Daily Archive

BC Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture gives us an overview of what the government’s plans are in the post Olympic glow. After the preliminary budget which was estimated at 92%, some funding was restored. However according to the Alliance for Arts and Culture the cut nets out at 32% for the portfolio and a 53% cut to funding for the BC Arts Council. Kevin also talks about how individuals and businessness should be supporting the arts in this new economy.

Interview time 13 mins

Here are the basic facts from the March 2 budget (As per an analysis by the Alliance for Arts and Culture)

• FACT: The BC Arts Council has been cut 53 per cent from 2008/09.This is funding used to provide core support for the creation of cultural experiences like those that thrilled audiences here and world-wide during the 2010 Olympics.
• FACT: BC Gaming Commission contributions to the arts have been cut 58 per cent from 2008/09.This is funding used to make possible community access to the arts and culture through free public festivals and events.
• FACT: A $10 million annual supplementary fund has been created, but we do not know how the funds will be administered or distributed.
• FACT: Interest from the $150 million BC Arts and Culture Endowment remains the same.
• FACT: The new budget includes $12 million for the BC Royal Museum. This support has remained the same for several years and is essentailly a transfer to a crown corporation; this has not traditionally been counted as part of the investment made through grants to the arts and cultural sector.
• FACT: Total government investment in culture, including the newly announced $10 million annual supplementary fund, has been reduced by 32.4 per cent from the 2008/09 budget.