BC budget fails to restore arts funding: critics: MLA predicts ‘less vibrant cultural scene with less expression for queer stories’
The BC government today unveiled a $40.6 billion budget which critics say fails to rectify last year’s cuts to arts and culture organizations.
“What I’ve been able to see in the budget so far is it looks like a 50 percent cut to the arts, gaming and [BC] Arts Council,” says Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Herbert, who is gay.
“So it’s not 90 percent the Liberals threatened but a 50 percent cut is devastating. It will lead to thousands of job losses, artists leaving our communities and a much less vibrant cultural scene with less expression for queer stories,” he says.
“I know Out on Screen has been watching this closely. It will impact them and any other queer groups looking to get our stories out there,” Herbert adds.
Queer arts organizations, including Out on Screen which produces Vancouver’s annual queer film festival, were hoping that the government would restore funding to 2007-2008 levels.
“What is frustrating with this government is that it feels like they’re playing a colossal shell game,” says Out on Screen’s executive director, Drew Dennis.
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