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Home | Resources > Newsletter | Synergy - January 2008
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Synergy January 2008 -- Volume 19 Number 1 IN THIS ISSUE: A word from the Executive Director1. Provincial budget update 2. Cultural facilities consultation 3. Cultural plan for Vancouver released 4. Cultural Olympiad news 5. Support needed for Pantages Theatre restoration 6. Kids Up Front Vancouver 7. Research and literature 8. Calls, awards and opportunities 9. Media spin 10. Endquote A word from the Executive Director Dear Colleagues, As we begin a New Year, we look ahead with both hope and concern. We are encouraged by the recommendation of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services that the Government of BC increase funding to the arts in general and to the BC Arts Council in particular. We hope that this year the Government will act on this advice; the same recommendation was ignored a year ago. Many Vancouver artists are encouraged by the series of studies being undertaken by the Office of Cultural Affairs as they review their policies, priorities, programs and practices with regard to cultural grants, public art, cultural facilities and cultural tourism. All of these studies will feed into Vancouver’s Creative City process, and have the potential to bring great benefit to the arts and to the community at large. Artists and arts managers are involved in all these studies. Also encouraging is the most recent announcement by Arts Partners for Creative Development identifying 24 recipients of grants in support of new works, and VANOC’s announcement of the recipients of funding to support pre-Olympic arts activities. However, there is growing concern on a number of fronts. There are generalized economic concerns that a serious downturn in the US economy will have a spillover effect on Canada’s, which might affect the cultural sector, and particularly the film industry. While the Vancouver arts community generally welcomes the OCA’s facilities study, which will result in a Facilities Priorities Plan, there is growing concern that, by the time the Plan is developed and adopted, many of the properties now occupied by artists will have been lost to other forms of development (e.g. 190 Prior/901 Main and the York Theatre), and that not enough is being done to retain viable artists’ work spaces or to save and properly refit existing heritage spaces. Clearly the city needs, and can only be enriched by, a balanced stock of adequate and affordable artist workspaces, well-preserved and viable historic facilities, and new purpose-built facilities to serve its needs well into the century. At the municipal level (and perhaps at the federal level?), an election this year will give us the opportunity to engage candidates in public discussion, and challenge them to make clear their understanding of, and commitment to, the role and value of arts and culture in community. In the meantime, our artists continue to make great art as the attention of the world increasingly turns to Metro Vancouver/Whistler in anticipation of the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. All at the Alliance – Board and Staff – wish all our members a very successful 2008. Andrew Wilhelm-Boyles The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services released its 2008 budget consultation report in November and stated in it that the committee “strongly believes that arts and cultural activities in the province should receive sufficient per capita funding.” The report also recommended that the government consider additional funding to the BC Arts Council to achieve this end. The Alliance for Arts and Culture, through Arts Future BC, has been campaigning for an increase to the BC Arts Council budget in the 2008 provincial budget and sincerely hopes the government responds positively to the recommendation. Long-term, sustainable funding through the BCAC is key to ensuring the cultural sector can continue to contribute to the economic and social well being of communities around the province. The provincial budget will be released on February 19th. The Alliance will provide an update as soon as it becomes available. To read the Select Standing Committee’s report, click here. Reference to BC Arts Council funding appears on page 41 under Other Budget Priorities. 2. Please participate in Vancouver cultural facilities consultation The City of Vancouver, working with Artscape Consultants, is currently conducting a cultural facility study with the intention of delivering a "Facilities Priorities Plan" that articulates cultural space and place priorities for the next 15 years. The study also intends to articulate strategies for how the City, working with community, government and private partners, can meet those priorities. Further details can be found at http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/oca/Facilities/PriorityPlan.htm. As part of the process, Artscape will be surveying arts and cultural organizations and individuals until the end of February in order to assess current and future space demand. Please consider completing one of the two surveys listed below. Artscape estimates it should take 15-20 minutes to complete. Survey for Arts & Culture Organizations www.bettermail.ca/s/143/306/ Survey for Artists & Individual Creators www.bettermail.ca/s/143/307/ 3. Culture plan for Vancouver released
Vancouver’s Creative City Task Force has released its Culture Plan for Vancouver, stating that the vision and strategy articulated in the plan will enable the city to move forward over the next ten years for the benefit of the creative sector as well as Vancouver citizens and visitors. The plan can be found, together with an administrative report outlining the next steps, at http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20080129/documents/rr1.pdf VANOC released a Cultural Olympiad newsletter in November and it can be read online at http://www.vancouver2010.com/resources/PDFs/CultureCeremony_Newsletter_ENG_Nov30.pdf The newsletter contains information about the 2008 Cultural Olympiad celebration, which takes place February to March 15 this year, as well as other programs and forthcoming opportunities for 2009 and 2010. 5. Support needed for Pantages Theatre restoration With the support of the City, the Pantages Theatre Arts Society is hoping to restore the historic Pantages Theatre (150 East Hastings Street) and upgrade it to modern technical standards. It has a superb acoustic, seats 650, and the restoration plan will offer new lobbies, a rehearsal studio and enlarged pit. It will be restored with meticulous attention to its heritage value. It will be managed in the public interest by the non-profit Pantages Theatre Arts Society on long-term lease from its developer. The Society is asking for supporters of the project to write a letter to The Mayor and Council at 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver V5Y 1V4, to express that support. Please contact Peter Fairchild, President of Pantages Theatre Arts Society, at petertf@shaw.ca if you have questions, ideas, or support.
