Home | Resources > Newsletter | Synergy - December 12, 2005

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

A word from the Executive Director

Hello all,

It has been a while since we were able to publish an issue of Synergy. We hope that you have been able to follow the pressing arts issues over the past four months through reading our Alliance News bulletins and our Advocacy Alerts. We are committed to returning to our twice monthly format for Synergy beginning January 2006 and hope that you find this year-end edition informative.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Allison Markin for her three years of excellent work as our Director of Communications.  Allison left the Alliance in September to take up a new position as Media Relations Manager at BCIT.  I would also like to welcome Laurie Guy who has put this issue of Synergy together for you.  Laurie  will officially take up the position of Director of Communications on January 3, 2006.  Please feel free to call her with any comments you may have about our communications.

Over the next few months our membership committee will be consulting with you in order to help the board of directors determine the future direction of the Alliance.  We will also examine each of the member services we offer and review our dues structure.  Our goal is to present the results of this consultation to the membership at our AGM in June. We appreciate any and all input you can provide us throughout this process.  

Thanks to your encouragement and support I have been able to focus more of my time and energy on advocacy.  A lot has happened politically since I took the position of Executive Director 15 months ago, and it has been an exciting challenge to move the arts agenda forward.  It feels like we are winning some of the battles but must remain vigilant and continue to take the next steps. I know that you have received numerous requests from me over the past year to write letters, call your elected officials and contribute funds to our advocacy campaigns.  I want to thank those of you who have responded to these requests.  It is making a significant difference and all of our members reap the benefits of your contribution.  The most important benefit of membership in the Alliance is the strength we have in standing together.

Municipal
The election is over and we are trying to get a sense of where the new City of Vancouver council members stand on arts and cultural issues.  Foremost in many of our minds is the $2 million increase to the Office of Cultural Affairs for arts and cultural programs.  These funds were approved by the previous council as part of a three year plan but it will be up to the new council to ensure these funds are included in the 2006 budget.

"As we begin the countdown to the Cultural Olympiad, a renewed emphasis on supporting the arts and our artists is essential if we are to showcase Vancouver as a dynamic and creative city. In partnership with funding agencies such as 2010 Legacies Now, we will seek out new opportunities to put our artists on the international stage.

In an effort to support the arts, I will also be seeking to establish a new Vancouver Arts Partnership Agreement with the federal and provincial governments which will allow for significantly larger investments in arts infrastructure throughout the City of Vancouver. When the world arrives in 2010 I want them to find renewed arts facilities to showcase our talent." 

However, of concern is the recommendation by the mayor in his inaugural address that council delay the re-establishment of city committees until it has completed its Triple R Review (roles, relationships and responsibilities). Unfortunately, the Creative Cities Task Force is one of these committees. Delaying the work of this task force could stall the creation of a cultural facilities plan and will make meaningful consultation with the arts community difficult.

It is still in the early days and difficult to know how the new councils in other GVRD municipalities will respond to their arts and cultural issues. I would appreciate GVRD members sharing information about the arts and their city councils with me so we can keep other members informed through Synergy.

Provincial
I am pleased to report that the submissions, letters and presentations by the arts and cultural communities to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services were very well received. The arts had significant placing in the final report issued by the committee including a recommendation that: "The government consider increasing funding for arts programs and cultural infrastructure."

Over ninety submissions and letters of support for increased funding to the arts were sent to the committee from 29 different ridings across the province. The next step is to ensure these recommendations are implemented, therefore we are asking you once again to take action.

MLA's will be in their home ridings throughout December and January and we are asking supporters of the arts throughout British Columbia to meet with their elected representatives.  We will provide you with a package of information and also a package to leave with your MLA.  We ask that you tell your MLA what it is that makes the arts important to your community and also that you support a significant increase of funding to the BC Arts Council and for cultural infrastructure as recommended by The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.

In addition, the Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts  will host an Arts Summit in the spring of 2006 to discuss arts policy and to plan for the future of the arts in British Columbia.  We are supporting this initiative and would appreciate you voicing your support for the Arts Summit to your MLA as well.  If you have arranged a meeting with your MLA please contact me at hredfern@allianceforarts.com.

Federal
The Alliance has been sitting on the steering committee of the Canadian Arts Coalition and is an active participant in Vote Arts 2006. As most of you are aware, two weeks before the current election was called, the government announced its plans to double the budget of the Canada Council over the next three years and to make other significant culture investments. Vote Arts 2006 seeks to ensure those funds become a reality once a new government is elected. Check out the Vote Arts 2006 website to see how you can help and to keep up to date on the latest arts/election news.

Finally, from the Alliance staff and board of directors, best wishes for a restful and peaceful holiday season to you and your loved ones.

Respectfully,

Heather Redfern

hredfern@allianceforarts.com

604.681.3535 ext. 209

Please consider making a financial contribution to the Alliance's advocacy activities. If you can not do so this year, please consider including a contribution in your 2006 budget. To make a contribution, please contact us at hredfern@allianceforarts.com. Thank you.

A word from the Editor

As I send off this newsletter - my inaugural task as the new Director of Communications for the Alliance for Arts and Culture - I am already impressed by the amount of activity and information that flows through this office. Sorting through the flow is a key part of creating a newsletter that is pertinent and valuable to such a broad readership. Already I've seen a wide range of issues at the national, provincial and, especially with the recent civic elections, the municipal leve that are addressed daily by the Alliance. These issues are of great importance to our members, but upon reflection, I am struck by how they also impact on every citizen, because each person deserves the right to consume, participate in and benefit from the richness offered by a strong and viable arts and cultural community. I will endeavour to understand these topics and communicate those that are most pressing and most applicable to the arts and cultural assets of Greater Vancouer.

In this issue:
1. Vote Art 2006 urges action leading up to federal election

2. Canadian Conference of the Arts sets up election 'war room'

3. City of Vancouver seeks adjudicators for grants programs

4. $306.5 million announced for the Canada Council for the Arts

5. FaxNet update

6. TLC joins effort to save Joy Kogawa's childhood home

7. Changes to regulatory requirements concerning registered charities

8. Industry news on the national front

9. Calls for artists

10. In memoriam

11. Kudos

12. Media spin

13. Calendar

14. End Quote

Editor: Laurie Guy

lguy@allianceforarts.com

1. Vote Art 2006 urges action leading up to federal election
Vote Art 2006 is an initiative of the Canadian Arts Coaltion, the largest consortium of artists and arts organizations ever assembled in Canada. The CAC is united for one purpose: to increase by $5 per Canadian funding to the arts to be channeled through the Canadian Council for the Arts. Now that campaigning is underway for the federal election, the CAC remains focused on ensuring that essential funding ($306 million promised over the next three years to the Canada Council - see article below) becomes a reality once the new government is elected. Please help us in highlighting this priority by writing a letter, emailing, phoning or visiting your current political representative and local candidates. Not sure who your Member of Parliament is? You can find this out by linking to the following site and submitting your postal code: http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?Source=SM

Please visit Vote Arts 2006 for more information on this campaign.

2. Canadian Conference of the Arts sets up election 'war room'
On other federal election fronts, the Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) is pulling together a wealth of information designed to help those interested in the promotion and protection of the arts and cultural sector in Canada to take action and make election decisions. The CCA is providing a profile of what was achieved and what is promised for the future by each federal party; key issues for the cultural sector; an analysis of the culture platforms of each federal party; a door-step tool to help when a candidate comes calling or when attending an all candidates meeting; a full disclosure of the federal parties' answers to questions on culture developed by the CCA; a post-campaign analysis of what the returns may mean for the arts and culture industries. Further information can be obtained at the CCA website.

3. City of Vancouver seeks adjudicators for grants programs
The Office of Cultural Affairs with the City of Vancouver has adopted a new adjudication process for the Operating and Project Grant program. The new assessment approach is based upon feedback from the community during the initial consultation process for the $1 million increase to the Cultural Grants budget, and from recent feedback from the community and the City Creative Task Force sub-committee. Until recently city staff, with expertise in a range of artistic disciplines, reviewed grant applications and made recommendations to City Council. The new assessment approach will invite two independent committee members from each of the following sectors: dance, festivals, music, theatre, and visual arts to join city staff in reviewing applications. This Assessment Committee will make recommendations to City Council. Members of the Supplemental Grant Assessment Committee (October 2005) will be approached to return again for continuity in the process.

The OCA is therefore seeking nominations from the community for independent committee members. The OCA invites nominations from the public for members to participate in this process which will take place towards the end of February, 2006. The deadline for nominations is January 16, 2006.

Please contact the Office for Cultural Affairs at 604.871.6000 if you have any questions about this program.

4. $306.5 million announced for the Canaga Council for the Art
The federal government announced in November its intention to commit $306.5 million in funding for the Canada Council for the Arts over the next three years. The money is earmarked to arrive as a $56.5 million boost in 2006-07, a $100 million boost in 2007-08 and $150 million boost in 2008-09. Following the announcement of the funding, The Canadian Arts Coalition said the increase would enrich the lives of all Canadians; contribute to the quality of life and economies of communities across Canada and enhance Canada’s image abroad. Over the past few months the Coalition, of which the Alliance for Arts and Culture is a member, has met with parliamentarians of all parties, appeared before the House of Commons Finance Committee and written newspaper articles advocating a $5 increase per Canadian in arts funding to be administered by the Canada Council for the Arts. 

5. FaxNet update
Twenty years ago the ACC purchased a (then) expensive fax machine as a way to connect arts organizations in the GVRD region with each other and the media. Over the years our membership has grown to over 340 members and the FaxNet and Media FaxNet services are among the most popular services that the ACC provides, with over half of the membership broadcasting and receiving information via the Arts FaxNet.

Beginning in January 2006, the Arts FaxNet and Media FaxNet services will become electronic-only broadcast services and in the process will be renamed the E-Net and Media E-Net services respectively. We will be using a new tool to broadcast the E-Net. Depending upon the type of spam blocking your internet service provider employs, the E-Net may be filtered as spam and not delivered to your inbox. The first E-Net will go out on Thursday, January 5th. If you have not received it by 10:00am Friday, January 6th you will need to contact your internet service provider and let them know that email from 'actionworks.ca' is not spam and should be delivered to your inbox.

The E-Net service will be sent and received only electronically starting January 2006. We will no longer be sending out broadcasts over fax machines, nor accepting hard copies for broadcast. The E-Net Submission Guidelines are available for download on our website. If you have any questions about the changes in service, or would like to change the email address that received the E-Net, please contact Lisa Fedorak, Member Services Coordinator at 604.681.3535, ext. 207 or lfedorak@allianceforarts.com.

6. TLC joins effort to save Joy Kogawa's childhood home
The Land Conservancy of British Columbia (TLC) has joined the battle to save the childhood home of author Joy Kogawa (The Rain Ascends, Naomi's Road, Itsuka, Woman in the Woods, Obasan). As the recently announced leader of the campaign to raise $1.25 million for the purchase and protection of the home, the TLC has stated its intention to honour Kogawa and the heritage of the Japanese-Canadian community as well as provide an opportunity for a writers-in-residence program. The TLC joins the Alliance for Arts and Culture and other notable community and cultural groups such as the Save Kogawa House Committee, Vancouver Heritage Foundation, Heritage Vancouver, the Writer's Union of Canada and Federation of BC writers who are calling for a halt to the planned demolition of the home in the Marpole neighbourhood. The home, in which Kogawa grew up in, is featured prominently in her 193 novel, Obasan. Information on contributing to the campaign can be found at www.conservancy.bc.ca.

