August 2009

You likely have heard about the issue of potential cuts to arts funding in BC over the past few weeks.  These double-barreled cuts are centered currently on BC Arts Council annual grants, and Direct Access Funding from the Gaming Branch.  No formal announcements have been made by BC Arts or Gaming: it is anticipated that the September 2 provincial budget may contain information. 

This letter is coming to you from a task force drawn from concerned central Okanagan arts groups, a list of which is at the end of this email.  We are getting in touch to ensure everyone is aware of these potential cuts and funding freezes and we encourage you and your organization to discuss this issue with your supporters, sponsors, donors, board members, artists and members of your local community. 

We hope that you will choose to advocate for the arts at this critical time.  Let your concerns be heard in a positive fashion, bringing a message of the strong economic and cultural impact the arts have on our communities and the province. 

Many provincial arts groups have already expressed their concerns to their MLA's and to other government officials.  Good, up-to-date information is available online at www.allianceforarts.com.

We ask your support in taking the message of your organization to your local MLA if at all possible, in a face-to-face meeting, before the House sits again August 25.  Clearly these funding issues affect many arts organizations in the province. To get more information on your local MLA, you can go to www.leg.bc.ca/MLA.

We feel it is vital to make the business case for continuation of funding; how many dollars your organization contributes to your local economy; and what the impact is, both financial and cultural on your audiences and artists.  The Alliance for Arts and Culture quantifies the provincial impact of the arts at 80,000 jobs and $5.2 billion annually.  You need to tell your financial and job story. 

You can also encourage your organization to send a letter, and keep sending letters, talking about the impact of proposed funding cuts on your community by writing to pertinent elected officials.  Office addresses on each elected official's web pages.

Arts Minister Kevin Krueger (kevin.krueger.mla@leg.bc.ca)

Gaming Minister Rich Coleman (rich.coleman.mla@leg.bc.ca)

Premier Gordon Campbell (premier@gov.bc.ca)

Please forward this email, perhaps with a covering note, to your in-house email list.  We know the government needs to hear from the groups and organizations impacted and they especially need to hear from the community itself - including individuals and businesses &endash; that the arts matter to them. 

We also ask you to respond to this email either to the organization which sent it to you or to ArtsResponseOkanagan@shaw.ca, so that we can measure the reaction to this information and tell all MLAs and others about the ongoing awareness of this issue among BC Arts groups.

Thank you. Please react within the next two weeks. 

This letter is sent to you from:

PAK; Professional Performing Arts Alliance of Kelowna including Ballet Kelowna; Chamber Music Kelowna, Community Concerts Kelowna and The Okanagan Symphony

Arts Council of the Central Okanagan

Rotary Centre for the Arts

Okanagan Institute