Alliance's blog

I have two kids, a two year old and a five year old and every day at dinner we talk about the best and the hardest parts of our days. I'll tell them about falling off my bike or that I felt very tired, but I won't let their tender ears hear the real hard parts of my day, like how, instead of receiving a cheque for $32,500 (our usual amount) from the BC Arts Council, I opened up their envelope to find a cheque for $12,700. My kids may not know what that means, but it indicates the dismantling of the culture of the province of British Columbia. 

This is a piece by Martha Rans from the Artists' Legal Outreach.  Please follow the link below and join in the discussion.  This issue is flying under the radar for a lot of arts organizations, but many of those facing cuts will have to look at their bylaws to deal with potential cuts in administration.  With the Society Act session coming up next week, you have an opportunity to talk about how to do this and share resources.  Martha is flagging a very important issue for the arts community here and invites your input.  

 The Alliance for Arts and Culture is commencing another season of professional development workshops.  We are pleased to confirm the following workshops in our spring series. 

In the face of significant funding cuts, many of us are asking how we can do more with less.

Could bylaw changes help us better meet our mandate or streamline our administration?  How do we amalgamate our company with a like-minded group?  What alternative models can we look at?  Should we be applying for charitable status?  What are the pros and cons? 

Join the Artists' Legal Outreach (ALO) at the Cultch for a three-part workshop series that will help to answer some of those questions.

The workshop series includes:

After 12 years of leadership in health and safety educational programs for BC’s performing arts and motion picture communities, SHAPE (Safety and Health in Arts Production and Entertainment) is getting a new look and new name.

“Our community looks for clarity and directness when they have health and safety concerns,” says general manager
Dawn Brennan. “The name Actsafe has that clarity.”

On Saturday, March 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the recently formed

Coalition to Build a Better BC

will convene a public dialogue of concerned citizens on the impact of government funding cuts.

All concerned British Columbians are invited to take part  in Building Together: Dialogue for a Better BC.

In a media release issued this morning (Monday, March 08 .10) by the ministry responsible for BC Gaming, the Government of British Columbia has announced measures to deny most non-youth oriented cultural programs and organizations any form of gaming funding for the foreseeable future.

Take part in a human resources survey for professional artists, cultural workers and employers!

The Cultural Human Resources Council has engaged the Conference Board of Canada to undertake a survey to examine the HR issues faced by the cultural sector in Canada.

In August 2009 the arts sector was faced with a significant cut to Gaming grants. 

As I write this it appears that those funds have not been restored in the new budget.  Gaming monies have been used by many arts organizations to fund the vital administrative work that is necessary to keep them going.  When the only paid staff person in a small artist run gallery has to handle all  the day to day issues, negotiate the lease, do the bookkeeping, as well as the programming, it is little wonder that some things fall by the wayside.  

"Arts funding was not restored to 2008/2009 levels in yesterday's budget, despite a unanimous recommendation by the government's Standing Committee on Finance", according to Alliance for Arts and Culture executive director Amir Ali Alibhai.

"In fact what we have seen are further cuts to core funding" said Mr. Alibhai, "for a total loss of 32.4 per cent from funding levels in 2008/09."

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Here are the basic facts from the March 2 budget: