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Province of BC announces
devastating cuts in funding for the arts
The recently announced cuts in provincial funding for the arts will have a disastrous impact on arts organisations across the Province. Two major sources of revenues have been drastically cut: operating and project grants from the BC Arts Council, and “direct access” grants from Gaming revenues.
Arts funding will drop from $47.8 million (2008-2009 figures) down to a mere $3.7 million in 2011-2012 – representing a 90% cut in funding, which will affect over 300 arts organisations, as well as countless individual artists!
Because of the timing of the release of these grants, and some earlier commitments made by the Province to some organisations, the impact of these cuts will not immediately be felt by Early Music Vancouver; but they will take effect over the next two years. Other arts organisations are even less fortunate: the Vancouver Cantata Singers, for example, have already had to announce the cancellation of this year’s scheduled Messiah performance at the Orpheum due to this funding crisis.
If these announced cutbacks will not be reversed, Early Music Vancouver, and all arts organisations in the province, will face a grim future. For our organisation, these cuts will cause a devastating $77,500 drop in annual provincial grant revenues (roughly 10% of our operating budget). This will result in a severely curtailed winter concert series; and our internationally-acclaimed summer courses and festival will also be hurt by these measures.
The arts in BC has seen tremendous growth over the past 30 years, fitting for the “world-class” concept promoted by the Province. With these cuts, we stand to lose all this over the next two years.
The provincial government will start developing its budget for 2010-11 in October 2009; it is crucial for the Province to hear from you, our community, before this budget is set in stone – and time is of the essence.
Let your voice be heard!
We know you value Early Music Vancouver’s world-class programmes, and the Provincial government needs to hear your grave concerns about these cutbacks. Please help us keep the arts alive and healthy in British Columbia! Write to express your concerns about this crisis situation, and demand that funding for the arts be restored to sustainable levels:
The Honourable Gordon Campbell
Premier, British Columbia
P.O. Box 9041, Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC V8W 9E1
Email: premier@gov.bc.ca
The Honourable Kevin Krueger
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
P.O. Box 9041, Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC V8W 9E1
Email: Kevin.Krueger.MLA@leg.bc.ca
The Honourable Colin Hansen
Minister of Finance
P.O. Box 9041, Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC V8W 9E1
Email: Fin.Minister@gov.bc.ca
The Honourable Rich Coleman
Minister of Housing and Social Development
P.O. Box 9041, Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC V 8W 9E1
Email: EIA.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Jane Danzo
Chair, British Columbia Arts Council
PO Box 9819 Stn. Prov. Govt.
Victoria, BC V8W 9W3
Email: bcartscouncil@gov.bc.ca
The Honourable James Moore
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Ottawa, ON K1A 0M5
Web site for your message: www.pch.gc.ca/pc-ch/minstr/moore/cntct/index-eng.cfm
You can also let your voice be heard by logging on to www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations/
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