B.C. government withholds community gaming grants from adult arts and culture
The B.C. Liberal government stated today that adult arts and culture will not receive any community gaming grants in 2010-11.
The message came in a “backgrounder” to a Ministry of Housing and Social Development news release about community gaming grants. Adult sports, environmental groups, and school playgrounds will also not receive funding under this program.
Amir Ali Alibhai, executive director of the Alliance for Arts and Culture, told the Straight by phone that 1,000 ”clients” used to receive direct-access gaming grants, but about 40 percent lost their money last year. He said about 320 groups receive multiyear grants.
He predicted that hundreds of groups will lose funding this year as a result of today’s announcement.
“That money, as far as I can read from the information they’ve sent out, is for bingo as well as for direct access,” Alibhai said. “It’s a very large cut.”
He noted that the B.C. Arts Council provides grants through a peer-review process, which leaves little opportunity for political interference or manipulation.
Alibhai said that gaming grants, on the other hand, are not handed out in a similar arm’s-length manner.
“It can follow a political agenda very easily,” he noted.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.