October 4, 2012
Submission to Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services

 I am writing on behalf of the British Columbia Choral Federation whose 200 member choirs represent some 6000 choral musicians, both amateur and professional.   We were pleased that the British Columbia Government is again providing $16,831,000 to the BC Arts Council (BCAC) to support arts and culture in communities throughout the province during the 2012-13 fiscal year.

The BCAC grant to our organization totals $11,100 for the 2012-2013 fiscal year and we are assured of the same grant in 2013-2014. In addition we received $32,700 from gaming revenues.  Added together these grants account for just under 20 per cent of our annual budget of $238,000. The balance of our revenues come from membership dues, an annual raffle, generous donations from many of our board members, workshop fees, and our  flagship event, CHORFEST,  which is held in a different  BC community every year.  So it must be said that we are pulling our weight in terms of keeping the Federation on a firm financial foundation.

However, I note with some dismay that British Columbia still holds 13^th place among the provinces and territories in terms of per capita spending on Arts and Culture.  Our province has held this questionable position for the better part of the last decade and I have not seen any effort on the part of the Provincial Government to do anything about it.  British Columbia would have to double its per capita spending on arts and culture to come anywhere near the national average of $98 per person.

The arts are the foundation of a civil society.  Furthermore it is arts and culture that determine the success of a society.  “Those communities that are richest in their artistic tradition are also those that are the most progressive in their economic performance and most resilient and secure in their economic structure.” (Economist John Kenneth Galbraith.)

According to Statistics Canada, in 2003-4 (the last year for which comprehensive arts statistics have been published), with an investment of $7.7 billion from three levels of government, the arts and culture sector directly employed 600,000 people and generated $40 billion for the Canadian economy.  That’s a return on investment of more than 500%. Approximately 25% of this gain goes directly back to tax revenue—which is more than the initial investment.

Conversely:  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. (Creating a Policy for Arts and Culture in British Columbia – A Draft Proposal  by Arts Advocacy BC)

Art occupies in society the equivalent of one of those glands the size of a pea on which the proper functioning of the body depends, and whose removal is as easy as it is fatal. (Cyril Connolly, The Condemned Playground)

Our  recommendations to the 2012 Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services are as follows.

1.      Continue to generously support arts and Cultural organizations, including heritage and community-based organizations, with  arms-length public investment through the BC Arts Council; funding that is stable and sufficient to support the Council’s strategic plan.

 2.      Plan to double British Columbia’s per capita funding for arts and culture over the next two years to bring it up to at least the national average.

 3.      Provide support for training programs to develop the entrepreneurial and business skills in the arts and culture sector.

We strongly believe that arts and culture have a crucial part to play in the economic, social, environmental, health, and educational future of a British Columbia to ensure that it is, indeed, among the best places on earth.

David K. Stewart
President,  British Columbia Choral Federation

The central liberal truth is that politics can change a culture and save it from itself.–Daniel Patrick Moynihan

These are important words to remember as you make your submission–in person, on line, by mail–to Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. This is all happening RIGHT NOW, so don’t delay. Let them know that you want the funding to the arts to increase. AABC is asking that funding to the BC Arts Council be doubled during the next two years. We also want to emphasize the importance of cultural tourism, a great opportunty that government has not been supporting.

Don’t forget our DRAFT CULTURAL POLICY FOR BC. Ask that they consider this and include it in their report.

Make arts and election issue!

Sent by e-mail to [email protected]

Hon. Bill Bennett, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
East Annex
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC
V8V 1X4

Dear Minister:

Please accept our congratulations on your appointment as Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. As advocates for arts and culture and artists in British Columbia, we are very interested in your opinions on funding for the arts and how that is administered. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in revealing the disposition of some $3.2 million (part of the Sport and Arts Legacy Fund) that was used by Minister Chong as a “discretionary” fund for supporting organizations of the ministry’s choosing. To date, we have not seen a complete accounting of how this money was distributed. You can find other information, correspondence, etc. on our website www.artsadvocacybc.ca.

We maintain that all funding for arts and culture should be managed and distributed through the British Columbia Arts Council.

As you know, the government of British Columbia has not adopted a cultural policy setting out guiding principles and positions on how government relates to arts and culture. You can find our draft cultural policy, plus additional comments here: /a-cultural-policy-for-bc/

We also believe that cultural tourism is an important and substantial untapped resource in the province. Many studies have been done on cultural tourism, and many countries around the world are mining this resource, not only to the advantage of the usual tourist industries like hotels and restaurants but also to the increased benefits to artists of all disciplines. To be successful a vital cultural tourism industry would require substantial and stable funding for artists, arts organizations, and infrastructure throughout the province. This investment could reap substantial returns.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on these matters, and we hope to engage in an ongoing dialogue.

