BC Arts Council
B.C. government letter now hints at how it will hand out other Legacy funds to arts groups
Arts groups are starting to receive letters from the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism saying some Legacy funding will be made available to the B.C. Arts Council’s “annual operating clients“. But to be eligible, their events must meet certain requirements and “reflect the vision of the Legacy”, according to the letter. The letter, signed [...]
Still no clear word on funding plan for arts in B.C.
Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Kevin Krueger proclaimed the annual B.C. Arts and Culture Week at an event in Victoria on April 19, but he did not, as expected, make an announcement about how a new $10-million arts legacy fund will be dispersed. In the provincial budget at the beginning of March, it was [...]
Tribute to Jeremy Long April 30
In the 70’s he was an actor, playwright and general manager with the trail-blazing Tamahnous Theatre. In the 80’s he ran the Cultch and worked with the Canada Council. But he’s best known by BC’s arts and cultural community for his over twenty years with our Province’s arts and culture division. He retired earlier this [...]
Arts groups face another tough year: Government focuses shrinking funds on programs for youth
Community and professional arts groups face a shrinking pool of funds under the provincial budget tabled last week. While arts groups that employ or program for youth and disabled people have been spared in the latest round of reallocations, reductions, legacy funds and contingency accounts that characterize the government’s approach to arts funding, those that [...]
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 [...]
B.C. arts groups warn about politics driving funding: $10-million allocated in B.C. budget won’t be allocated by the province’s arms-length arts council
As artists across the country await news about arts funding in Thursday’s federal budget, there are concerns in British Columbia’s arts community about how the province plans to distribute funds to artists – and how involved the government might become in that process. This week’s provincial budget established a new 2010 Sports and Arts Legacy [...]
B.C. Budget 2010: Gaming grants battle, unions brace for bad news, property tax deferrals: Community groups ready for legal action
Thousands of community groups that normally pay little attention to provincial budgets will be keeping a watchful eye — and their lawyers at the ready — when the B.C. government tables its latest financial plan Tuesday. At stake are tens of millions of dollars in government gaming grants that the charities and non-profits want restored. [...]
Parksville: Buddy, can you spare $11,964
The Oceanside Community Arts Council has suffered a significant blow to its core funding. On February 9 the Parksville arts facility was informed by the BC Arts Council that its principle operating grant for 2010 would be just $36, well below the requested amount of $12,000. The announcement follows on the heels of an earlier [...]
NDP culture critic Spencer Herbert warns of arts fudge-it budget
NDP culture critic Spencer Herbert says he’s worried the B.C. Liberal government might “try to fudge the numbers” in the next provincial budget to fool the public into thinking arts funding has been restored. In a phone interview with the Georgia Straight, Herbert said that even if the March 2 budget continues funding the B.C. [...]
Arts Sector Receives $3.4 Million from BC Arts Council
Artists and arts organizations in communities across British Columbia are receiving more than $3.4 million in BC Arts Council grants, Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Kevin Krueger announced today. “The arts are an important social and economic force in communities across the province,” said Krueger. “These grants provide operating support for B.C. arts organizations [...]
BC Arts Council offers sustainability pilot project
B.C. arts organizations, contending with the impacts of the global recession, may get some relief through a new BC Arts Council capacity and sustainability pilot program announced today by Council Chair Jane Danzo. The Special Project Assistance Capacity and Sustainability Program is designed to assist arts and cultural organizations affected by economic forces,” Danzo said. [...]
B.C. Arts Council’s strategic plan reveals working artists’ average income
B.C. has the largest percentage of working artists in its labour force of any province in Canada, according to the B.C. Arts Council’s recently released 2009-2013 strategic plan. The 25,600 working artists comprise 1.08 percent of the population. B.C. is the only province with more than one percent of the population defining themselves as working [...]
B.C. Arts Council can’t write cheques to arts groups
Has the B.C. Liberal government diluted arm’s-length funding of culture by taking away the B.C. Arts Council’s ability to write the cheques to arts organizations? Under the Arts Council Act, the B.C. Arts Council must “allocate the money appropriated annually for the Council by the Legislature”. But in the September 1 budget, the B.C. Liberal [...]
BC Arts Council Executive Director to retire
BC Arts Council Executive Director Jeremy Long will retire from the BC Public Service early in the New Year, Council Chair Jane Danzo announced today. “Jeremy Long has served the people of British Columbia for more than 20 years,” Danzo said. “He has been eligible for retirement for the past two years, but chose to [...]
B.C. Arts Council boosts advocacy
In light of the recent economic turmoil, the B.C. Arts Council has vowed to enhance its advocacy role for the arts. Council chair Jane Danzo, who made the announcement in an October 20 letter to arts groups, told the Straight that advocacy has always been a BCAC mandate—albeit one that has been neglected. “It’s our [...]
