich Coleman and the Minister of Community Sport and Cultural Development, the Honourable Stephanie Cadieux, for their review as well. Minister Coleman will ensure that the appropriate ministry official responds directly to your specific questions at the earliest opportunity.

Again, thank you for writing.

Sincerely,
(signed)
Gordon Campbell

Spencer Chandra Herbert, NDP, Vancouver-West End

9 December 2010

Dear Tom,

Thank you for contacting me and for your ongoing advocacy for a strong arts and culture sector in our province.

I am responding to your letter both as an MLA who supports the arts and culture sector but also as the Official Opposition Critic for Arts and Culture to let you know what we in the New Democratic Opposition believe.

As you are no doubt aware, the Official Opposition has been very vocal—both in the legislature, and in the communities we represent—in support of the arts and in opposition to the current government’s devastating cuts to arts investments. I have been proud to stand with many of my caucus colleagues at rallies, forums, and roundtables, in support of arts and culture in communities all across our great province.

The arts are vital to our quality of life, our economy, and our future. The arts help us dream and see beyond the realities of the present day, and can open up real possibilities for change that would never have been achieved through other means. The arts also bring to light those things we miss in our busy days, and make us see the world in completely different ways—something that is very helpful in a society which too often can fall into black and white, or ‘with us or against us’ kind of thinking.

I know you didn’t write to hear me expound on why I love art, but I believe it’s important to share why we love art before we get to the numbers. Talking numbers just doesn’t do justice to the full importance of arts and culture in our society.

You have, however, written to ask what we believe government should do in regards to arts investment.

I am not satisfied with the current level of investment in arts and culture which has fallen drastically since the BC Liberals’ disastrous cuts beginning in 2008. But I’m also not satisfied with the level of support the government was putting towards arts and culture before the major cuts. Depending on who is ranking, one reads that B.C. ranges from last place to second or third last in terms of per capita investment in the arts.

This puts us at a competitive disadvantage nationally, and internationally, and does not create a welcoming environment for risk-taking innovation, and growth in our cultural sector. It has also led some of our great creative minds to relocate to other provinces and countries, where their skills are more sought after. This is not right, and it short-changes the huge potential we have to create a vibrant creative economy.

In the last election, New Democrats pledged to increase investments in B.C.’s cultural sector. In addition, we called for a dedicated infrastructure fund to support arts and culture facility renovation, expansion, and creation. Both are commitments that New Democrats continue to believe and fight for.

I am proud that we have stood with the many British Columbians who support arts and culture, and, together, forced the B.C. government to back down on its plan to snatch 11 million dollars of gaming funds away from charities who had written multi-year agreements for the funds.

I am proud that we stood against the B.C. Liberal government’s plans to take seven million dollars away from the B.C. Arts Council to put towards politically motivated Olympic spirit celebrations, and won that fight when the government backed down and gave the money back to the Arts Council, where it should have gone in the first place.

I am also proud that we have stood by small community charities, which have seen gaming funds either eliminated completely or cut back drastically, and called for the B.C. Liberals to restore gaming funds to their former levels. We also called on the government to involve the community if new grant categories are to be created or older ones eliminated.

New Democrats have been standing up for the arts and culture sector in this time of need. As the Critic, I have had meetings with all three of the Arts and Culture Ministers we have had in the last 18 months to make the case for the arts.

I have been travelling around B.C. to learn from and support efforts, both locally and provincially, to grow our arts and culture sector. What I have seen is that there is a real hunger in communities, large and small, for the connections and community that arts and culture bring. I have seen how much impact a small government investment can make when the community receives funding, and through volunteer efforts, fundraising, sales, and other means, creates something that will be remembered for a lifetime. The arts are who we are.

I thank you for writing me, and I look forward to continuing to work together to support B.C.’s vital arts and culture sector.

All the best,

(signed)

Spencer Chandra Herbert
Official Opposition Critic for Tourism, Culture, and the Arts
MLA, Vancouver West-End

Hon. R ich Coleman, Liberal, Fort Langley-Aldergrove, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General

February 2, 2011

Mr. Tom Durrie
Executive Director
Arts Advocacy British Columbia
307—1683 Adanac Street
Vancouver, BC  V5L 2C7

Dear Mr. Durrie:

Thank you for your November 18, 2010 letter regarding arts and culture funding in British Columbia.