7. Changes to regulatory requirements concerning registered charities
Changes that directly affect all registered charities have been made to the Income Tax Act. The changes address regulatory requirements and are part of a reform that is being implemented over the next few years to improve the regulatory environment for charities. The changes specifically relate to the Registered Charity Information Return and a new penalty for failure to file; disbursement quotas; sanctions; appeals and official donation receipts.

8. Industry news on the national front

The On The Road Touring Handbook, produced by the Canada Council for the Arts for arts presenters and touring artists is now available online at www.artsontour.ca.

9. Calls for artists
Gibraltar Point International Artist Residency Program

Artscape is currently accepting applications for the seventh term of the Gibraltar Point International Artist Residency Program in Toronto. Taking place May 19th - June 17th, 2006, the residency program is open to Canadian and international artists who are engaged in the research, development or creation of work. Emerging, mid-career and established professional artists are invited to apply. Participants receive accommodation, a private work studio and all meals at no cost. Travel and material costs are the responsibility of participating artists. The submission deadline is February 10, 2006 at 4p.m. More information can be found at http://www.torontoartscape.on.ca/gpiarp.

10. In memoriam

Marc Diamond - Teacher, theatre director, playwright, novelist, opera librettist, Marc Diamond died suddenly at his home in Vancouver on November 17th. He received his doctorate in Drama from the University of Toronto in 1979, and came to BC in 1980, where for 25 years he taught in the theatre area of the School for the Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University. He is survived by his beloved partner and colleague of 27 years, Penelope Stella, with whom he taught in the School, and by his countless students and friends for whom he was a constant support and inspiration. An open, generous and encouraging mentor, patient and demanding by turns, with a subversive sense of humour, Marc Diamond has, along with his partner, had a transformative effect on the development of theatre in Canada. The hundreds of students who have gone on to act, direct, write and develop new companies form an enduring legacy through their training and work with Marc and Penelope. Enthusiastically committed to the idea of interdisciplinary and collaborative projects, Marc Diamond regularly formed substantial creative alliances with musicians, composers, dancers, artists and filmmakers. A remarkable sensitivity to the nuances of disparate art forms became an endless, surprising pleasure for the creative artists with whom he worked. From librettos for contemporary opera and musical theatre, through experimental novels, to re-cast classical Greek dramas as contemporary political theatre, his heartfelt commitment to the progressive possibilities of these art forms was revealed. The curious and judicious audiophile, the uncannily discerning listener, appeared in his enduring love of music, especially jazz. Wide-ranging visits to the galleries of New York, his favorite city, fed a remarkable aesthetic sensitivity. The broad scope of interests and curiosities developed throughout his life were returned to the arts - his driving pleasure. Once a competitive swimmer, over the last several years Marc Diamond became an accomplished sea-kayaker. On vacation at his favorite place on the big island of Hawaii he could be seen at dawn, setting out alone into the Pacific. Thus will we remember him. The magnitude of his loss will be hard to calculate; the math has not yet been invented.

Andis Celms - Andis Celms, the former Producer of Theatre and Director of English Theatre at the NAC, died December 1st at his home in Vancouver. Andis, the Latvian gentleman with the distinctive goatee, was associated with the NAC for 27 years from its opening until 1996.  From his superb production work in the early years through to his 10 years leading theatre programming, Andis had a profound impact on the creation and production of Canadian theatre.  During his tenure, the NAC created and toured a resident theatre company, built an exceptional in-house production capability, launched a major commitment to the development and production of Canadian plays and developed co production partnerships across the country with theatres of all sizes. Andis was also greatly admired by the national theatre community for his landmark work as President of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and for the negotiation of the first Canadian Theatre Agreement.  He was a passionate advocate for theatre at the NAC and for Canadian theatre across the country. He was a towering figure and he will be greatly missed.

