The latest news on BC's arts, culture and heritage sector.

How To Advocate For the Arts After the Elections

How To Advocate For the Arts After the Elections

Wondering how you can start leasing with the new government and advocating for the arts? We’ve put together a list of resources to help you navigate the conversations ahead.

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Advance Election Voting Opens May 8!

Over 87,000 BC citizens have their primary employment in arts and culture according to StatsCan, more than mining and forestry combined. Make sure your voice is heard in this provincial election by casting your vote!

Vote at any advance voting location in the province from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (local time)
Wednesday, May 8 through Saturday, May 11, 2013.

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NDP rolls out their platform, and the Alliance responds

ndp-campaign The NDP rolled out their provincial campaign platform this weekend, and the Alliance responded:

Reaction to arts pledge cautious By Mary Frances Hill, The Vancouver Sun April 11, 2009 An arts and culture lobby group is taking a cautious approach to the New Democratic Party's campaign promise to restore funding to cultural programs across the province and create a capital plan for the B.C. Arts Council. In Take Back Your B.C., the NDP's 46-page campaign platform, the party devotes half a page to pledges to aid arts, culture and tourism. Leader Carole James promised to restore the provincial government's arts funding cuts for this year, increase the B.C. Arts Council's budget, and award the council -- a government agency -- a $50-million capital fund to invest in cultural projects. Alliance for Arts and Culture executive director Amir Ali Alibhai said he was pleased to see a mention of arts and culture in any election platform. "The arts are part of stimulating growth and recovery," he said. But he was wary of campaign promises. "I'm cautious because of the track record of the NDP," Alibhai said. "The last time they were in, there was a 25-per-cent cut in the B.C. Arts Council's [budget]." That was during the recession of the early 1990s. The Alliance advocates for the interests of about 350 arts and cultural groups in B.C., such as theatres and dance companies, and individual artists. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts' 2009-2012 service plan shows the projected base funding for arts and culture programs dropping from $19.5 million in 2008-09 to $11.9 million in 2009-10 and $9.6 million in 2010-11. Alibhai said history has seen governments consider arts and culture spending as a frill. Spencer Herbert, NDP MLA for Vancouver-West End, said arts funding acts as an economic stimulus, generating about $1.36 in taxes for every dollar spent, "just from the multiplying effect of keeping the dollars in the economy locally."

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Prepare To Cast Your Ballot!

British Columbia's provincial election takes place Tuesday, May 14, 2013. 

Over 85,000 artists and cultural workers call British Columbia home and contribute to the provincial economy. The Alliance for Arts and Culture encourages its members to advocate for public awareness and government support for arts and culture in your own communities across the province. Make sure your voice is heard in this election by casting your ballot!  

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Vancouver Chamber Choir Questionnaire on Arts & Culture and the Provincial Election

The Vancouver Chamber Choir Advocacy Committee submitted a questionnaire to 137 Metro Vancouver candidates in the provincial election from the BC Conservatives, BC Liberals, BC NDP and Green Party of BC. 

Four questions and one optional question were asked, with a deadline of April 30. 

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Alliance Responds to Provincial Election Results

On behalf of the Alliance for Arts and Culture, I would like to extend congratulations to Premier Christy Clark and the BC Liberal Party on their election victory. 

We look forward to further developing our continued positive working relationship with the Liberal government. 

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