arts advocacy
B.C. MLAs dodge funding questions from Arts Advocacy B.C.
By Jessica Werb, The Georgia Straight, January 11, 2011 Arts Advocacy B.C., a group incorporated as a nonprofit in December 2009, says it has received a disappointing response from NDP and Liberal MLAs to questions regarding arts funding. In November, the organization sent a letter to all 84 MLAs asking them whether they are satisfied [...]
VSO pulls out of arts alliance lobby after disagreement over advocacy
By Kevin Griffin, Vancouver Sun, December 2, 2010 The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra has resigned from the province’s biggest arts lobby group over a petition regarding a rezoning application for an expanded Edgewater Casino. Amir Ali Alibhai, executive director of the Alliance for Arts and Culture, confirmed Wednesday that the VSO had pulled out of the [...]
Duncan: Struggling arts groups urged to get political
If you love the arts, speak out together against provincial cultural-grant cuts. Make local support for the arts an issue in B.C.’s 2011 civic election too. Provincial NDP arts-and-culture critic, Spencer Chandra Herbert, gave that advice to Cowichan Valley Arts Council members Monday. “Arts groups in B.C. don’t speak in a unified voice. B.C.’s last [...]
Non-profit groups say B.C. duped them over casino proceeds
A coalition of non-profit groups is calling on Vancouver city council to delay approval of a downtown casino complex until the province agrees to steer more gambling revenue to charities and the arts. “There are huge pressures on city council and on the city of Vancouver to get this thing signed, sealed and delivered so [...]
Call your MLA: new arts coalition urges British Columbians ARTS CUTS / ‘BC has the least arts funding per capita in Canada, which is appalling,’ Dennis says
The Assembly of BC Arts Councils, the BC Touring Council, the Vancouver-based Alliance for Arts and Culture and the ProArt Alliance of Greater Victoria are joining forces to encourage members of BC’s legislature to push for greater government support for arts and culture. It’s an initiative that’s being welcomed by queer arts groups who’ve felt [...]
Double community and arts funding, top lobbyist tells B.C., lliance of the province’s largest arts lobby groups says it should get a larger share of increasing gambling revenues
The provincial government should almost double funding to non-profit community and arts groups to $240 million a year as a way to help restore the social contract it has broken with the citizens of B.C., says the head of an alliance of the province’s biggest arts lobby groups. Amir Ali Alibhai, executive director of the [...]
Non-profits take aim at gambling revenues
A coalition of British Columbia social and arts groups plan to launch a campaign Friday aimed at steering a greater portion of gambling revenues to non-profit groups. Organizers will also be calling on politicians to make funds for non-profits a condition for zoning changes that would be required for the construction of a proposed new Vegas-style casino [...]
Community Arts Champions to take message directly to province’s politicians
The province’s arts activists are recruiting “Community Arts Activists“ to work with MLAs in each B.C. riding. The project is being backed by the Assembly of B.C. Arts Councils. the B.C. Touring Council, Vancouver’s Alliance for Arts and Culture, and Victoria’s ProArt Alliance. The idea is to have delegations of people representing arts groups and [...]
Wells-based artist Bill Horne asks B.C. government to triple arts funding
An artist from the small Cariboo town of Wells is calling on the B.C. government to increase its funding of the arts. “The two main things I would like you to consider are the restoration of all Gaming monies to the non-profit sector, without any strings attached, and a tripling of the province’s investment in [...]
Provincial budget hearing held in Fort St. John
The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services visited Fort St. John to address local concerns and requests concerning the next provincial Budget. The committee, chaired by Chilliwack MLA John Les is required to release its report by Nov. 15th. Representing the Fort St. John Community Arts Council, Tara O’Donnell noted that the province [...]
Arts advocates plan strategy in B.C.
Lobbying MLAs, holding artistic street demonstrations, and tapping into social-media networks are among the tactics being considered by those looking to boost arts-advocacy efforts in B.C. A strategy session held at the Scotiabank Dance Centre in Vancouver on September 27 attracted more than 30 participants with various roles in the arts community. The participants rallied to [...]
Nanaimo: MLAs meet with groups about funding cutbacks
Artists, arts and cultural groups get a sympathetic ear from the official Opposition later this month. Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog and Nanaimo-North Cowichan MLA Doug Routley will join Spencer Chandra Herbert, New Democrat tourism, culture and arts critic at roundtable meetings planned for Nanaimo on Oct. 29. The group has invited local artists and arts, [...]
Lake Country: Funding cuts provoke instability
In preparation for the 2011 provincial budget, a 10-member finance committee consisting of government and opposition MLA’s, is in the process of making its way around the province. Its job is to collect input from citizens and organizations on topics that they would like to see addressed in the upcoming budget. Last week the committee [...]
Stand Up For the Arts! Public Meeting
ARE YOU UPSET ABOUT THE BC GOV’T’S CUTS TO THE ARTS? Are you in danger of losing your job to BC arts cuts? Is the arts organization that you are a member of hanging on by its fingernails due to the funding cuts to BC Gaming? Are these cuts being used as a testing ground [...]
BC ART ATTACK: Interview with Stop BC Arts Cuts’ Lindsay Brown
Lindsay Brown is the founder of Stop BC Arts Cuts Q. The Chair of the BC Arts Council recently resigned. What was your reaction? Jane Danzo’s resignation broke the logjam we’ve been stuck in for a year, so I was hugely relieved. She was a government appointee and she knows the premier personally, so her public [...]
