Grey Rally today... We Say Culture Matters: Don't Torch The Arts!

The Grey Rally today drew over 500 people to the Vancouver Arts Gallery with one message - Culture Matters:  Don't Torch the Arts!  Organized by concerned members of the arts community with support from the Alliance for Arts and Culture, the event encouraged everyone to wear grey symbolizing what the world would be like without art.   The goal of the event was to protest the recently-announced, brutal cuts to the arts sector by the BC government.

Though invited, neither Minister Kevin Kreuger (of Tourism, Culture and Arts) or Minister Rich Coleman (of Social Development and Housing) could attend.  Speakers included Spencer Herbert (NDP MLA and Culture Critic), Ellen Woodworth (Deputy Mayor of Vancouver), Amir Ali Alibhai (Alliance for Arts and Culture), Yolanda Faris (audience member and patron) and Judith Marcuse (artistic director and choreographer).  All spoke of the importance of arts and culture in everyday life and the need for government support of this essential activity.

I also spoke to members of the 500+ crowd.  Some wanted to know more about the facts and the cuts - for which the Alliance for Arts had prepared a handout with statistics and information.  Others were concerned that this rally was too little, too late.  Many were already talking about what to do next and future actions that needed to be taken to get the message about arts and culture out to the wider community.

Other members of the media were in attendance - so it will be interesting to see what coverage is received and the public's reaction.  My personal view?  It's a damn good start to a new movement for recognition and change led by the arts community in this province.