11. Kudos

$10,000 injection provides stability for film mentorship program for youth at risk

Vancouver's urban design panel has unanimously approved the Woodward's redevelopment project as proposed by developers Ian Gillespie and Ben Peterson and architect Gregory Henriquez. The $280-million plan includes a 150,000 square foot home for Simon Fraser University's School for the Contemporary Arts, a public plaza, social and market housing, retail space, a daycase, offices and renovated heritage buildings for use by non-profit groups.

12. Media spin

Opera stars deserve equal footing with hockey players

Letter to the editor, re-published from the December 6, 2005 edition of the Vancouver Sun

"Already established as one of the major opera companies on the continent, the Vancouver Opera, with its most recent production of Dialogues of the Carmelites, has given every reason to justify such a claim. The evening was one of artistic achievement of the highest calibre and one of which the company - and all those connected with it - should be proud, indeed. Yet, sadly, one has to face the irrefutable fact that the names of our foremost opera artists remain practically unknown to the public. The names Wayne Gretzky, Rocket Richard and, more recently, Sidney Crosby seem to be ingrained upon the psyche of this nation. But where are to be found, on a daily basis, Judith Forst (whose performance last week blazed across the firmament of all opera productions ever presented with comet-like brilliance), Ben Hepber and, another relative newcomer, Measha Brueggergosman? No less than their sporting brethren, these superb artists have achieved not only fame for themselves on the opera stages throughout the world, but have brought renown and glory to this country. Where, one has to ask, do our priorities really lie?" -- Peter Symcox, Victoria

Main Street galleries star in Globe and Mail article

The growth of "quirky artist-run centres" on Main Street hit the news in the December 2, 2005 issue of the Globe and Mail. The centres, including Blim, Dadabase, St. George Marsh, Regional Assembly of Text, CSA, The Petri Dish, Blanket Gallery and the Butchership, were profiled in the article as the "antidote" to the commercial galleries of South Granville and positioned as cultural havens which blur the lines between gallery and retail space. Read the full article at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20051202/MAIN02VAN/TPEntertainment/Email.

13. Calendar

Happy Holidays from the staff and board of the Alliance for Arts and Culture!

The Alliance for Arts and Culture will be closed for the holidays from December 19th through to January 2nd. There will be no FaxNet service or boardroom bookings during that period.

Endquote

"Works of art bring people closer together and stimulate dialogue. The arts play an indispensable role in our mutual understanding. Artistic creation awakens our consciousness. It is a source of meditation, inspiration, reflection and comfort. The arts help balance us, awaken our souls, and allow us to breathe, to live. We cannot live without beauty, without laughter and tears. The arts define us, and above all, help us understand who we are as Canadians and what our society is all about.The role of artists is not merely to reflect the values of their society but to ponder the issues that society must examine in order to better understand itself. The same artists present us to the world and help project our country's image internationally....If art represents hope for humanity, culture is the vehicle for that hope. Culture goes beyond artistic production alone. Culture is the soul of a nation because it reflects how its people think and behave."

Excerpt from a speech to Senate on May 19, 2005 given by Canadian Senator, the Honourable Viola Leger. Ms. Leger directed the attention of Senate to the importance of artistic creation to a nation's vitality and asked that the federal government place a high priority on culture. She stated that the challenge of protecting culture should not rest solely on individual cultural institutions, but rather on each federal department and Crown corporation who should contribute to the "mission of expressing and asserting our identity." Ms. Leger also called for the creation of a new Senate committee on cultural affairs as well as the transfer of the cultural portfolio from Canadian Heritage to a new federal department which would be responsible for developing and implementing a national plan for culture. The full speech can be found at http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/senate/deb-e/063db_2005-05-19-E.htm?Language=E&Parl=38&Ses=1#67.

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: lguy@allianceforarts.com.

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Last Updated: Friday, January 06, 2006