News Release
COUNCIL OUTLINES NEXT STEPS
A lot has happened in the six weeks since my previous communiqué, and I am able to say that the BC Arts Council has carefully reviewed the issues and taken some steps toward creating a positive future for artists and arts organizations in this province.
On October 2, the BC Arts Council met in Vancouver for its regular quarterly meeting. After 10 months of work, Council unanimously approved its Strategic Plan, a critical document describing its long-term vision and plan of action. Details will be released shortly, but one of the most significant objectives is to enhance Council’s role as an advocate for the arts in British Columbia.
In addition, Council discussed at length the impact of the economic crisis and the serious effect the changes to arts funding have had on B.C. artists and arts organizations.
Following the meeting, Vice-Chair Stanley Hamilton and I had separate meetings with both the Deputy Minister and the Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts to express our concerns about the crisis in arts funding. We also underscored our intent to strengthen the independent voice of the Council in support of the arts community. The Minister stated his full support for this and recognized the value of Council’s independence in the administration of arts funding.
Both the Minister and the Deputy agreed that use of Community Gaming Grant money to fund Council programs resulted in unanticipated problems. At the same time, they both agreed that in the future, everyone would be better served if Council received a voted allocation of funds from the Legislature, while Minister Krueger confirmed that future revenues from the BC150 Cultural Fund would be directed to Council.
The Minister encouraged Council to prepare a written submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services and committed to meeting with Council this fall as Government prepares for the budget process.
With these discussions completed and a new Strategic Plan in place, Council is taking action to address the current funding issues. Council has already developed and begun to implement some strategies to strengthen its role in both advocacy and education. In the weeks to come:
- Council will intensify its consultation with the arts community and Government and will explore all avenues to augment the grants budget. Council has already held community forums in Vancouver, Kelowna, Osoyoos and Victoria to help clarify issues and receive feedback from artists and arts organizations. These forums will continue throughout the province until December.
- Council will vigorously represent B.C.’s artists and arts organizations during the budget process for 2010-2011 and beyond.
- Council will also be addressing the need to develop stable, multi-year funding for arts organizations. Without this stability – as recent events have borne out – this key social and economic sector remains highly vulnerable. This long-term outcome will require forging a stronger relationship between government and the arts community, but it is an issue that transcends partisan politics. Provincial funding to the arts is an investment in the vitality of our communities and in the social and economic health of the province.
- Council will work with staff and Government to ensure that accountability and reporting issues related to the use of gaming funds are resolved.
- Council will continue to work across all disciplines in every region to engage artists and arts organizations along the continuum from community to professional arts practice.
- Finally, Council will continue to keep communications open, clear and timely.
In these difficult times, it is important to remain optimistic and focused on the long term. It will take a lot of hard work by us all – artists, administrators, Government, staff and Council – to bring a measure of stability to British Columbia’s vital arts community.
Council has taken its concerns directly to Government. Now, I encourage you to make the Arts a community issue. Prepare your impact statements, share them with your board members, community leaders, patrons, civic officials, MLAs and the media. Harness the energy of those who care, to keep the issue of committed government funding for the arts an ever-present topic of discussion.
Sincerely,
Jane Danzo
Chair