Sincerely yours,

(signed)

Tom Durrie, executive director
Arts Advocacy British Columbia

Now that the summer Olympic games in London are over, and the world has been astonished by athletic accomplishment and by the stunning opening and closing ceremonies, we can reflect on the staggering cost of this event, the parade of commercial sponsorships, and the array of competitive events now considered to be of Olympic status. We also acknowledge and appreciate the dedication and work that the young athletes have devoted to their proud participation in these events. The medal winners, now heading home, can go on to coaching, lucrative product endorsements, cash prizes from governments, and the nationalistic adulation of their public.

Now, we at AABC want to think about the artists—the young Canadian artists—who continue to speak to the world about the heart and soul of this country and of humanity in the largest sense. They do not compete for medals or Olympic glory, but they work as hard as any athlete to develop and maintain their talent and creativity. And this dedication must continue over a lifetime.

We have said: Train an athlete and you will have a few medals and a line of product endorsements; train an artist and you will have a lifetime of accomplishment. Who do we want to hold up as models for our young people?

Becoming an Olympic athlete requires an enormous amount of personal sacrifice as well as the support of family, government, and commercial interests. Becoming an artist requires a similar level of effort and practice, but Government and commercial support are hard to come by. Shouldn’t our artists receive the same support and public acknowledgement as our athletes?

Here are two examples:

Jan Lisiecki, now 17 years old, emerged as a pianistic genius at an early age. Growing up in Calgary, he had the great good fortune of having highly supportive parents, who, at the same time, did not push or force him to develop his talent. He was, and is, clearly driven by an intense love of music and of the piano. At his young age, he now has an international concert career and a recording contract with Deutsche Grammophone. Nevertheless, he remains a modest and intelligent young man still pursuing a university education in Calgary. His first CD with Deutsche Grammophone is of two Mozart piano concertos, Nos. 20 and 21. Highly recommended. And this is just the beginning. We estimate that his career will continue at this level for another 50 or 60 years.

Jesse DeCoste, 18, is an actor living in New Westminster, BC. He was recently accepted as one of the 28 (out of 4,000) applicants to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, giving him the opportunity to receive training at the most prestigious school of theatre in the English-speaking world. Here’s the catch, though: In order to attend for just the first year, Jesse will have to pay the international tuition fee of around $25,000 as well as even modest living expenses in London of around $15,000. To raise this money, he has to embark on the equivalent of a bake sale. He hopes to get student and bank loans for around half of the needed funds, but for the rest, he is appealing to us, to the public and to potential sponsors. No gold medals here, but we can look forward to 60 or more years of his future career. Please read more by following the link above and this one of a CBC interview.

The artistic talent in this country continues to astound and impress the world. Send us the stories of the young and promising artists that you know and want to celebrate.

Here’s some history from 1012 and here is the latest development:

From the Georgia Straight

Edgewater Casino reconsidering its Plaza of Nations lease

Will our artists be able to afford to occupy these spaces?
We appreciate that the City recognizes the importance of artists in our communities, but provincial cuts to arts funding are making it difficult for artists to survive.
We would like to hear your thoughts.

AABC

According to an article in the Vancouver Sun (May 24)  by Manori Ravindran, the new advisory committee “gives artists a voice at city hall.”

AABC says, “We’ll see.”

The Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, approved by Council on February 28th, is Vision Vancouver’s version of their 2007 promise to create a Vancouver Arts Council, which would be an arms-length decision-making body similar to the BC Arts Council. This could have meant the elimination of several high-paying jobs in the city’s Cultural Services Department. Many arts councils, e.g. Toronto Arts Council, also perform a strong advocacy role. The new committee, in its advisory role, obviously has no decision-making power.

You can read the 11-page staff report (Cultural Services staff) here: Establishment of an Arts and Culture Advisory Committee

Here are the members of the committee, appointed from 199 applicants:

Mary-Louise Albert, artistic managing director of the Chutzpah! Festival, former dancer
Graeme Berglund, founder of The Cheaper Show, artist, editor, member of Lifetime Collective
Thomas Cannell, Coast Salish artist
Becky Chan, artist
Hugh Cochlin, principal of Proscenium Architecture
Chan Hon Goh, artistic director of the Goh Ballet
Amy Kazymerchyk, film programmer Pacific Cinémathéque, photographer
Sharman King, founder of Book Warehouse, musician
Paddy MacLeod, co-founder and general manager of Blackbird Theatre Company
Katherine McManus, writing and communications director for SFU continuing studies
Nigel Prince, executive director Contemporary Art Gallery
Esther Rausenberg, artist, photographer
Eric Szeto, journalist
Charlie Wu, managing director of TaiwanFest
Marcus Youssef, artistic director of the Neworld Theatre

They will meet six times a year.

