Economic Viability of Arts for Public Funding
Government Cutbacks to BC Arts Groups not Sound Economics
Oct 17, 2009
In August of 2009, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts announced draconian cutbacks to arts funding. These cuts comprise 88 per cent over two years, from $19.5 million in 2008–2009 down to $2.25 million in 2010–2011, as outlined by the Ministry's September 2009 updated service plan. Studies support artists, arts groups and facilitators as important contributors to a sound economy, not only in British Columbia, but around the world. So why did the BC government slash funding for the arts?
The studies in question are:
- Socio-Economical Impacts of Arts and Cultural Organizations in BC: Grant Applications to BC Arts Councils, for Business Research, Tourism Development Section, Tourism Policy and Development Division; Ministry Tourism, Arts and Sports, BC. This was compiled by G. S. Sandhu and Associates for the BC provincial government in 2006.
- UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, a general report compiled in 2005 which reflects upon the broader sphere of arts and culture in general, not specifically to BC.
The first report reveals several important items of data:
- Arts groups and related industries generate 5.2 billion dollars worth of revenue annually for provincial coffers.
- For every public dollar spent on the arts in British Columbia, between $1.04 and $1.35 is returned in taxes.
- The cultural sector of the province and its service workers and suppliers employs nearly twice as many people as forestry or agriculture.
This study was removed from the Provincial government's website in September, , reported by Jessica Werb on 21 September, 2009, in The Straight, although a copy is still cached online, and an additional copy has been cached on a nongovernmental website according to "Decimating the Arts in Canada" blog.
Another excellent report which reveals the significance of culture sector contributions, not just in terms of revenue, but to the health, education, and cognisance of the people living in the province, was compiled presented to the Finance committee by Amir Ali Alibhai, the executive director of BC's Alliance for Arts and Culture, an organization representing 350 members in Vancouver and the lower mainland.
Outrage Stimulates Calls to Action from Many Sources
The cuts are so excessive and extreme that James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages and MP for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, said of them, "That's devastating, and may not be recoverable."
Cyberpunk author, William Gibson [Neuromancer], said on behalf of BC book publishers, “As a futurist, someone with experience in long-range scenario-based corporate and municipal planning, I’ve seen my share of jaw-droppingly shortsighted proposals. But these proposed cuts to support for the arts in BC really take the cake. This is governance guaranteed to rot the fabric of our province’s future.”
Calls for reinstatement of funds have come from sources as varied as PACT: the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres to the Alliance for Arts & Culture. Individual artists speaking out against the cuts include: Margaret Atwood, Kim Cattral, Sarah McLachlan,Howard White, Eric Metcalfe, Stephen Osborne, Douglas Coupland, and dozens of others. Their words are recorded on the Stop BC Arts Cuts.ca blog under the Speaking Out link.
The decision to cut funding for the arts is not based in sound economics, but the true value of the arts is not economic at all. The true costs are far more subtle and far-reaching.
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