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October 02, 2009
Submitted by Alliance
An Open Letter to Gordon Campbell from Alma Lee
Founder, Vancouver Writers & Readers Festival
What are you thinking?
You are a cultured man who is an avid reader and supporter of cultural events. What happened to your vision of BC becoming the most literate province in the country?
What sort of Philistines are working with you in cabinet? Obviously they have no idea of what arts and culture bring to our lives and to the economy of this province. Stating that the government is going to focus on poverty doesn’t cut it – many artists live on or below the poverty line.
In the rest of the world Canada and BC are renowned for sending some of the most innovative and talented artists to perform in many high profile venues. There is a long list of British Columbian artists who are highly regarded abroad – that list could fill a page here.
The point is that many of these people got their start by being supported by government funding. You and your government should be proud of that, but instead you are denigrating the work of these artists, and in the process doing nothing for the economy with this short sighted and devastating slashing of arts funding.
You, Premier Campbell, appointed me to sit on the BC Arts Council. I was honoured to receive that appointment and I and my colleagues worked very hard to increase the core funding to the Council. All that was gained in the end was an endowment that today is realizing less than two percent, and it seems as though even that may be going on the block.
Now I feel that six years of my life and my own creative energy were wasted.
I am proud of my accomplishment in founding the Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival. This is an event that you, yourself, have supported over the years. I believe I created a high quality event for the cultural life of this city and we all know it has gained an international reputation.
Please, I beg of you, stop this budget slashing before it’s too late.
Alma Lee, CM, D.Litt (Hon)
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Gordon Campbell
This jackass Campbell sucked B.C. dry and you idiots in B.C. kept voting for him??
The B.C. Government lists only 2 job competitions --- the very worst in Canada!!
Morons!!
In my opinion
They say I am a promoted internet user and thus can say that your resurce is one of not many I like to come back from time to time. I just hope that someone finds my search engine on torrent files that useful too
the arts vs sports
Isn't it atrocious the way the talented 'athletes' are supported by the billions (ie.2010 Olympics).....at the same time the "artists, musicians" are kicked in the butt....
Our society, at this time in history....only recognize the so called "talent" of ie. hockey players, bob-sled drivers, ice skaters, skiiers', etc.....and completely disregard the talent of artists and musicians....
imagine a world without music, concerts, paintings on the wall, movies, etc etc.
Funding Cuts To The Arts
This was written over a week ago.
On Cutting Funding to the Arts...and other moral artocities.
Perhaps we should all just be grateful that our so-called political masters haven't decided that all the colours in Nature are "useless" and functionally unworthy of support. Because I'm convinced that if they actually had the power, all those colours would be wiped out and we'd be condemned to life in black and white.
To me, the Arts are as profound a devine gift as all the brilliant colours in Nature. And who hasn't been wonderously affected by both. The Arts often celebrate the miraculous in Nature...and we are all privileged by these expressions for what they add to the quality of our lives.
Yet even the egregiously ungrateful political drek who act against the best interests of the Arts have all been beneficiaries of them. I would venture that not one of them is without stories of how a particular piece of music; Dance; Art in any form has touched their lives at a defining moment. Or how, like the rest of us, the Arts have been - and continues to be - our dearest friend and constant companion.
As well, we have all watched over the years how politicians shamelessly exploit the Arts when they think it serves their purposes and receive benefits, profits, or other advantages from the Arts.
Perhaps it is because those of us who actually create Art have, for most of history, been seen as standing outside of the mainstream of society in some way. Therefore, we are "illegitimate" with "illegitimate" interests and, thus, not full members of society. Ergo, unworthy of full representation.
There can be no mistake that we as artists have been atrociously ill-represented politically. This embedded sociological vulnerability has made it much easier for the Anti-Arts-Funding lobby to do its worst - which it does more and more frequently and all too well.
Sadly, it remains to be seen whether we, as a collective community, rise sufficient to turn back what has become a trend of moral atrocities against the Arts.
I have hope, because I refuse to believe that most of us are as obscenely soul-less and ungrateful as the individuals who are responsible for the assault.
Duris Maxwell
Circulating Alma Lee's Letter to Premier Campbell
Alma has given permission for her Open Letter to Premier Campbell to be posted and circulated as widely as possible. KDM
Alma Lee's letter to the Premier
One of the most to the point letters I have seen. She says what we all would like to say, but our anger and emotion is getting in the way.
All the Special Interest groups and Charities need to stick together. I do believe that the intent of the Liberal government at this juncture is to make us all become snarling dogs, trying to hold onto our own bone. Stay together people! We have a voice, continue to use it and stick together.
United we Stand....
Alma Lee's letter to Premier Campbell
Fantastic letter. We would love to put it on http://www.stopbcartscuts.ca, if Alma would be willing. Thanks to her and to the Alliance for publishing this!