We look  forward to hearing the results of their deliberations.

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Underneath the vibrant, diverse surface of a thriving arts and culture scene, Vancouver faces a loss of its brightest painters, dancers, designers, makers and performers to greener pastures. VO investigates how rising real estate prices are crunching our city’s artists.

Remember the hype about “The Creative City”? Not much creativity happening with disappearing spaces and high rents. Read the complete article:

/IDlwRg

We would like to hear about your experience.

Arts funding awarded without formal requests
Victoria Times Colonist

“It was very nice of them to provide that money and we’re going to put together some legacy projects.” While there were more requests made for funding than money available, Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, …

Mission receives $75000 from province for 120th anniversary
Mission City Record

“The funds arrived in the form of a letter dated March 13 from the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Ida Chong, congratulating Mission on its 120th anniversary and stipulating celebration details be provided by May 16.

2010 Sport and Arts Legacy funding details remain under wraps
Georgia Straight

“Community, Sport, and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong remains under fire for the way she distributed $3.25 million earmarked for the arts from the 2010 Sport and Arts Legacy fund.

 Don’t miss this interesting exchange between Minister Ida Chong and NDP Arts Critic Spencer Chandra Herbert:

Minister Chong “answers” questions about the $3.2 million giveaway.

We have received this letter (below) from Francis Xavier Edwards of the Mission Folk Music Festival. We wonder how many municipalities and organization have been treated to a similar surprise. As you can see from Minster Chong’s letter to us, she’s revealing no secrets. In spite of the Minister’s earlier statement that there are always more applications than money, it seems that there were no applications for the $3.25 million fund that she has dispersed. This was Olympic Legacy Money that, in our opinion, should have gone to the BC Arts Council. As far as we can see, the Minister’s decisions are arbitrary, based upon who-knows-what. On the other had, we couldn’t help but notice that in the last election Liberal Marc Dalton (Maple Ridge-Mission) won his seat with 8802 votes over NDP candidate Mike Bocking’s 8734 votes, a difference of only 68 votes! Not that $75,000 is going to influence any voters come next May, but …

AABC

Hello Tom, John, Arts Advocacy BC,

At a meeting to discuss the 25^th anniversary of the Mission Folk Music Festival last Friday, I was stunned to learn that the District of Mission just received $75,000 from Ida Chong’s office to be used for “cultural” purposes, apparently to celebrate a milestone civic anniversary.

The money is from the $3.25 million discretionary fund held by Ida Chong for Arts and Culture. It appears it has been used at the last minute, with seemingly no process and little thought about where and how the money is used. I was told that no one in the District of Mission applied for the money!

So, why Mission? Apparently, it has something to do with the 120th anniversary of the city. Who decided this and on whose behalf? It is not really a milestone year (100 years, or 125, but 120?) and is certainly odd in a time when culture is under such funding pressure. It is even more than odd when the District didn’t even apply for the money. The cheque just showed up in the mail!

The Mission Folk Music Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. In the past three years it has seen the BC Arts Council chopped to pieces, grants to arts organizations slashed, and a drain of arts professionals from this Province. The festival struggles to find adequate funds to operate. It received $16,000 from the BC Arts Council this year for Operating Assistance. The application process is rigorous, the reporting and accounting strenuous. Then, money just pops up for “cultural purposes” in the District’s mail without any application process. This is plain chaos! It makes no sense. It undermines the work of the festival and other arts groups. It is an inappropriate use of funds, of taxpayers’ money, and a callous slap in the face to arts and cultural groups, the communities they work in, and the many volunteers who contribute hours, skills and resources to these groups.

This is very, very disturbing. It is wrong.

I have read quotes from the minister saying the funds were for contingency, for emergency. Certainly, the plight of the BC Touring Council losing its funding from Canadian Heritage is an emergency. Instead of seeing the obvious and providing genuine support where needed, we are getting a bunch of birthday parties for which there is no application and adjudication process. The money is just being given away.

I would like to see the money go directly to the BC Arts Councils where it can be administered in an appropriate way and where an accountable process is in place.

I would also like to know where the balance of the 3.2 million has gone.

Recommended Action: I am convinced the arts community needs to speak out strongly with a statement to the media condemning the actions of Minister Ida Chong in doling out millions of dollars of Arts and Culture money without consultation or communication with the arts community and doing so at a time of restraint, cutbacks, and difficult challenges; when arts and cultural organizations are struggling to operate and some ceasing operations. There is no place for private funds for the minister to dole out to community birthday parties.

I would love to hear from you about this, with any suggestions on how to proceed, who to talk to, and how to get this media statement together.

Yours, Francis Xavier Edwards

Mission Folk Music Festival
Box 3125
Mission, British Columbia
Canada, V2V 4J3
604 820 0088
[email protected]
604 820-0088