Contact the Premier + Ministers to Support Live Performance!
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Dr. Bonnie Henry and Premier John Horgan.
If you’re subscribed to our mailing list, you may have received our recent Advocacy Alert encouraging you to contact our elected officials to advocate for live performance in the face of the recent Provincial Health Order.
The Provincial Health Order effective November 20 allows every business already operational under the previous order to remain so with the exception of live performance. (Note: while our initial message specifically mentioned live theatre, it’s been correctly pointed out that the PHO affects all forms of live performance, including live music.)
We encourage you to contact Premier John Horgan (premier@gov.bc.ca), Minister Adrian Dix (HLTH.Minister@gov.bc.ca or Adrian.Dix@gov.bc.ca), and Minister Lisa Beare (TAC.Minister@gov.bc.ca) to express your concern and support for live performance!
We've included a template letter for you below. We highly recommend editing the letter to make a personalized case. [Update 11/24/20: Movie theatres have once again been closed; the copy below has been edited to reflect this.]
To Premier Horgan, Minister Dix and Minister Beare,
I write to you today as a supporter of arts and culture with my earnest concern regarding the Provincial Health Order effective November 20, which mandates the shuttering of live performance organizations in British Columbia. This order allows every business already operational under the previous order to remain so with the exception of live performance.
While we appreciate the necessity of increasing restrictions at this time, live performance (including theatre, live music, and other forms of performance) is one of the few businesses that is mandated to close until at least December 7, while other businesses remain open. Despite the rising case count in our province, to our knowledge, there has been no outbreak in the live performance industry.
The live performance sector has proven its ability to safely operate. Singling out theatre companies, dance companies, symphonies, and other performing arts organizations for closure reinforces to audiences the misperception that the industry has not met the safety standards required to conduct business.
The not-for-profit arts industry has been dealt a particularly cruel blow by this pandemic. We implore you to reconsider this aspect of the Provincial Health Order, in order to support an already embattled sector.
Yours sincerely,
(x)
