This entry in the Arts Cuts Memo contest – a competition to see who can make the most creative memo to the government out of yellow sticky notes – was designed by Sharon Kahanoff. She submitted this explanation: “Just so you know, my yellow sticky has been accurately rendered to reflect 1/20th of 1% of the budgetary whole that is the paper, and of course this figure is before the cuts. It took me longer to do the math than to make the drawing, and I think I’m prouder of the math than the drawing.” When the little arts funding sticky note says “after the cuts I will be too small to see,” it’s not kidding. To read more about why these cuts make no social or economic sense, click here.
Who are we?
This blog is an extension of the website Stop BC Arts Cuts. We are a loose affiliation of arts supporters, artists, curators and arts workers in British Columbia who are fighting to overturn the abrupt, severe, unwarranted, and socially and economically unwise cuts to BC public arts funding. Even before these cuts, BC's arts funding was already well below that of all other provinces of Canada: the national average for provincial arts funding is $26 per capita; BC is now at approximately $6.50 per capita, even after the recent $7m restoration of funds. Ultimately the cuts still stand at approx 50%, amounting to a giant blow for the BC sector and one that will make us uncompetitive. Many organizations are already closing their doors. Meanwhile, every other industrial sector in BC receives substantial subsidies - why make an example of art? Arts funding is not only a crucial component of a homegrown culture industry in a relatively remote region with a small population (and relatively small corporate activity). It's also a lucrative investment that has been proven to fatten, rather than impoverish, the BC tax base (see here), by bringing large returns on every dollar given. Let's not find ourselves with a BC culture consisting of nothing but American TV. Check back regularly to read news about this issue, and to keep informed about our efforts to campaign for the return of these funds, which are: a) promised BC Gaming monies, and b) regular tax base funding for the BC Arts Council. Thank you for reading. To contact us, click here.Twitter
Tweets by stopbcartscutsArts Cuts Links
- Alliance for Arts – video PSA
- Alliance for Arts – Write a Letter! Easy Webform Here
- Alliance for Arts and Culture – campaign toolkit
- Artists' and Citizens' Response to Funding Cuts
- Arts Advocacy BC
- BC Arts News
- BC Budget Visualizations – DIY Transparency & Local Government
- BC Gaming Funds Belong To Communities – Stop The Cuts!
- Christy Clark – Audio interview on Gaming funds
- Coalition for a Better BC
- Coalition for the Defense of Writing & Publishing in BC
- Dan Mangan: Thoughts on Arts Funding
- Decimating the Arts in Canada
- Facebook Group: Organizing against Campbell's cuts to the arts
- Grey Square
- Pacific Association of Artist-Run Centres
- Prominent British Columbians speak out against the arts cuts
- Put A Face To The Arts – Golden, BC
- Restore Arts Funding Now Stickers – see "Active Links"
- Vancouver International Writers Festival
- Wells, BC opposes the cuts!
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Recent Posts
- Dan Mangan’s “Post-War Blues” video dir. by Kevin Eastwood – statement against government attack on arts
- BC municipal elections – who are your arts candidates?
- Some Spirit Festival” money directed to BC Arts Council, but little & late
- Federal arts cuts coming?
- Dutch political theatre around arts cuts – ad in the New York Times
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