This fiscal year, the provincial government committed $120 million for community gaming grants, up from $113 million last year. This funding will go to approximately 6,000 community organizations that assist public safety, youth and disabled sports, people in need, fairs, festivals and museums, community services such as preschools, and Parent Advisory councils. Almost $79 million has been allocated to date.

In order to ensure these core priorities continue to receive support grants for adult arts events and programs will not be available in 2010/11, unless the organization previously received a multi-year commitment. Organizations offering arts and culture programs for youth and persons with a disability may be eligible for grants supporting those programs.

It should be noted that funding to arts and culture organizations are also made through a variety of other avenues including the British Columbia Arts Council and local governments who use their gaming revenues to fund the arts at the community level. Other provinces have different funding models and I am not in a position to comment on decisions made by other jurisdictions.

It is too early to speculate about funding levels for community gaming grants in future years. Such funding decisions are determined through the annual budget planning process and are tabled as part of the provincial budget.

It is important to note that over $648 million in gaming revenue was allocated for other government programs that directly benefit British Columbians, primarily health care and education. More information about how gaming revenues are distributed can be found at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/index.htm .
The provincial government remains steadfast in its commitment to help build strong communities through community gaming grants and other programs.

Sincerely yours,

(signed)

Rich Coleman
Solicitor General

pc:  The Honourable Gordon Campbell
The Honourable Mary Polak

Kathy Corrigan, NDP, Burnaby-Deer Lake

Thank you for contacting me about arts funding. I have had the opportunity to review the response my colleague Spencer Chandra Herbert, the New Democrat Official Opposition Critic for Tourism, Culture and the Arts sent you.  Spencer is a tireless advocate for the arts and his response very clearly articulates our caucus’ position on funding for the arts. I am proud to stand beside Spencer on this very important issue. I would therefore like you to accept Spencer’s response as my own.

Sincerely,
Kathy Corrigan

Kathy Corrigan, MLA
Burnaby-Deer Lake
l P: 604.775.2414 | F: 604.775.2550| www.kathycorrigan.ca

Mable Elmore, NDP, Vancouver-Kensington

Dear Mr. Durrie,

Thank you for your email.  Mable is out of the office now so I am responding in her behalf.

Please be assured that Mable and her colleagues in the Opposition support the arts and believe that this government can do more to strengthen this important sector.

For more details about our Caucus’ stand regarding this issue, I understand that our Opposition Critic, Spencer Herbert will be responding to your office.

Thank you again for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Maita Santiago, Constituency Assistant
Mable Elmore, MLA
Vancouver-Kensington Community Office
6106 Fraser Street
Vancouver, BC V5W 3A1
T: 604-775-1033; F: 604-775-1330
[email protected]
mableelmore.ca

Rob Fleming, NDP, Victoria-Swan Lake

Dear Tom,

Happy New Year!!!  As you know, Spencer in capacity as Official Opposition Arts critic has already responded to your letter already on behalf of our entire Caucus. It’s my understanding Spencer will be following up with you to reconfirm caucus process.

Cheers,

Rob Fleming, MLA
Victoria-Swan Lake
Official Opposition Environment critic

Sue Hammell, NDP, Surrey-Green Timbers

Hi Tom,

We forwarded your questions to Spencer Chandra Herbert our critic of arts for the BC NDP.

I believe he has sent you on December 9, 2010 the following reply:

(The letter from MLA Chandra Herbert was attached.)

Randy Hawes, Liberal, Abbotsford-Mission

As you are doubtless aware we are currently in the midst of a leadership review. Once we have a new leader we will be reviewing policy on many matters and I am sure arts funding will be one of them. I generally do not respond to blanket questionaires and they tend to create a divisive atmosphere.
I am confident you will hear much about arts funding policy over the next couple of months.
Regards
Randy Hawes

Vicki Huntington, Independent, Delta South

Dear Mr. Durrie,

I apologize for the lateness of this reply.  Our office was unusually busy in December, and this request seemed to escape my attention.

In answer to your two question:

1.       I am not satisfied with our present standing.  I believe that the original MOA (referred to in your letter), i.e. 30% of gaming revenues, is a social contract that must be honoured.

