The Dust Settles

Humans... we're so resilient. We can become accustomed to pain. Just used to it. Here we are, appearing on the outside as though nothing is wrong, while inside we are scrambling to find some secure funding to keep going past the end of the year. Some immediate cuts have taken place, like custodial staff (please, no one barf in the gallery while I'm working), office supplies (donations of working pens welcome) and cheese for opening nights (what? no more Gort's Gouda?) Come January, gallery hours will be reduced. Musicians honorarium will be axed. Commission taken on art sales will go up. Rentals will go up. But you know what? We'll get used to it. Stings now, but it just isn't enough to make us march on parliament. I don't know what ever will. Maybe if I'm out of a job in January, I'll start walking.

City Council presentation

I have just returned from presenting a budget proposal to City Council for $7500 in annual funding for the art gallery. About 20 people came out to show their support - artists, musicians, administrators, funders and gallery-goers. My main point was that we've been running this gallery for 15 years efficiently and with joy, and now we'd like the City to step up and help fund a portion of our operating costs. It would be about 8% of our budget. It is no longer possible to run the gallery on volunteers alone - we have a hard-working staff and board of directors, but our volunteer base is slowly disappearing (a phenomenon noticed by many non-profit organizations). The four staff we have don't even make up a full-time job between them, but the work we get out of everyone - whew! Now we wait for Council to consider our proposal. We hope that by December we will know that they are committed to supporting this important community hub.

Call to Action: Art Black-Out February 12 - 28, 2010

It's hard to believe that one government can single-handedly destroy what takes years to create - a vibrant arts community. The government didn't create it, we created it. Through a lot of hard work and passion, our little community has 33 arts groups representing about 4000 artists of all genres. But the government can tear it down through this brutal set of cuts to funding on all levels. What do we have in our arsenal to fight back? Lobby groups, no. Big corporate interest, no. Big money? Certainly not. Here's what we do have - art. Yes, we can leverage our art.

Want a life without art? Let's see what that looks like: Art Black-Out from February 12 - 28, 2010. Art galleries take the work off the walls. Theatres close your doors. Musicians don't play. Dancers don't dance. Artists don't exhibit. Poets don't read.

Show the world what the provincial government is doing to the arts in BC. Fight back.

Denied

I am writing to advise you and your organization that your request for a regular 2009/10

community gaming grant has been denied.

That is the first line in the letter we just received from Gaming via email. No shock, as I have learned today that arts organizations all over the province are reeling from the same news. On the backs of the poor, this government is generating revenue to pay for the Olympics, tax breaks for businesses, MLA salaries (increased by 30% last year). On the other side: arts groups, seniors groups, organizations that feed the homeless, amateur sports groups.... all denied. Who is going to stand up and say this isn't right? Who? Surely as polite Canadians we can't actually protest, or have a revolution. No. We'll wait until three years from now when the next election comes and everyone has adjusted to the wounds inflicted on our culture, and elect the same pathetic group of morons that we elected this time. We'll forget the lies, the betrayal, the actions that smacked of fascism. We always forget. Until then, we will pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, keep putting one foot in front of the other, find some creative ways to fill the gaps... all because we are passionate people who believe in doing the thing we love. We will survive.