ArtsBC

National arts initiative launched – PDF
By James Adams, Globe and Mail
October 28, 2009

An arts festival for all the ‘ordinary, working people’ – PDF
By Adam McDowell, National Post
October 30, 2009

Des journees de la culture coast to coast- PDF
By Frederique Doyon, Le Devoir
October 30, 2009

BC Arts Community faces crisis according to Alliance for Arts and Culture
Plank Magazine
July 13th, 2009

The Alliance for Arts and Culture sent out the following press release on Monday 13 July 2009.

The arts and cultural sector in British Columbia is facing an imminent crisis. The Service Plans for the next two years show a 40% reduction in funding for the BC Arts Council. The BC Arts Council is the largest funding body in the province; last year, more than 224 communities throughout British Columbia depended on it for support.

“The impact to the province will be devastating,” said Amir Ali Alibhai, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Arts & Culture. “The BC Arts Council supports a sector that employs 80,000 people and generates $5.2-billion annually. It is bigger than the forestry and fishing industries combined. At a time when the government is doing everything they can to create and retain jobs, why are they implementing measures that will trigger layoffs and cause organizations to reduce programming?

According to Ministry’s own research, for every dollar invested in the arts, the province gets back $1.38 in taxes. There are also countless studies that show that arts and culture creates healthy communities, enhances education, and helps to shape our cultural identity.

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