Tattoo artist walks fine line on OLYMPIC AESIGNS 5 sissiscxs:sn00:4, news eave te every Olympic hopeful’s dream to make their mark in Vancouver 2010, but it’s one tattoo artist who hopes to make his mark on them literally. Thomas Lockhart, of West Coast Tattoo in Vancouver, has designed over two hundred Olympic designs for his shop and intends to offer a free Olympic inking to any medalist of the games. He says that the gesture is to provide Olympians with a lasting memento of their experience at the games. Lockhart, who is also participating in the municipal elections in Vancouver as a candidate for park board commissioner, says that he is not concerned about any potential copyright infringement disputes that might arise with the Vancouver Olympic Committee. “Patriotic, memorial and commemorative tattoos have been around long before the Olympics were even dreamed up. It’s not like I’m using them to sell pizzas on Denman Street,” said Lockhart in reference to the struggle between the Olympia Restaurant and VANOC over the use of the Olympic rings on the restaurant’s signage. While it remains unclear whether VANOC will take notice of Lockhart’s designs, he doesn’t believe that any dispute that might arise will get in the way of his bid for park commissioner, saying, “If I have to give up my political dreams and aspirations to be an enthusiastic supporter of Olympic athletes, so be it.” If VANOC does express concern, it would be because they are legally obligated by the IOC to “protect the Olympic brand.” VANOC’s “Protecting the Brand” guide states that it and its government partners recognize the importance of ensuring that small businesses connect with Olympic- related business opportunities without resorting to “ambush marketing,” which is described as “allowing a marketer to benefit from associating with the 2010 Olympic games without providing financial support for the games or the athletes.” Lockhart explained that his motivation for the Olympic tattoo designs came out of his trip to Beijing for the 2008 games. He was widely inspired by the Chinese preparations there. Thomas Lockhart’s West Coast Tattoo Arts Fund continues to thrive: grant awarded to BC Museum Foundation By Ashley Whillans, Associate News Editor és Friends of the Royal BC Museum Foundation recently received a grant of $350,000 from the BC Arts Renaissance Fund on behalf of British Columbia’s Vancouver Foundation. The BC Arts Renaissance Fund is an endowment and development fund that was created in 2005 to assist B.C.’s non-profit arts and culture organizations, as well as to provide matching grants, which are then administered by the Vancouver Foundation. Over the years, the BC Arts Renaissance Fund has helped museums, art galleries, and individual art initiatives province-wide through their grant matching endowment fund. In order to apply to the Vancouver Foundation’s BC Renaissance Fund, an organization must first raise a minimum of $10,000 and fill out an application form demonstrating both need and potential. Through membership activities, special events, retail operations, and other fundraising programs, the Foundation has helped to raise significant revenue in order to support the Royal BC Museum, which is an important preserver of B.C.’s human and natural history. Thanks to funds from this grant program, as well as the matching amount contributed by the Friends of the Foundation, the BC Arts Renaissance Fund 6 is being established as an important and hopefully permanent Endowment program. In a press release issued to The Other Press, May Lou-Poy, president of the Friends of the Royal BC Museum, expressed the importance of this endowment program to the maintaining of the history and legacy of British Columbia. “In time, income generated by this endowment...will be used towards projects undertaken in support of the vision and mission of the Royal BC Museum,” she said. The Vancouver Foundation currently manages an endowment worth approximately $700 million. In 2007, the interest of this endowment allowed the Foundation to distribute $60 million to community projects. “Creating a positive and lasting impact in B.C. communities is the goal of the Vancouver Foundation,” said Cristi Main, Executive Director of the Friends of the Royal BC Museum Foundation. As a beneficiary of these funds, the Royal BC Museum will be able to continue collecting, preserving, and interpreting artifacts, specimens, and documents. NEWS SHORTS Ashley Whillans and Nikalas Kryzanowski Voting round-up Other Press levy referendum passes Students at Douglas College have voiced their approval of increasing the student levy for The Other Press newspaper by 85 cents per student per semester. With 565 votes cast in the email referendum, the “yes” side came out on top by a margin of 21 votes, a slim 52-48% victory. The results are now pending college approval. The turnout of 6.38% represents a relatively hefty turnout of voters, as average turnouts for student election processes generally run about five percent. The levy, if approved, will not take effect until May of next year. Education council picked Last month, Douglas students chose David Guedes and Anna Robinson as student representatives for the Douglas College Education Council. The two join college staff and faculty in addressing educational issues facing students at the college. Library fines going to Uganda fund Until November 18", all money collected through library fines, loose change donations, and bookmark sales will go to the Friends of African Village Libraries project. Community Social Service Worker (CSSW) students, as well as Douglas College, are partnering to help fund a small library development project in Uganda through the non-government organization. The Friends of African Village Libraries is a network of individuals and donors committed to long-term management of and support for small community libraries in rural Africa. According to the Douglas College library, most kids in rural Africa do not have access to books that are age appropriate. More information is available at both the New West and Douglas College Libraries as well as online at www favl.org. DC’s “The Human Canvas” exhibit opens On November 13", 2008, Douglas College had the opening reception of Ron Long’s exhibit, “The Human Canvas.” Showcasing Long’s latest photographs, “The Human Canvas” examines unique tattoos and the people and the stories behind them. Ron Long was born and raised in Port Moody, and has taught photography all over the Lower Mainland for over 30 years. A graduate of photographic arts at Ryerson University, he is currently employed as a full time photographer at Simon Fraser University. Some of his major projects include his latest “The Human Canvas,” as well as projects featuring BC’s Port Townsend. The exhibit also showcases other forms of body decoration and life-size sculptures by Miles Lowry. Long’s exhibit can be seen at the Amelia Douglas Library in New West. Admission is free. For more information and gallery hours, call 604.527.5723.