impacts of funding cuts
Greater Victoria arts groups grapple with uncertainty on grants
In the last 18 months, the Victoria Conservatory of Music managed to lop nearly $1.5 million off its accumulated debt of $2 million. That’s a lot of lopping. 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 [...]
North Vancouver: City aids funding-starved theatre: $25,000 gift helps Presentation House cope with gaming grant cut
The City of North Vancouver has produced $25,000 to help bail out Presentation House Theatre after the provincial government doubled back on a commitment to give the arts group gaming money. The theatre will be approaching the District of North Vancouver for the same amount. In his written report to city council, Ian Forsyth, director [...]
Courtenay: Art gallery grant bid sidelined
Comox Valley Art Gallery’s request for a $25,000 a year grant has been sidelined by regional district directors. The gallery’s curator/director, Anh Le, made the case for financial help at a meeting of the committee of the whole on Tuesday. She said there had been significant cuts in financial support from the B.C. Arts Council [...]
Mean Days for Kids’ Festival $200,000 slash in government funding prompts urgent request for funds
The Vancouver International Children’s Festival is facing perhaps the toughest year ever in its 32-year history. Provincial and federal funding have been sharply cut, despite the festival’s decades of success. As festival board chair Paul Dumontet said in a recent email to supporters, “Over the past 12 months, we have developed a new vision for [...]
B.C. art attack: W2′s Irwin Oostindie
Irwin Oostindie is Executive Director of W2, a community media and arts space in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Q. W2 is one of the newest arts organizations in the city. It was one of the real hubs of activity during the 2010 Olympics. How has W2 been impacted by the cuts to arts? How do you [...]
Fort St. John Community Arts Council to speak out on arts cuts
The Fort St. John Community Arts Council will be presenting to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services regarding how the Provincial arts cuts have affected our Arts Council and other arts and culture organizations. We will ask the Committee to recommend that funding levels to the arts be restored to 2008 levels. [...]
North Vancouver: Dying arts B.C.’s funding cuts are pushing already precarious programs to the brink
In a white, mirrored dance studio on Capilano Road, 13 dancers stand facing the barre in perfect first positions: heels touching, feet turned out to make 180 degrees. 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 [...]
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 [...]
Terrace: Art gallery in need of money
EVEN WITH its recent fundraisers, the Terrace Art Association will be forced to close the art gallery if it can’t secure more financing after its provincial gaming grants were pulled earlier this year. Laura McGregor, Terrace Art Gallery coordinator, said the association has raised $8,000 through its membership drive, recent art auction, donations and membership [...]
Port Alberni: Art cuts threaten theatre
The opening of the farce Noises Off by Michael Frayn will mark the beginning of a very special and important season at the Capitol Theatre. Or it could be the beginning of the end for the Portal Players Dramatic Society. Capitol Theatre manager Elliot Drew is worried that with government funding cuts and low season [...]
Vancouver Chamber Choir is fit and 40, Renowned choir faces challenges after 75-per-cent cut in funding from the B.C. Arts Council
This is it: the weekend when, after late-summer hibernation, Vancouver’s classical musical scene springs into fully operational mode. It’s also the start of the Vancouver Chamber Choir’s 40th season, which promises a broad and impressive assortment of choral concerts and events from now until the end of spring. This is a season with a difference, [...]
BC ART ATTACK: Interview with VIVO General Manager Emma Hendrix
Emma Hendrix is a multi-media artist and sound designer. He is the General Manager of VIVO Media Arts Centre. Q – How has VIVO been impacted by the cuts to the arts? How has this impacted artists? This year VIVO was pretty lucky in terms of funding. We are one of the few organizations who [...]
BC ART ATTACK: Interview with Artspeak Director Melanie O’Brian
Melanie O’Brian is the Director of Artspeak Gallery in Vancouver. Q – How has Artspeak been impacted by the cuts to the arts? How has this impacted artists? How has your publications program been impacted? Artspeak has been impacted by the BCAC (BC Arts Council) cuts in that we cannot produce any new publications this [...]
Duncan: CVAC weighs options in gallery closure
The Cowichan Valley Arts Council will likely have to close its gallery doors at the end of September. But they’re working with Cowichan Valley Regional District to look at options and strategies on keeping the local arts scene alive. “Now is the time we have to act and everything we do is collaborative. We simply [...]
Nanaimo: Arts groups struggle despite boost
It’s good news that the provincial government reinstated $7 million of arts and culture funding, but it won’t help one Nanaimo theatre company, said its artistic director. The money will help bigger, more established arts organizations in B.C. with operating costs but will not assist Western Edge Theatre, which is a smaller, younger organization that [...]
