Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's Maestro Bramwell Tovey will become the longest-serving Music Director in the orchestra’s 99-year history. 

The VSO announced last week the extension of Tovey’s contract that will see him remain at the artistic helm of the orchestra through August of 2018, marking his 18th year with the organization. Tovey will become the VSO’s Music Director Emeritus, conducting up to two weeks per season starting in 2018/2019, the orchestra’s 100^th Anniversary Season.  

The Alliance is pleased to introduce Desjardins Group as our newest Member Advantage Program (MAP) partner.

Desjardins Group's Payment Solutions Program offers Alliance members preferred rates on their merchant credit card services.

What makes Desjardins different?

The City of Vancouver released its proposed 2014 Capital and Operating Budget today, which notes that the coming year will see a continued focus on the planning for significant new arts venues and spaces, including the new Vancouver Art Gallery, 162 West 1st Avenue, and the evolution of the Arts Factory. 

Cultural Services plans for 2014 include:

Vancouver Police are asking for the public’s help in finding $100,000 worth of Aboriginal art, recently stolen from the Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery in Gastown.

Nine pieces of artwork were stolen from the gallery's storage locker, including one-of-a-kind Aboriginal masks, wooden panels and sculptures between the evening of October 30 and the early morning hours of October 31. 

The Province’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services released its report on Budget 2014 consultations last week. It included encouraging references to arts and culture in comparison with the previous year's report, which made no reference to the sector.

Each fall, the Committee holds province-wide public consultations on the upcoming provincial budget through public hearings, written submissions, and an online survey.  

Last week, the Alliance's executive director Rob Gloor and Surrey Children's Festival artistic director Marnie Perrin met with MP Nina Grewal (Fleetwood--Port Kells) to discuss #Arts308 and the importance of arts funding. Have you scheduled a meeting with your MP yet? 

Fourteen individuals and one business are the recipients of the 2013 Mayor’s Arts Awards for having made significant contributions to creative life in the city of Vancouver.

Mayor Gregor Robertson will present the awards at a ceremony this Friday, November 22, at TELUS World of Science, to honourees who represent a wide variety of disciplines, from performing and visual arts to literary and culinary arts.

Honours are also awarded in the categories of Volunteerism, Business Support, Philanthropy, Arts Board Member of the Year and Lifetime Achievement.

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 4, 2013 / 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Venue:  Alliance Board Room, 100-938 Howe Street, Vancouver.

In September 2014, Canadian Theatre Review will be publishing an issue looking at the current state of acting training in English Canada, as well as proposals for the future. The editors, Diana Belshaw (Humber College) and David Fancy (Brock University), believe that the input of recent graduates of acting-training programs is an essential part of this overview.

The City of Vancouver is seeking submissions for capital funding for infrastructure projects that will secure and develop multi-artist production spaces in Mount Pleasant.

Examples of possible projects could include:

• Purchasing or upgrading existing artist production spaces
• Purchasing and developing new properties
• Implementing a reserve fund to cover a portion of facility operating costs

The City is looking for projects that:

Attend part 2 of this business dialogue to support growth and innovation in Surrey's arts and culture industry.

The Surrey Board of Trade and the City of Surrey are continuing their partnership focused on recognizing the economic and social value of fostering a thriving cultural industry in Surrey.

 Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 

Time: 
7:30 a.m. - Registration and Breakfast
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. - Program

Want to host pop-up performances in studios, warehouses, factories, shops and wholesale spaces? Find out more about Vancouver's arts event licence pilot program.

Join @VanCultureBC for a noon hour Q+A on Twitter, Tuesdays at noon, November 19 and 26.

The Canada Council for the Arts announced the 14 winners of the 2013 Governor General's Literary Awards today (November 13), including Sandra Djwa of West Vancouver for Journey with No Maps: A Life of P.K. Page (McGill-Queen’s University Press). 

On November 1, 2013 WorkSafeBC approved three new policies dealing with workplace bullying and harassment. 

To help employers, supervisors and workers better understand and comply with the new policies, WorkSafeBC has released the following factsheet: 

What is the definition of workplace bullying and harassment according to WorkSafeBC’s policies?