2.       I would like to see the charitable portion rise to 50%.

Again, thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,

Vicki Huntington

Vicki Huntington, MLA
Delta South Constituency Office
4805 Delta Street
Delta BC  V4K 2T7
Phone:  604-940-7924
Fax:      604-940-7927

Leonard Krog, NDP, Nanaimo

Dear Mr. Durrie,

Thank you for your letter of November 18 th and your recent email of January 6 th . Given that your letter was directed to all the MLA’s, our critic Spencer Herbert responded as official critic on behalf of the Opposition by letter of December 9 th, . The fact that you have not received my individual response does in no way reflect my commitment to the Arts and Culture sector of our province, nor diminish my belief in its incredible importance to our province and my community in particular.

I agree with everything Spencer has had to say in his letter and accept completely the advantage of a vibrant arts and cultural community in the province. So to answer your questions very specifically:

1.      I am not satisfied with our standing and would like to see our standing improved.

2.      With respect to the portion, I think 30% seems reasonable, but I am not prepared at the present time without all of the information available to me to say that should be the figure. Indeed it may be appropriate to have a higher percentage. As you are aware with all of the tax cuts given by the Liberals in the last 10 years to both individuals and corporations, governments ability at addressing that issue, to fund arts and culture, housing health, etc. has been severely limited.

3.      I have read enough history to understand how valuable it was in difficult economic times to have government support the arts and culture and what a flowering followed those minor investments. The United States under the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt is a prime example. So if it gives you any further comfort, although I am not the critic, I strongly support what Spencer is doing as our critic and indeed Doug Routley, my fellow MLA for Nanaimo when I hosted the Arts and Culture Community last fall for a meeting.

I will continue to advocate on behalf of Arts & Culture and appreciate how much work your organization continues to do.

All the best for 2011.

Leonard Krog, MLA
Nanaimo

Joan McIntyre, Liberal, West Vancouver-Sea to Sky

From: Fee, Judi [[email protected]]
Sent: November 23, 2010 3:34 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Attn: Mr. Tom Durrie

Dear Mr. Durrie:

Joan McIntyre thanks you for your letter of November 18, 2010 and asks me to reassure you that she remains an avid supporter of Arts and Culture in BC.

Regards,

Per/Judith Fee, Constituency Assistant to
Joan McIntyre, MLA
West Vancouver-Sea to Sky

Bruce Ralston, NDP, Surrey-Whalley

Tom Durrie, Executive Director
Arts Advocacy BC
307—1683 Adanac St
Vancouver, BC  V5L 2C7

January 11, 2011

Dear Mr. Durrie,

I would like to thank you for contracting my office with your concerns regarding the level of funding for the Arts in British Columbia and I apologize for my delay in responding.

The spokes person for the official opposition, MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert, Critic for Tourism, Culture and the Arts has issued a statement that I have enclosed with this letter.

However I would like to respond to your questions as I believe the issues you highlighted are troubling.

First, I am not satisfied with our standing in comparison with other provinces. In a province such as ours with its rich and vibrant culture it is shameful that not only are we the lowest in the country in funding per capita, but that we are so far below the national average that it is a disgrace. Arts and culture enrich out lives and strengthen our communities. The Government of BC needs to reevaluate its priorities and raise arts and culture funding to reflect its importance to our communities and to our economy.

Second, there should be no question of what portion of gaming revenue should be allocated to charities. The 1999 Memorandum of Agreement between the BC Association for Charitable Gaming and the Government of BC is a valid document. Until that Memorandum of Agreement is changed funding should be maintained as agreed.

Your hard work and dedication is appreciated.

Sincerely,

(signed)

Bruce Ralston, MLA
Surrey-Whalley

Shane Simpson, NDP, Vancouver-Hastings

Hi Tom,

Our Arts Critic Spencer Chandra Herbert has responded to these questions regarding arts funding on behalf of our caucus and I’m told that he has also been in touch with you about this issue as well. I am supportive of Spencer’s points on this issue and confident that he is representing the views of the rest of our caucus on this important matter. I hope that helps. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Shane Simpson MLA Vancouver-Hastings
t: 604-775-2277 | f: 604-775-2352 | shanesimpson.ca

Claire Trevena, NDP, North Island

January 12, 2011

Tom Durrie, Executive Director
Arts Advocacy British Columbia
307—1683 Adanac Street
Vancouver, BC  V5L 2C7

Dear Mr. Durrie,

I must apologise for my slow response to your letter about my position about funding for the arts. I had left it up to my colleague Spencer Chandra Herbert to respond on behalf of our caucus.

