Rally to Save BC Arts Funding - Victoria October 20

Rally for the Arts
Save BC Arts Funding

Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Time: 11AM - noon
Location: BC Legislative Buildings
Street: 501 Belleville Street
City/Town: Victoria, BC

MAP

The BC Liberal government has proposed cuts to funding for the arts, in the order of 50% this coming year, 90% in 2011, and 91%-94% the following year.

We believe that arts and culture are an essential part of our society and are therefore rallying to show our opposition to these cuts.

So... artists of all shapes and sizes, please join us on the steps of the BC legislature! Bring an instrument, a work of art, or a sign!

Let your voice be heard. It's only an hour out of your day to show your concern for the rest of your (or your friends) careers.

And invite everybody you know!!! We need at least 200 people for this to be noticeable.

A good website? Check out http://www.stopbcartscuts.ca/

Colin Miles urges audience to write to BC government

Colin Miles, regional director of the Canadian Music Centre (CMC), gave a marvelous speech at the Turning Point Ensemble concert at Ryerson United Church in Vancouver on Sunday night, giving a history of the CMC's creation in 1959 and its rapid expansion over the past two decades, which saw a 10-fold increase in the number of active composers living and working in British Columbia.

Then he informed the audience that this wonderful ensemble's funding for next year has not been renewed and asked audience members to stand if they would agree to write a letter to the BC government demanding that the funding be restored. Though the audience was clearly taken by surprise by such a "stand-up-and-be-counted" request, more than 3/4 of the audience rose to their feet.

I urge everyone reading this blog to talk to anyone and everyone you know about the theft by the provincial government of the gaming money that was specifically set aside to benefit charities and non-profits, including all sorts of social services, amateur sports, and arts and culture organisations. Read this article for a backgrounder on why we say the government has "stolen" the money.

Arts groups are ready to fight for survival

Click on the title to read the article.

Excerpt:

I was interested to read a new book, We Know What You're Thinking, by Darrell Bricker and John Wright of Ipsos Reid, Canada's largest market and opinion research company.


Here's how the chapter on British Columbia begins: "This is the place for local arts and culture. People agree emphatically that funding for the arts should not be left up to private business and foundations, but should get a boost from local governments. Ninety-one per cent of B.C. residents praise the selection of [arts and cultural] events and activities in their community, and it's the only region in Canada where there's complete agreement with the idea that a vibrant cultural scene is great for the local economy."

National Ballet of Canada suffering

Click on the title to read the article.

British Columbians and Canadians speak out against the BC arts cuts

This web site – click on the title above – is dedicated to the expression of public concern and outrage at the BC government's plan to cut 94% of funding for the arts in 2010-11. As of this writing, the following famous Canadians have spoken against these cuts:

Margaret Atwood, Kim Catrell, Douglas Coupland, Geoffrey Farmer, William Gibson, Jim Green, Jay Hirabayashi, Lee Henderson, Veda Hille, Sarah McLaughlin, Gregor Robertson, Gordon Smith, Michael Turner, Scott Watson, Jerry Wasserman, Yulanda Ferris.