However, the board had a meeting last week and no firm decisions were made on where to make up for the loss.

“We don’t have any definitive action at this point in time but we will be doing some homework and expect to have some ongoing dialogue with the city,” said Robert Morton, the board’s president.

Counc. Christine Thompson said in an email that she had not been contacted by the gallery yet and wasn’t aware of anyone else in council being contacted either.

But in the midst of that big-time belt-tightening, the B.C. Arts Council cut the conservatory’s grant to $55,000 this year from $110,000 last year. Then it restored $27,500, leaving a total shortfall of $27,500 Moreover, its gaming grant from the province was halved to $20,000.

The coincidence is “incredibly ironic” and “actually very sad,” says conservatory executive director Jane Butler McGregor.

The unpredictability of provincial support has meant that arts groups increasingly must grapple with grants taken away or reduced, then restored — partially or in stages. It’s confusing for the public to keep track of old money versus new, and the final tally after cuts versus reinstatements. It’s even tougher for most arts organizations on already stretched budgets to achieve stability in everything from rent to hiring performers for the coming year.

The theatre will be approaching the District of North Vancouver for the same amount.

In his written report to city council, Ian Forsyth, director of The Arts Office, said Presentation House was facing major cuts to the upcoming season, and might even have to close.

“In 2009, the theatre lost its annual gaming grant of $38,000,” Forsyth wrote. “The province’s cuts were sudden and the theatre had little chance to adjust its budget or eliminate production costs in an effort to accommodate this shortfall in grants revenue.”

Representing the Fort St. John Community Arts Council, Tara O’Donnell noted that the province is 13th in Canada when compared to the other provinces and territories pertaining to per capita arts funding at only $6.54 per person. The B.C. Arts Council recently had its budget slashed by $20 million and at this time has no access to provincial gaming funds. O’Donnell is calling for the budget to be restored to 2008 levels so they can continue to provide adequate services to the region.

This will be a 10 minute presentation held at 2:05pm on Monday, October 4 At the Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre.

This event is open to the public and we welcome community support!

Thirteen pairs of clear eyes look ahead, 13 necks are extended, 13 pairs of knees are pulled up straight. Typical of high-level teenage ballet students, their concentration is formidable.

Except these aren’t teenagers; they are pre-ballet students aged four to six, and they are in only their third week of classes at the Vancouver Junior Professional Division.

“We are different from most schools,” explains associate director Elizabeth Isabelle in a hushed voice as the girls practise rising to demi-pointe. “Our expectations are very high; we just don’t feel the need to teach them ‘the easy way,’ so we start with the hardest skills first. They can always do more than you think they can do.”

…For these students, if they want to further their dance training at the same level after they graduate from the program, they will likely leave the province. It’s a young age to be leaving home, but as with all of the arts in British Columbia, dance training and professional companies are under-funded and the few options available to talented dancers are simply too limited.

It’s always been this way, but last year, it started getting much, much worse.

The plan runs in stark contrast to the strategy in B.C., where the provincial Liberals have cut core arts-council funding from about $19 million in 2008–09 to about $16 million for 2010–11, with long-term projections capping the amount at about $9 million through to 2012–13.

“It’s huge, it’s just wonderful,” John Brotman, executive director of the Ontario Arts Council, told the Straight about his province’s new Arts Investment Fund. “The government has been persuaded by the arts community that this is a very difficult time over the last two or three years, despite the relatively good government funding, in terms of fundraising and endowments.”

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, culture and heritage organizations to learn what challenges and effects recent budget decisions have had on their livelihoods and program offerings.

Last week the committee was in the Central Okanagan with a stop in Lake Country.

The presenters concerns were largely specific to their own interests however, a common theme that was touched on by most was the need for sustained funding from the province to non-profit organizations.

Ballet Kelowna’s Alison Moore told the committee that provincial funding cuts to the arts and the restructuring of how grant money is delivered has made it difficult for organizations like hers to secure the funds they need. Furthermore, she says that contributions from community clubs are down due in part to provincial cuts to their own funding. In its budget this year Ballet Kelowna was forced to trim $90,000 from its previous year’s budget resulting in less performances.

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 stand against the Arts ministry was fairly explosive. It certainly won her the admiration of thousands of British Columbians concerned about arts and culture. Her letter of resignation protested two things: the government’s unreasonably devastating cuts to the BC Arts Council, and its political interference in BC arts and culture. It’s worth mentioning here that on both points, BC is quite unique in Canada. No other province has made arts cuts like these, and many provinces have in fact increased funding. And compared to other provinces, the BC Arts Council has only ever had a weak version of a proper “arm’s-length” relationship with government. Some have jokingly called it “wrist’s-length.” When the government eroded the last of the Council’s independence, Danzo of course had little choice but to quit in protest. About two weeks after her resignation, undoubtedly partly the result of her resignation, the government reversed its cuts somewhat by re-allocating $7 million back into the Council. This is an inadequate amount, but at least it will help the Council save a number of organizations from collapse. The Council must now pressure government for a proper arm’s-length relationship, and they need to get it in writing.

Laura McGregor, Terrace Art Gallery coordinator, said the association has raised $8,000 through its membership drive, recent art auction, donations and membership sales; however, $18,000 is what’s needed to pay for operating costs that cover the coordinator’s salary. The money was lost when BC Gaming Grants were cut earlier this year.

To make up the difference, the association asked city council for $10,000 from its budget at the Sept. 13 council meeting. The association would like to receive the needed money by year end, she said.

Capitol Theatre manager Elliot Drew is worried that with government funding cuts and low season ticket sales—they’ve only sold 25 and the season starts next week—the amateur theatre company won’t be able to operate next year.

“I have no way to balance my budget this year,” Drew said.

The Capitol has been a theatre venue in Port Alberni for 75 years, starting out as a moving pictures house.

Public Dreams is known for annual events such as the Illuminares lantern festival and the Parade of Lost Souls, but without a significant increase in funds the company may not survive this year, general manager Laura Grieco said.

“To get us through the next six months, we really need financial support,” she said.

Grieco said Public Dreams has never done a fundraising push before, but the organization is planning to start one Sept. 24 at the Parade of Lost Souls. The celebration is scheduled to feature an Afro-Brazilian percussion troupe, art installations and a host of eclectic performers at the Storyeum on Cordova Street.

This is a season with a difference, however, and be prepared: It’s not a good news story. Though this should have been a triumphant celebration of 40 years of great music-making, for reasons that remain murky, the Vancouver Chamber Choir’s provincial operating grant from the B.C. Arts Council was cut a whopping 75 per cent.

Jon Washburn’s ensemble isn’t just one of British Columbia’s best choirs. It’s one of Canada’s pre-eminent choirs, with a solid international reputation. It has commissioned a whole songbook of new choral repertoire by domestic and imported composers. And, most important, it is a crack professional ensemble with real standards that stand up any place, any time.

Interim chair Stanley Hamilton said some of the funds will be available to council operating clients who already applied last spring and those who apply this fall.

“It only seems fair that when money comes in mid-year that we should set something aside so we can go back and revisit that decision,” Hamilton told the Straight today (September 13).

“We’re trying to be even handed between those who have already been adjudicated this fiscal year and those yet come,” he added.