Finance Minister Colin Hansen today announced "$15 million in strategic one-time grants to support arts and culture, and for conservation of the province's historic places. We're getting this money into people's hands right away --because we know the year ahead could be difficult."

"TV and film are just one part of the vibrant arts and culture community that thrives in every part of this province, from the smallest towns to the biggest cities. It delivers benefits that we can count, like jobs --but its value to our province is greater.

"Our artists, our performers and the people who support them...the volunteers, the sponsors, the suppliers, the umbrella groups...help to shape our vision of who we are. They bring to life the concept of culture, and --just as important-- bring us together, entertain us, intrigue us, and challenge us intellectually."

Although details remain to be known, the BCMA welcomes the $15 million infusion, as well as the Province's public recognition of the contribution made by the arts and culture (including heritage) sector; and the acknowledgement of "umbrella groups", (or parent associations), which represent the ready-made and willing networks of public institutions and practising professionals/experts in their field and volunteers which altogether make the valuable contribution cited by the Minister.

In light of the BCMA's direct involvement in key strategic Ministry initiatives, including development of the new Heritage Strategy with Heritage Branch; the History & Heritage Sector Marketing Strategy with the Heritage Tourism Alliance & Tourism BC; and most recently the Community Cultural Tourism Strategy stakeholder roundtables, with the Arts & Culture Division, the BCMA also welcomed Minister Hansen's comment:

"We are also continuing our work with the sector to establish partnerships and programs that enhance the contributions of arts and culture to all of our communities."

As these initiatives speak to longer term sustainability and capacity building issues, the BCMA is very pleased this work will continue, despite the current economic climate.

The Minister also noted: "Agriculture. Forestry. Energy. Mining. These are all important parts of BC's economy --providing jobs that support and sustain countless families and communities.

"In recent years...we have worked to diversify our economy...Together, these initiatives in mining, energy, agriculture, forestry and arts and culture...will translate into jobs and economic activity --as will the dollars we're investing in infrastructure."

The BCMA also noted, however, the Minister's announcement of "a 23% cut in spending on contracted professional services".

For the past 13 fiscal years, under an annually renewed program delivery agreement with the BC Arts Council, the BCMA has directly administered the "Operating Assistance for Public Museums Program", which provides operating grants to about 40 BC museums annually.

The BCMA has welcomed and values our longstanding partnership with the BC Arts Council to help deliver this program, which also serves as a prime example of how provincial cultural associations can enable the delivery of programs and services to the sector. It is a template we are working to transpose to other current strategic development initiatives in the sector, including the new Heritage Strategy and Community Cultural Tourism Strategy, for examples.

Although it remains to be seen if this program delivery relationship will be targeted in the announced 23% cut to "contracted professional services", the prospect would be a tragic loss to the BCMA, both in terms of a contracted Grants Coordinator who also monitors and promotes related funding opportunities for BC museums, but also for the direct interaction with the 40+ BC museums as program clients.

Even though the announced $15million is welcome news and counter to many past circumstances in times of provincial deficits when arts and culture were routinely cut or barely mentioned, if at all, it is still not the major investment in the development of longterm sustainability for our sector we are ultimately working for.

However, given the global economic crisis and the expectation of the eventual recovery, and the upcoming provincial election in May, today's announcement is viewed as much as a means to bridge and help mitigate the impacts from the current economy our sector is sure to experience in different ways, with a pledge to continue the strategic initiatives already in progress for our sector.

As soon as details are known regarding the new funding, the BCMA will forward these to members and subscribers via the listservs and website.