BC Gaming
Hilary Peach: B.C. government “hijacks” $10 million from cultural community
This originally appeared on the Poetry Gabriola blog. Way back when we learned that the BC Liberal government was planning to cut arts funding in B.C. by up to 92 percent (they settled for around 80 percent) all kinds of weird things were going on. Among them, Gaming was supposed to be administrating the B.C. [...]
Fringe organizer outraged, hurt by province’s reason for denying funding: Letter refusing grant argues festival doesn’t reflect community
Victoria Fringe Festival organizer Ian Case says he’s not surprised that the BC Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch has shut the popular festival out of grant money this year. But the reason cited in a letter from the province has outraged him. “Fairs and festivals that do not reflect the community, regional or cultural characteristics [...]
Gaming branch denies $42,500 application from producer of Victoria Fringe Festival
The primary B.C. government arts-funding organization, the provincial gaming policy and enforcement branch, has denied an application from the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival. The Intrepid Theatre Society has been producing the popular Victoria festival for 23 years. Intrepid’s general manager, Ian Case, told the Straight that his organization applied for $42,500 in gaming funds. In [...]
Sunshine Coast: Gov’t arts funding arbitrary (letter)
In recent weeks, it has become clear that the B.C. government has been pursuing an erratic and dangerous course with regard to funding of the arts and culture through the Gaming Direct Access program. I am writing as a voter, a citizen, a taxpayer and an artist to urge you to reverse this course of [...]
Outrage deepens over arts grants restrictions in B.C.
The backlash continues to grow against the B.C. government’s recent decision to restrict which arts and culture groups are eligible for $11.5 million in provincial gaming-grant support this year. According to the Ministry of Housing and Social Development, which doles out the gambling revenue, only programs and festivals “that involve active youth participation” can qualify. Sandy [...]
Liberals cut the arts adrift: Cancellation of festival funds and new youth policy make little sense
Things just seem to get worse for arts and culture in Victoria and the rest of British Columbia. I’m not talking about the quality of the offerings, which often reach artistic levels that delight and surprise. Rather, it’s our provincial government’s mulish insistence on pretending the cultural industry in B.C. no longer exists. The Liberal [...]
Alliance for Arts and Culture fights back with statement on gaming funding changes
The Alliance for Arts and Culture is lashing back at Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman, who is set to cut arts festivals and others out of gaming funding. Last week, the minister was quoted saying the arts technically should be able make a profit through ticket sales and don’t qualify as true charities. [...]
Culture groups in the dark on provincial funding
The Tri-Cities’ arts and culture groups are wondering what will happen to their funding after the provincial government released new rules for its gaming grants program. Last week, the province announced changes to funding guidelines, saying grants would go to programs that involve “active youth participation.” Programs where youth are only part of the audience [...]
Alliance Advocacy Chair Responds to Minister Coleman
Re: Arts Festivals Cut Off From Gambling Funds–Vancouver Sun, May 29, 2010 On Saturday, May 29, the Vancouver Sun published a comprehensive report of major, though unannounced, changes to the administration of gaming funds in British Columbia, which are administered by Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman (Arts festivals cut off from gambling funds [...]
Opinion: Arts, culture industry also worth investment
Re: “B.C. cuts off festivals from grants,” May 28. Minister Rich Coleman states that many of B.C.’s arts festivals are commercial enterprises that charge admission and should be able to operate without government subsidies. “There were some festivals that had been running for 25 years and they were saying if they couldn’t get a $10,000 [...]
Vancouver: Green Thumb Theatre expects loss of provincial gaming-grant funding
Anticipating a loss of provincial gaming-grant funding, a Vancouver theatre company is prepared to scale back plans to perform for young audiences in rural B.C. Ivan Habel, general manager of Green Thumb Theatre, said the nonprofit group has previously received $36,500 in annual grant funding to support its provincewide tours. But Habel said he has [...]
Nanaimo: Funding cuts force VIEX rate hikes, threaten music festivals
A lack of funding from both government and the private sector has forced the Vancouver Island Exhibition to raise its rates for the first time in six years, says the fair’s treasurer. Organizers of the Big Easy have cancelled this year’s event, which brought 3,000 people to the Wastelands on Dumont Road for the alternative [...]
Terrace: Art gallery future uncertain after losing gaming grants
THE GAMING money cuts the provincial government unveiled earlier this year have hit another organization in town, putting its future in jeopardy. The Terrace Art Association was receiving $18,000 per year gaming, which was used for the Terrace Art Gallery coordinator’s wages. “We were never formally advised that we lost our funding – we heard [...]
NDP say Liberals pulling Kamloops funding
B.C. New Democrats are lamenting another cut to the arts, this time to the long-established Kamloops Festival of the Performing Arts. Critic Spencer Chandra Herbert called a recent announcement by Minister of Housing and Social Development Rich Coleman the latest broken promise by the Liberal government. At risk is $15,000 to the group, which stages [...]
Arts festivals cut off from gambling funds: Social development minister defends decision to end funding for music and arts events he says should pay their own way
Arts and music festivals are being cut off from millions in government gambling grants this year, says the provincial government. The announcement, which represents an abrupt tweak on government rules introduced in March, means events such as fringe festivals in Vancouver and Victoria are effectively locked out of what was once a lucrative and fairly [...]