Kids Up Front is a non-profit charitable organization that provides entertainment, educational and recreational opportunities to children and their families in need by distributing unused event tickets. In Vancouver, Kids Up Front currently partners with 101 child-serving, registered agencies that support a wide variety of need. Kids Up Front receives unused or donated tickets from corporations, the public and entertainment and recreational organizations to make sure empty seats are filled with children and families who could really benefit and who otherwise would not have the opportunity to attend. The children and families are those in need who face many serious challenges including: poverty; terminal and/or chronic illness; emotional, mental or physical difficulties; immigrant or minority status; and high risk youth. While Kids Up Front targets children, it is understood that entire families benefit since children are accompanied by parents and/or caregivers and sometimes siblings. To participate in this program or for more information, please contact Sharon Urton, Program Coordinator at 604 266 5437 (KIDS), 402 - 134 Abbott Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K4.
Great Marketing Reads from the Emerging Arts Professional Consumer Spending on Culture in Canada, the Provinces and 15 Metropolitan Areas in 2005 This report shows that Canadian consumers spent over $25 billion on cultural goods and services in 2005, including art supplies and musical instruments, art works and events, home entertainment, movie theatre admissions, photographic equipment and services, and reading material. Cultural and Heritage Activities of Canadians in 2005 Based on Statistics Canada's General Social Survey, this recent report from Hill Strategies Research provides statistical information about the cultural and heritage activities of Canadians in 2005 as well as changes in these activities between 1992 and 2005. Provincial Profiles of Cultural and Heritage Activities in 2005 Based on Statistics Canada's General Social Survey, this report provides provincial information about cultural and heritage activities in 1992 and 2005. The report provides insights into the number and percentage of provincial residents 15 or older who attended live performances; visited art galleries and other museums; visited historic sites and other heritage organizations; read a newspaper, magazine or book; watched movies or videos or listened to recorded music. 8. Calls, awards and opportunities
Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project Ltd is issuing a Call To Artists to initiate the first of a two-stage selection process to identify artwork for the facility. Submission deadline: 3 pm PST February 18, 2008. Download the complete details including the submission form at: http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/oca/PublicArt/documents/VancouverConventionCentre.pdf Technical assistance grants available for not-for-profit organizations in BC's arts and heritage fields Arts Partners in Organizational Development (ArtsPOD) is now accepting applications from arts and heritage organizations in BC that would like to work with an experienced consultant to enhance organizational effectiveness. The deadline for submissions is Friday February 29, 2008. For more information visit: www.centreforsustainability.ca. ArtsPOD is a program of the Centre for Sustainability. City of Vancouver Celebration Grants The Celebration Grants program is a City of Vancouver initiative to help fund community-based festivals, outdoor celebrations and large-scale parades. The program awards grants from $1,000 to $10,000 to not-for-profit groups operating in Vancouver. Submission deadline: Monday, March 3, 2008. For more information on the program visit: http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/oca/Grants/celebgrant.htm or contact Marnie Rice at 604-871-6634 or marnie.rice@vancouver.ca
Culture institutions go after the short-attention-span crowd Around 3,000 people, seemingly all in their 20s and 30s, attended the first Takeover at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Read more… Arts study a culture shock Forget class versus trash, the elite versus the masses. Divide culture consumers into four new groups, says an international study Oxford University researchers released late last month that will have far-reaching results for arts support everywhere. Read more... 13. Endquote"Side trips to art museums in Prague and Dortmund was further evidence that even in small and mid-sized art museums in European cities, one can see exhibit ions of a calibre not available anywhere in Canada," Jon Tupper writes. "Lack of investment is the primary culprit. This has not always been the case, and my sense is that we are losing ground as an active participant in the international contemporary visual arts." - Jon Tupper, director of the Confederation Center Art Gallery and Museum in Charlottetown, on attending the Munster Sculpture Project in Prague, Kassel Germany's Documenta, and the Venice Biennale.
Our thanks The Alliance for Arts and Culture gratefully acknowledges the support from the following: City of Vancouver, the British Columbia Arts Council and the British Columbia Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch. Comments? Send a message to: SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE You can subscribe to receive Synergy by emailing info@allianceforarts.com with the “Synergy Subscribe” in the subject line. To remove your name from this email list, please email info@allianceforarts.com with “Synergy Un-Subscribe” in the subject line. We do not rent, exchange, sell or give this email list to any other organization. Unless specifically stated, any part of this newsletter may be reproduced with appropriate credit given to the Alliance for Arts and Culture. If you have any questions about your privacy, please call 604-681-3535 or email privacy@allianceforarts.com. Last Updated:
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