funding

“Premier Ignored MLAs and His Own Finance Committee”

VICTORIA: Emerging from today’s budget lockup at the BC Legislature, Alliance for Arts and Culture executive director Amir Ali Alibhai, Victoria Symphony executive director Mitchell Krieger, and ProArt Alliance of Greater Victoria coordinator Scott Walker expressed disappointment at the budget’s half-hearted support for the arts in British Columbia.

December 30, 2009

The Honourable Gordon Campbell
Premier of British Columbia
PO Box 9041 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E1

Dear Premier Campbell:

Re: Provincial Cutbacks to Cultural Services (original letter)

Dear artists and arts supporters,

A significant first step was taken today when the Select Finance Committee recommended that arts funding be restored to 2008-09 levels in British Columbia.  Now is the time to continue the pressure on the government to adopt the recommendations.

Canada's long time support of its artists has helped them to achieve incredible heights both nationally and internationally in a variety of disciplines. For me personally, and for The National Ballet of Canada, government funding has allowed us to tour internationally and to keep our dancers and productions in the top tier of dance companies worldwide. Gaining this kind of acclaim on a worldwide scale, not just for our company but for our museums, symphonies, art galleries and artists as a whole, is critical to preserving Canada's place on the world map.

Alliance executive director Amir Ali Alibhai presented a brief to the BC Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services on October 16, addressing the cultural community’s concerns about this year’s drastic cutbacks in cultural sector funding.

Read the full text here.

City of Vancouver Cultural Services has announced details of four opportunities to access or participate in the City's cultural grant process.

1.  New deadline for Cultural Grants Program
November 2nd, 2009
Please note: there will only be ONE funding deadline for 2010.