premium wordpress themes

ENOUGH SAID

On April 10, 2012, in Art and Culture Funding , City of Vancouver , Cultural Tourism , Oslo , Policing costs , Sport and Cultural Development , Vancouver Canucks , Vancouver Riot , by Tom Durrie

POLICING THE CANUCKS

According to the Vancouver Courier (April 6, 2012) the city is prepared to spend more than $1 million on policing costs on the National Hockey League’s playoffs, depending upon whether or not the Vancouver Canucks are involved. Justifiably nervous after last year’s Stanley Cup riot, the city plans a measurable increase in police presence.

Policing for the first game, which happens on Friday, April 13th, is estimated to cost $67,472. Costs for subsequent games, including the Stanley Cup Final, are set at $86,488; $163, 744; and $752,963 respectively.  The grand total, billed to Vancouver taxpayers, comes to $1,070, 667.

VANCOUVER’S CULTURAL GRANTS

Meanwhile, the city allocated $2,852,600 in 2011 operating grants to local cultural organizations.

Policing costs: $0.00

While we applaud the City’s total allocation of $7,275,600 in all grant programs—including $3,959,400 to major organizations like the Vancouver Art Gallery ($2,181,00)—we note that grant requests totalled $8,501,779, more likely reflecting actual need.

CULTURAL TOURISM

A more substantial investment in the arts could make a real difference. We believe that cultural tourism has the potential of bringing vast social and economic benefits to Vancouver—without any increase in police costs. This would call for a change in our vision (Vision?) of what makes a city a desirable destination for travellers. Progressive cities (Frankfurt, Valencia, Miami Beach, Seattle, San Francisco, Oslo, e.g.) are promoting arts and culture as reasons for visiting. An ad in The New Yorker (March 26, 2012) says: Explore Oslo, Capital of Culture—Experience a unique combination of art, culture, and the great outdoors in Norway’s celebrated capital.

Enough said.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED

For full details on the city’s 2011 cultural grants, see Administrative Report, 2011 Cultural Grants Allocations.

0 Comments
Leave A Response

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.

0 Comments
Leave A Response

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”. !

1 Comments
Leave A Response

© 2010 Arts Advocacy BC