[BCMA MBEN] BC Budget Announces $15million for Arts & Culture
Jim Harding
JHarding@MuseumsAssn.bc.ca
Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:53:40 -0800
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Victoria (Feb 17/09):</span></font>
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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."</span></font>
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In addition to a film tax credit incentive, the Minister also stated: </span></font>
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"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.</span></font>
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"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."</span></font>
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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.</span></font>
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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:</span></font>
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"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."</span></font>
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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.</span></font>
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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.</span></font>
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"In recent years...we have worked to diversify our economy...Together,
these initiatives in mining, energy, agriculture, forestry <i><u>and</u></i><i> arts and
culture</i>...will translate into jobs and economic activity --as will the dollars
we're investing in infrastructure."</span></font>
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The BCMA also noted, however, the Minister's announcement of "a 23% cut
in spending on contracted professional services".</span></font>
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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.</span></font>
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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.</span></font>
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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.</span></font>
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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. </span></font>
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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. </span></font>
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As soon as details are known regarding the new funding, the BCMA will
forward these to members and subscribers via the listservs and website.</span></font>
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To read Minister Hansen's entire Budget 2009 Speech, please click-on:</span></font>
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<u>http://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2009/default.htm</u>
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Stay tuned.</span></font>
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_______________________________</span></font>
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Jim Harding, ED</span></font>
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BC Museums Association</span></font>
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(250) 356-5694</span></font>
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