[BCMA MBEN] Re: FW: URGENT: TOWN HALL REGARDING CUTS TO CULTURAL AND HERITAGE GRANTING PROGRAMS

[Jim Harding]

Hi Dona;
I participated in a conference call with CMA and (a limited nimber of) 
PMA reps from across the country this morning. There was a great 
deal of discussion about mobilizing the grassroots organizations (much 
like the response to the Student Placement program before), and 
identifying situations and providing impact statements to MP's (and 
MLA's, from BCMA) opposing these cuts. The CAHSP cut will be 
devastating, if allowed.

We are expecting key messaging to follow from CMA which the BCMA 
will use in our letter-writing campaign to BC MP's and MLA's, (including 
the new Minister).

Those attending the Heritage Branch's current series of Stakeholder 
Workshops concerning the new Heritage Strategy, should also be 
bringing forward recommendations for provincial-federal relationships 
in such cases of federal (de-)initiatives like these proposed cuts.

Please keep me posted regarding arguments, anecdotal repercussions 
and regional and/or local measures to be undertaken resulting from 
this townhall meeting--an excellent (initial) form of response!
--Jim


> Hi Jim,
> 
> How are you doing?  I hope you are having a great summer and enjoying
> the last two weeks, before the back-to-school business starts.
> 
> I am wondering if BCMA is taking a stance on these federal cutbacks. 
> I have the CMA, Visual Arts Alliance and this Fuse magazine response.
> 
> Please advise.
> 
> Best regards.
> 
> Dona
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: Administrative Assistant [mailto:kelowna.artgallery@shaw.ca]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:05 AM To: Curator - Kelowna Art
> Gallery; Executive Director - Kelowna Art Gallery Subject: FW: URGENT:
> TOWN HALL REGARDING CUTS TO CULTURAL AND HERITAGE GRANTING PROGRAMS
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: Fuse Magazine Publisher [mailto:publisher@fusemagazine.org]
> Sent: August 16, 2008 8:21 AM To: Fuse Magazine Publisher Subject:
> URGENT: TOWN HALL REGARDING CUTS TO CULTURAL AND HERITAGE GRANTING
> PROGRAMS
> 
> 
> Dear Friends of Fuse,
> We are organizing a Town Hall to address the recent and upcoming
> budget cuts to the arts. For those of you in Toronto, we encourage you
> to come out to strategize and show solidarity. It is extremely
> important that you make time for this. We hope to see as many of you
> as possible. 
> 
> For those of you not in Toronto, we hope that there is organizing in
> your community around this issue. 
> 
> In solidarity,
> 
> Izida Zorde
> Editor
> 
> Heather Haynes
> Publisher
> 
> 
> Valuing Culture: TOWN HALL REGARDING CUTS TO CULTURAL AND HERITAGE
> GRANTING PROGRAMS
> 
> Who should come? Everyone concerned about the Federal Government's
> blatant contempt for arts and culture.
> 
> Who will be speaking? Representatives from Government, visual arts,
> film, video, performing arts
> 
> What will we be doing? Strategizing on how to get our voices heard in
> the next election 
> 
> Why is this important? Because the wave of cuts and policy changes are
> radically changing Canadian society. 
> 
> Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 3, 2008 at 7pm. 
> The Theatre Centre
> Wednesday, September 3 2008
> 1087 Queen Street West, (South East Corner of Queen and Dovercourt)
> 
> Since taking power in 2006, the Conservative Government has eliminated
> over $34 Million from Cultural and Heritage Granting Programs. The
> programs affected were designed to assist artists, arts institutions
> and not for profit charitable organizations in the creation,
> development, promotion and dissemination of Canadian art both
> nationally and internationally.
> 
> The most recent cuts:
> .    The PromArt Program, 4.7 million (administered by the Department
> of Foreign Affairs) .    Trade Routes, 9 million, Department of
> Canadian Heritage .    Stabilization Projects and Capacity Building,
> of the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Program .    Canadian
> Independent Film and Video Fund, 1.5 million .    National Training
> Program in the Film and Video Sector, 2.5 million .    $300,000 to the
> Audio-Visual Preservation Trust of Canada, for programs archiving
> important film, television and musical recordings. 
> 
> With the anticipation of more cuts to be announced next week, we are
> inviting members of the arts and the broader community, MPs and the
> media to attend a town hall meeting. This meeting is intended to
> discuss the funding cuts, the ideological and inappropriate comments
> made by government about recipients and to brainstorm a plan of
> action.
> 
> 
> For more information or media inquiries contact:
> info@fusemagazine.org, info@thetheatrecentre.org or
> heather@torontofreegallery.org 
> 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.5/1620 - Release Date:
> 8/19/2008 6:04 AM
> 
> 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.5/1620 - Release Date:
> 8/19/2008 6:04 AM
> 
> 
> 

_______________________________
Jim Harding, ED
BC Museums Association
(250) 356-5694