Synergy, the electronic newsletter
information for people who value arts and culture

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. More donations deductible
2. Imperial arts fund
3. Barkerville: a sign of things to come?
4. CCA pre-budget submission gone to finance committee
5. Kudos
6. Media Spin
7. Calendar

Editor: Allison Markin
amarkin@allianceforarts.com

1. More donations deductible

For years, Canadians have been able to claim up to 50 percent of their charitable donations over $200, depending on their location, as long as it was a clear cut donation. Now, according to CanWest News Service, other good deeds will be recognized with a tax break.

If you attend a fundraising event such as a dinner or show, or participate in charity auctions or lotteries, the money you spend may be deductible, according to Russ Wilson of Johnsen Archer chartered accountants. In the past, spending $100 on a charitable lottery where most of the cost really was a donation to a worthy cause, or attending a charitable dinner for $150 with the dinner really only costing $50, meant that you had to make a gift under the Income Tax Act. The catch was, you could only claim a gift if you received nothing in return.

New guidelines create uniformity by recognizing that an amount paid may be partly a gift and partly in exchange for something of value. Where you get something back, that is called an 'advantage' and is deducted from the amount of the donation. The excess is now called the 'eligible amount' and charitable receipts will now have to show the eligible amount of a donation. Provided the advantage does not exceed 80 percent of the value of the property transferred, the tax credit will normally be allowed.

Wilson cautions that technical guidelines issued by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency to explain the new rules may be subject to change after input from charities and the public.

2. Imperial arts fund

Rumours prior to a recent du Maurier Arts Council press conference suggested that the Council would disband and many arts and culture organizations would have no access to the formerly lucrative du Maurier funding.

The identifiable du Maurier cash may be gone, thanks to government legislation banning tobacco sponsorships beginning October 1, but the Council has found a way to increase its arts grants. The former program saw $2.4 million given annually to various programs and events, totalling $60 million to 675 arts groups since its inception in 1971, and in exchange the recipients agreed to display the du Maurier logo on programs and posters. This type of advertising is now banned.

However, Imperial Tobacco, owner of the du Maurier brand, will increase its funding by 25 percent starting next year. The du Maurier Arts Council has been disbanded, but two new funding bodies, neither containing the name of any of Imperial's cigarette brands, and are designed to provide $3 million in annual donations not requiring any public recognition of the gift. If an arts group wants to thank Imperial for its help from a stage or in a program, that's allowed as long as no brand name is mentioned.

Though the new program offers no visible commercial benefit for Imperial, a spokesperson says that the company had established too much goodwill in the arts community over the past 32 years to completely sever the ties.

The new setup creates the Imperial Tobacco Canada Arts Council which will provide $1.5 million in donations to non-profit arts groups with annual revenues under $1.5 million. A second body, the Imperial Tobacco Canada Arts Fund, will distribute $1.5 million to larger arts organizations. A third group, the Imperial Tobacco Canada Artistic Development Board, set up three years ago to provide money to emerging artists, will continue to operate as before.

Critics and anti-tobacco groups warn that the company's commitment will be tested when the Quebec Court of Appeal decides whether or not to uphold the federal law banning tobacco advertising; critics suggest that if the law is upheld, Imperial will get out of arts funding and return to sponsorships that allow the company to promote its products.

Since the inception of the du Maurier Arts Council, groups in BC have received $13 million in funding.

3. Barkerville: a sign of things to come?

The BC government announced cuts at historic Barkerville, to the tune of 10 full time positions and 10 on-call or seasonal positions, this week, leaving six staff members to run the heritage site in BC's Interior. Barkerville is the province's largest heritage site, consisting of more than 150 buildings, an archive and 300,000 artifacts.

George Abbott, minister of community, aboriginal and women's services, said the layoffs were part of an effort to bring Barkerville to a "sustainable level" of operation. The historic gold rush town near Quesnel earns about $400,000 annually in revenue, but is sustained by a $1.1 million subsidy, said Abbott. Most of the positions cut were in security or maintenance, which Abbott said could be filled by contract workers.