The present government’s lack of support for the arts in BC is shocking. There is no question that there should be greater assistance.

Campbell River, the main community in the constituency I represent, is extraordinarily lucky to have a high quality art gallery, an active arts council, a theatre, an excellent museum and many people willing to dedicate themselves to the arts. These organizations struggle to keep going, but are an essential part of the fabric of our community. If we did not have the arts, our lives here, and across the province would be much poorer.

Instead of putting monies from gaming into the arts and other community organizations, the government cynically is pouring it into general revenues. A one-third contribution from gaming money to the arts seems fair and just. However it seems highly unlikely that any expansion in gambling planned by the present government will be reflected in increased money for the arts.

Fundamentally however the arts need stable funding. They do not need the constant hand to mouth existence where everyone is living in a cycle of grant applications. The arts need to be recognized as part of our society, not an extra to be only enjoyed in the good times: arts are a part of our economy as well as part of our culture.

I would be happy to talk further about any assistance I can provide, either locally or provincially.

Yours sincerely,

(signed)

Claire Trevena, MLA
North Island

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Free Membership

On October 18, 2010, in Arts Advocacy , by John McLachlan

We’re pleased to offer a free membership to Arts Advocacy BC.

Join your voice to a growing list of citizens in British Columbia who care deeply about the role of the Arts in our lives, our society and our economy.

AABC is focused solely on arts advocacy.

We are a volunteer-driven society that works in a complementary fashion with people and organizations who share our view that arts and arts funding is necessary in BC.

Join us now.



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Open Letter to Minister Rich Coleman – BCACG

On October 18, 2010, in Arts Advocacy , by John McLachlan

[ the following is an open letter sent by Susan Marsden of the BC Association for Charitable Gaming ]

Image of open letter PDF

Download the letter as a PDF

October 15, 2010

Open Letter to Minister Rich Coleman

Dear Minister Coleman,

We write on behalf of the nearly 7000 B.C. charities affected by gaming grants. These groups include the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Deaf Children’s Society, Surrey Hospice Society, North Shore Rescue Team, Horsefly Volunteer Fire Department, Pacific Post Partum Support Society, Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre, Charlie Lake PAC, Campbell River Minor Hockey, Cerebral Palsy Sport Association, and thousands more worthwhile community causes across B.C.

Our members, tens of thousands of them, are at work 7 days a week, 365 days a year, helping the poor, the weak and vulnerable, the elderly, disabled, the bullied child, sports teams, the arts, refugees and immigrants, and our environment. They man crisis lines, deliver Meals on Wheels, and search for the lost in our mountains and forests. We could not ever afford to buy what our charities and non-profits give us for free. We cannot live without them, and they never stop giving of themselves, no matter how hard it gets.

On Friday, October 15, you were asked to comment on our request to Vancouver City Council to postpone hearing any application to expand the gambling licenses relating to the planned

Edgewater Casino redevelopment and expansion, pending the provincial government agreeing to honour its agreement to allocate 33.3% of net gaming revenues to B.C. charities.

You said that there was no agreement, only a letter of understanding, and that you have other bills to pay.

Minister Coleman, you are mistaken.

The Memorandum of Agreement with the B.C. Association for Charitable Gaming, which the Province of British entered into on June 17,1999, can be found on the provincial government legislature’s website at: http://www.llB.C..leg.B.C..ca/public/pubdocs/B.C.docs/336215/game_append4.htm . On that day the government formally crystallized a binding revenue sharing formula with both the charitable sector (for whose benefit gambling was legalized in Canada) and the Union of B.C. Municipalities.

The Meekison Report of 2000 found both agreements to be foundational to the architecture of gaming in the province, and held them to be binding. No subsequent legislation, regulation, enactment, or new agreement extinguishes this agreement, and the sister agreement with the Union of B.C. Municipalities (allocating 10% of net revenue to local host cities) stands, and is complied with by your government to this day.

B.C. charities have actively supported and enabled the expansion of B.C. gambling–mistakenly believing that this would bring them a share of the proceeds. Their participation and support in municipal expansion hearings has been decisive in councilors agreeing to allow more and more slot machines and casinos in their communities across the province.

This has brought hundreds of millions of dollars annually in new money to the B.C. treasury, but not a dime of that new money has gone to the charities that made it possible, and for whose benefit municipal councils agreed to gambling expansion in the first place.

