[BCMA MBEN] Provincial Budget Response
Jim Harding
JHarding@MuseumsAssn.bc.ca
Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:40:55 -0800
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e following release is being forwarded as requested...</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"center"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"4"><span style=3D"font-=
size:14pt"><b>Arts Future BC </b></span></font></div>
<div align=3D"center"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"font-=
size:12pt"><b><i>Igniting the Power of Creativity </i></b></span></font></=
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"1"><span style=3D"font-si=
ze:9pt">Assembly of BC Arts Councils, BC Museums Association, BC Touring
Council, Canadian Artists Representation BC (CARFAC BC), Citizens for the
Arts, Greater Vancouver Alliance for Arts and Culture, ProArts Alliance of=
Greater Victoria, Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, Region On=
e </span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"center"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"font-=
size:12pt"><b>BUDGET 2007 – ALL TALK NO ACTION FOR ARTS
AND CULTURE</b></span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"1"><span style=3D"font-si=
ze:8pt">Vancouver, BC (February 20, 2007)</span></font><font face=3D"Arial=
"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt"> –
Despite a recommendation from the
Provincial Standing Committee on Finance “</span></font><font face=3D=
"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">for a significant increase to
the core funding provided to the BC Arts Council to support arts and
culture in B.C. leading up to the Olympic Games,” the provincial budg=
et
released today offers no new investment for the sector. </span></font></di=
v>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Sp=
eaking on behalf of 903 member organizations from across the
province, the provincial coalition, Arts Future BC notes its
disappointment in this lack of investment. </span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">It=
has been three years since the formation of the Ministry of Tourism,
Sport and the Arts and the Ministry is still reviewing “options to su=
pport
the infrastructure in arts and culture,” according to its service pla=
n. </span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">&#=
147;The Arts and Cultural community has been working diligently with the
Ministry for the past 3 years and will continue to do so, however, there
has been sufficient dialogue and it is time for the province to take
action by making a meaningful investment in the BC Arts Council and
by creating a program to support cultural infrastructure,” said Arts
Future BC spokesperson, Heather Redfern.</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">&#=
147;The arts and culture sector has proven its ability to provide an
attractive return on investment by the government,” says Redfern.=
0; “It
can help the government’s stated goal of dramatically increasing
tourism.  It provides employment for tens of thousands of British
Columbians.  It creates a healthy forum for social interaction and
learning for people of all ages and socio economic backgrounds in
hundreds of communities across the province.”</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Th=
e budget indicates that a shortage of skilled workers and the
potential loss of skilled workers and business to other provinces is a
major risk factor for the continued economic growth of BC. The
presence of cultural facilities, artists and cultural programming in a
community is one of the top reasons skilled workers choose to
relocate.</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">&#=
147;With no additional core funding, no infrastructure program and an
overall decline in the funding to the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and the
Arts, leading up to 2010, we are given a message that the provincial
vision for growth in our sector is a private sector responsibility.  =
Yet,
this budget provides no further incentive to stimulate private sector
investment,” says Arts Future BC’s Ian Case. </span></font></div=
>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Th=
e Ministry’s service plans states that “Provincial contributions=
frequently lever additional resources from other governments and
private donors,” however within the $10 billion budgeted for
infrastructure improvements across the province in the next 3 years,
most communities can not access funds for building or upgrading
cultural facilities.</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Ar=
ts Future BC will encourage Minister Stan Hagen to take action to
secure increased core investment in the BC Arts Council, fostering
growth diversity and sustainability, values we share with the provincial
government.</span></font></div>
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Ar=
ts Future BC is a coalition of citizens and organizations representing
thousands of British Columbians from every walk of life and every
corner of the province who share the goal of creating sustainable
communities across the province through significant long-term
investment in the arts and culture of the province. Arts Future BC
represent 903 organizations from across the province: 423 museums;
96 Community and Regional Arts Councils and community arts
organizations; 123 community presenters; 183 professional arts
organizations; 27 educational institutions; and 51 arts service
organizations. Arts Future BC also represent thousands of individual
artists and their students and audiences across British Columbia. </span><=
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Fo=
r further information go to:</span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><a href=3D"http://www.allianceforarts.com/about-us/pdf=
/ArtsFuturebrief.pdf"><font face=3D"Arial" size=3D"3"><span style=3D"font-=
size:11pt"><u>http://www.allianceforarts.com/about-us/pdf/ArtsFuturebrief.=
pdf</u></span></font></a></div>
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ze:11pt"> </span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Me=
dia Contacts:</span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">He=
ather Redfern          &=
#160;           =
60;            =
;            <=
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<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Ce=
ll: 604-716-8791         =
0;            =
            &#=
160;        </span></font></div>
<div align=3D"left"><font face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10pt">Em=
ail: </span></font><a href=3D"mailto:hredfern@vecc.bc.ca"><font face=3D"Ar=
ial">
hredfern@allianceforarts.com</font></a></div>
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ze:11pt">           =
;            &=
#160;</span></font></div>
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