George Heyman, president of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union, stated that the layoffs may be the first step in the full privatization of the site, something Abbott doesn't deny. Abbott said his ministry has made no secret that it is moving towards private contract management at all provincial heritage sites.

4. CCA pre-budget submission gone to finance committee

The Canadian Conference of the Arts pre-budget submission for this year, entitled Feeding the Canadian Spirit, was submitted to the Standing Committee on Finance this week, and is available on the CCA's website (www.ccarts.ca).

The Finance Committee's main themes this year focused on taxation, spending and other measures, giving the CCA an opportunity to urge federal reform in the areas of income averaging, tax exemptions for copyright income, and access to employment insurance and other social programs for Canada's self-employed.

This year's submission also stresses the importance to the sector of the Tomorrow Starts Today funding which was announced in May, 2001 for a three-year period, and which has yet to be stabilized. In addition, the CCA focuses on the need for stable, multi-year funding for Canada's cultural institutions and agencies.

The submission contains eight major recommendations, which can be read in full on the CCA's website.

5. Kudos

CIFC renamed

Congratulations to the former Canadian Independent Film Caucus (CIFC) on its upcoming 20th anniversary. The organization is celebrating with a name change and will now be known as the Documentary Organization of Canada.


New wing at Sun Yat-Sen

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden recently announced that it will be constructing a new education wing to provide programming for schools and the public and as an added attraction to the Garden. The new facility will include a presentation centre, Penjing and lotus greenhouse, teahouse, meeting room, larger gift shop, office and kitchen facilities. The expansion will cost $2 million and has taken 10 years to plan. The ground-breaking ceremony takes place tonight, September 12, at 7:30pm at the Garden, 578 Carrall Street in Vancouver.

6. Media Spin

Is your family photogenic? CBC TV is searching for families to participate in a documentary mini-series for the network, to be hosted by Mag Ruffman. You may remember her as Aunt Olivia from Road to Avonlea, or from the home improvement show, A Repair to Remember. The series will look at how family dynamics change as kids turn into young adults, from the perspective of the kids going through these changes and from the viewpoint of their parents.

All types of families are being sought, but each family must have a child or youth between the ages of eight and 16, and they must be in the Vancouver (or Toronto) area. Taping takes place from October to December, and there is no financial remuneration for participants.

If you're interested in taking part, please contact:

Laurie Long
Tel. 604-608-1710
laurielong@telus.net

7. Calendar

CCA Awards

The Canadian Conference of the Arts is seeking nominations from its members for its two annual National Arts Awards.

The Diplome d'honneur for outstanding contributions to the arts in Canada is presented annually to a Canadian who has made a sustained contribution to the cultural life of the country, whether through individual arts practice, volunteer activity, mentoring, patronage or other recognized support.

The Keith Kelly Award for cultural leadership is awarded annually to a Canadian who has made an outstanding contribution to the arts through advocacy, public discourse and leadership. The contribution recognized by this award may range from local to international in scope.

Nominations must be received by the CCA by September 30. Contact:

Julie Cayouette
Canadian Conference of the Arts
Tel. 613-238-3561, ext. 20
julie.cayouette@ccarts.ca

New Media Fund

The 2003-2004 guidelines and new application procedure for applicants to Canada's New Media Fund are now on Telefilm Canada's website. The deadline for this round of applications is September 23.

Visit:
http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/03/311.asp?lang=en&fond_id=3

ENDQUOTE
"Barkerville is important to tourism in the area, and it's part of BC's important heritage and they're putting it at risk by laying off most of the staff."

-George Heyman, president of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union, responding to major layoffs at the historic site.

Comments? Send a message to:
amarkin@allianceforarts.com

Last Updated: Thursday, July 22, 2004