In fact, while net earnings from gambling expansion have risen 292% from 1995, your ministry has starved charities, giving them 14% less in 2010 than they got 15 years ago–to a total of $112.5 million.

Many of these groups are on the front line of the recession—helping the weak and vulnerable,

dealing with family violence, suicidal youth, and addictions of many kinds, including, in a cruel twist, gambling. Others assist the elderly, disabled, children, sports, arts, and the environment.

They have bills to pay, too. Every dollar they get goes into the community, buying supplies, equipment, creating part time jobs and supporting small business and strengthening communities.

But because your government failed to fulfill its contractual obligations, they are, almost every one, desperately short of money.

On average, for the last ten years, your government has short-changed charities by almost $128 million of gambling entitlements each and every year. In 2009/10, your ministry paid charities $247 million less than what is owed under our agreement.

Total arrears now stand at nearly $1.3 billion.

Your comments to media demonstrate exactly why it is vitally important to stop the expansion of Edgewater until this situation is clarified. B.C. charities are a 33.3% silent partner in this venture.

You cannot wish us away.

We repeat our request of Vancouver City Council that it not proceed on the Edgewater Casino until the province adheres to or renegotiates its binding contractual obligations.

Yours truly,

Susan Marsden,

President
B.C. Association for Charitable Gaming

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Bill Horne Finance Committee Submission

On October 6, 2010, in Arts Advocacy , Opinion , by John McLachlan

Submission from BILL HORNE, Wells, BC

Read below or download the full presentation here: Bill Horne Finance Cttee Oct 2010 – PDF (used by permission)

October 2010

Dear Committee Members:

I am writing as an artist and small business owner with 15 years’ experience in small town BC. I am also a Director of our Local Chamber of Commerce and the Vice-President of CARFAC BC, the provincial affiliate of Canadian Artists’ Representation/le front des artistes canadiens.

The two main things I would like you to consider are the restoration of all Gaming monies to the non-profit sector, without any strings attached, and a tripling of the province’s investment in the cultural sector.

The seasonal tourism economy in the north central interior is fragile enough as it is, especially in the wake of the recession, the pine beetle epidemic and this summer’s forest fires. I know that the gallery my wife and I operate brought in just 60% of the sales we had in 2009, and we are doing better than many people.

The decline in tourist numbers and sales makes us acutely aware of the impact of things like drastic cuts to the arts budget, the dissolution of Tourism BC, the siphoning of Gaming monies from non-profits, the unpredictable and unstable application of policy and funding in the arts sector, and the introduction of the HST.

Those of us who operate businesses in small communities are dependent on each other’s successes for our individual survival. Although it might be simpler to process HST remittances for our own particular business, its negative effect on local restaurants is causing less of their customers to circulate or stay in our town. The effect on outdoor tourism operators is another negative that will impact us, too.

My wife and I moved to Wells in part because of the existence of Island Mountain Arts, a non-profit which has been offering arts programs and operating a gallery for over 30 years. In recent years it has also organized the ArtsWells Festival.

There is no question of its significant role in the culture and economy of our region. The relatively small investments of public funding this organization has received have a ripple effect that is estimated to bring $500K each summer to the north Cariboo, and easily twice that when the Festival is included.

When the government cuts arts funding, changes gaming fund rules, changes them again, changes rules retroactively, it wreaks havoc in the arts sector. It makes it extremely difficult for volunteer boards and staff to carry out a sound business plan. It creates uncertainty among businesses such as ours, as well as accommodations and restaurants, and it weakens our already fragile market.

Imagine the outcry from industry if the government were to slash funding to the school of forestry at UBC, or from mining if geology programs were cut. From this point of view, I believe that the reckless, disproportionate cuts to the arts — without consultation with the sector’s stakeholders — has threatened to undermine the potential of our province’s creative economy. And because the arts are not as separate from the majority of British Columbians as the government may like to think, these ill-advised policies are undermining other parts of our economy as well.

Last fall I began creating a series of portraits of people in various trades and occupations who support a strong arts sector. Their participation and enthusiasm underlines our connectivity and contradicts the myth that the arts are elitist and somehow separate. The response to my online “Solidarity Series” has been very positive, both from artists and from non-artists. I hope you enjoy the samples on the following pages. The complete text can be found at www.claireart.ca .

Bill Horne.

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