Cuts to arts and culture funding in B.C.

hurting many organizations

BC Liberals try to save face despite widespread criticism

By Stephanie Trembath

he world is watching.

While the government pours millions

into the 2010 Olympics, B.C.’s
funding towards arts and culture is being
reduced dramatically. In September, Premier
Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals
chose to reduce funds by 90 per cent in
the year 2009. By 2010 the primary funds
given to arts and culture will be lowered to
$2.5 million; which is a significant decrease
from the $19.5 million B.C.’s government
allotted in 2007. Typical of politics, during
the election the Liberals maintained that the
funding would drop only by 40 per cent in
2010, but as usual, British Columbians are

student dancers of Ballet BC were sent
to collect funds from the audience. The
message: if art lovers could not support the
Ballet BC there would be no shows for the
upcoming year.
On October 20 at the B.C. Legislative
Buildings in Victoria, hundreds of art
lovers showed up with coffee cups and
umbrellas to rally against the much-opposed
decision to slash the funding given to arts
and culture in BC. Signs with “Provincial
Government = Artless SWINE” and “ART
OVER OLYMPICS” and “Don’t rip the Art
from our Culture” were carried by the many
supports of the arts and culture of BC.
British Columbians are not the only

ones upset by the neglect of the government.

“In giving full attention to the 2010 Olympics, the
government has become disconcerted with the artistic
community and the cultural expression of B.C.”

seeing otherwise.

Despite the government’s drastic
decision, September showcased Vancouver’s
own Fringe Festival and International
Film Festival, which were both smashing
successes, and showed no signs of lacking
funds. Presently, Vancouver is hosting
the International Writers and Readers
Festival with book readings by acclaimed
authors such as Margaret Atwood, Peter
Mansbridge, and Douglas Coupland.
Although the arts community appears to
be showcasing Vancouver’s talent in arts
and culture, many of B.C.’s organizations
are seriously hurting from the provincial
government’s decision.

Ballet BC’s upcoming season has
come to a devastating end before it has
even begun. For 2010 the National Ballet of
Canada decided to cancel Ballet BC’s tour
of The Sleeping Beauty due to this year’s
lack of ticket sales, fundraising results, and
support from the provincial government.
The ballet’s performance of the Nutcracker
in 2008 was a sneak preview of how bad
things could get; during intermission,

 

Actress Kim Cattrall spoke up about the
slash to arts funding during her acceptance
speech at the Canadian Walk of Fame gala
in Toronto on September 10.

“T would also like to thank the B.C.
provincial funding to the arts,” said Cattrall,
“Something that is lacking at the moment if
you read your local newspaper, something
that, without funding, I don’t think I would
be standing here this evening.”

The experience of artistic and cultural
events is essential to connect a community
and share ideas, creation, entertainment,
and interpretation. It connects us to the past,
and brings innovation into our future. In
giving full attention to the 2010 Olympics,
the government has become disconcerted
with the artistic community and the cultural
expression of B.C.

“The manual arts have always taken
precedence over the fine arts. Remember
somebody had to build a ceiling before
Michelangelo could go to work,” said
John Ratzenberger. Now we have enough
ceilings; it’s time to start decorating.

 

 

‘And

 

Eavesdropping on transit

By Susan Truman

Part II

- It’s gotta be a 10-storey building, he says. He's middle-aged

 

"Are you a budding poet? Submit your work to arts@

theotherpress.ca to see your work in print! _

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