Duncan: An artistic success
The Warm Land’s hosting of Performing Arts B.C. ended with Thursday’s big Cowichan Theatre finale that drew deserved kudos from all corners of the province.
“It was the best of the best,” Langley visitor Jacki Ashworth summed after the 24-act highlights night.
Her comments followed a week of stiff competition among 500 provincial finalists from 34 music festivals.
…Still, she and Bill Stuart applauded Cowichan Music Festival boss Leslie Sjoberg and her 150 volunteers for the Warm Land’s well-staged provincials.
“You held you[r] own,” said Stuart, who’s visited various B.C. competitions. “You can’t really tell the difference, they all do a wonderful job.” And without provincial funding, added Sjoberg.
She was rightly disgusted Victoria has pulled arts funding for the B.C.’s, leaving hosting cities scrambling for business sponsors and kids’ entry fees.
“Canceling of arts funding is absolutely dreadful,” she said, noting Friday’s news of gouges to gaming grants.
Given B.C.’s awesome stage talent, the government should hang its head in shame for the cash cuts, especially arts and culture minister Kevin Krueger.
“We never even got a reply from Krueger for a welcoming letter,” Sjoberg said.
“The B.C. festival does a lot for kids and they want to stamp all of that out of their lives.”
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