<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt">BC Alliance for Arts + Culture: Call to Action for
the 2017 Provincial Election<span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">The BC Alliance for Arts +
Culture is taking a <b>leadership</b> role
to develop and organize an <a name="_GoBack"></a>inclusive and equitable <i>Arts Advocacy Strategy</i> for the upcoming
2017 provincial election and <b>we are
requesting your participation</b>. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">The <b>purpose</b> of the strategy will be to ask the BC government to follow
the lead of the Federal government and double the budget of the BC Arts Council
over the next 3 years. We are requesting
<b><i>an immediate 34% increase to the BC
Arts Council of $8.1 million</i></b><i> </i>in
order to bring provincial arts funding on par with the other provinces in
Canada. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">At the Alliance, we believe
that we need to engage as many British Columbians as possible in our efforts to
build awareness about the value of arts, culture and heritage in our
communities. When people understand the
impact of the arts on their day-to-day lives, they will become our strongest allies. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">We are inviting all arts,
culture and heritage organizations to take part in developing the election
strategy in collaboration with the Advocacy Committee of the Alliance. In these times of political unrest, your
participation is critical in order to ensure that we are speaking with one
voice and reaching as many people, politicians and stakeholders as possible.
HELP US SHAPE WHAT STRATEGIES YOU & YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN GET BEHIND!<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11pt">YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A MEETING<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11pt">ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6<sup>th</sup> FROM 3 AND 5 PM<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11pt">AT THE SCOTIABANK DANCE CENTRE<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11pt">677 Davie Street<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">The meeting will be
facilitated by Alliance ED Brenda Leadlay and Joel Klein, who is on the board
of the Canadian Arts Coalition and the Alliance. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"> <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Some of the strategies we are
suggesting will include (but are not limited to):<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span style="font-size:11pt">1.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"times new roman"">
</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt">The creation of a
provincial Arts Day on the Hill<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:11pt">2.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"times new roman"">
</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt">An election
tool-kit that can easily be referenced for arts facts and promotional tools for
your own organization in your own community<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:11pt">3.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"times new roman"">
</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt">A coordinated
Celebrity Social Media Campaign which will feature high profile artists from
all disciplines and leaders in business and philanthropy speaking on-line about
why the arts are important; what the arts mean to them; why the government needs
to increase their support for artists; etc.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:11pt">4.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"times new roman"">
</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt">Town hall
meetings with provincial MLA candidates in regions around BC asking about their
vision for the arts<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:11pt">5.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"times new roman"">
</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt">A call for each
party to create and publish their arts & culture strategy for BC<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size:11pt">6.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"times new roman"">
</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt">Curtain speeches
to audiences about the need for increased investment<span></span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><i><span style="font-size:11pt">7.<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"times new roman""> </span></span></i><span style="font-size:11pt">A symbol (button/pin/poster) of support for the arts –
ie: <i>artsvote;
arts for social change, arts matter, etc.<span></span></i></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-size:11pt">8.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"times new roman"">
</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt">One-on-one &
group meetings in communities with MLA’s and candidates<span></span></span></p><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-size:11pt">Questions? </span><br></p><p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-size:11pt">Contact Jill Baird, Curator of Education, MOA<br></span><span style="font-size:11pt">604-827-5618 or <a href="mailto:jill.baird@ubc.ca">jill.baird@ubc.ca</a></span></p>
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