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.

Still no word...

Not only were we left hanging when the Provincial government decided to freeze Direct Access funds and not tell the non-profit organizations what was going on, but now the media releases all say "The Freeze is Lifted!" and there is still no word from Direct Access or the Government! We don't know if we'll get what we've received for the past six years, or less, or none at all. I just heard this morning on CBC radio that a Vancouver theatre festival received word they were denied their Gaming funding, money they were counting on for this year's event. Now I'm really worried.

My board of directors meets this week to discuss the situation, although without any information, what's to discuss? Cuts to staff? I don't imagine the board members want to do my job, I wonder if they even realize that would have to happen. You can't cut someone's hours in half and expect the same job to be done. Oh wait, the government itself has been doing that for years to civil servants, RCMP, etc. Do you think they'll cut MLA wages by 40%?

End the Freeze. Buy an Ice Cube

Crazy - We raised $73 today selling ice cubes to the passing public out in front of the art gallery. Many people had a laugh and happily donated a few coins or dollars in exchange for an ice cube. It helped that it was a very hot day. We were protesting the funding freeze by BC Gaming. So many people had no idea, and even non-arts folks were surprised to learn that sports groups were experiencing the same crisis. This affects everyone, because your local PAC, or ski club or writers group may be depending on that money for their next project, festival or event. Now, that event may not happen, or their doors will close, or their staff will be laid off. Big consequences. Everyone should be calling Kevin Krueger and Gordon Campbell making sure they know what funding like means to a small community. They're talking billions, we're talking thousands - but those thousands have big impact in Salmon Arm. Don't sit back and let this happen. We all must make a stand. Tell the BC Government to give arts, cultural and sports group their duly assigned Gaming funds.

Paint the Town

For the fifth year, 20 or so artists hauled their gear to a downtown location in Salmon Arm to create a masterpiece. In one day they painted our luscious scenery and then brought their work back to the gallery for display and the reception. What a hoot. Everyone was in a good mood, the weather was perfect, not too hot and just enough haze to make an interesting painting. A few newcomers this year, which is always nice to have. It's like Christmas when I go back to the gallery at the end of the day - bless Margaret for doing intake for me these last couple of years. I never get to see anyone else's work while I'm slapping paint to canvas in the same frenzied way. Again, I'm blown away by the quality of the work. It's a beautiful show. David Askew - get your butt down there and look at the cool work Justin Maas did of your store! And put a bid on them while you're at it.

Now, to Paint the Festival - I've got eight artists lined up to paint on Sat/Sun at Roots & Blues. They are all excited and rarin' to go. Can't wait to see what they do - especially given the opportunity for night-time paintings. Ooooo.

Funding Cuts

Oh brother. Talk about creating your own reality. I've never worried about BC Gaming funding until this year. I was so stressed from the moment I plunked the application in the mail back in May. Now I'm thinking that I was in tune with some universal vibe that Gaming was going to pull the rug out from hundreds of arts organizations. Nothing is for sure, but the word is that Gaming has frozen our funding pending the next provincial budget on September 2. This on top of BC Arts Council funding being cut by 40%. Is this their brilliant plan to stimulate the economy? No, it's their plan to pay for the Olympics, I'm sure. This is old-style dirty politics. I thought as a species we were making progress, understanding the impact arts and culture has on sustaining communities, both economically and socially. Apparently none of the suits in Victoria have entered the 21st century. I'm just so mad I can barely formulate a nasty letter to Kevin Krueger. I think I need a face to face meeting with him and our own MLA George Abbott. I'll be sure to pull out my bag of stats to prove what all the intelligent people know about the benefits of supporting arts and cultural groups.... one of which is that for every dollar the Provincial Government invests in the arts, they receive $1.36 in tax revenue. Seems like a good investment to me.