Significant Arts Cuts in BC Budget (Revised)

For the upcoming fiscal year, the provincial government in BC is reducing its spending on arts and culture by 40% from $19.5 million to $11.9 million.

Plus, the income from the new $150 million BC150 Cultural Fund endowment was reduced by 40% from approximately $8 million per year which it was supposed to generate. Due to the economic downturn, this year the Fund will bring in $3.3 million this year (and likely about the same in the next few years to come).

Not to mention that the government is not putting up any money for capital expenditures for arts and culture - compared with the $90 million spent on capital projects last year.

HOWEVER - the government would like us to remember that despite the serious drop in funding, there is a one-time $15 million cash injection of $15 million to be spent prior to the end of the current fiscal year (March 31, 2009). $7 million will go through the BC Arts Council and $8 million remains unallocated. That gives about 6 weeks for $15 million to be spent - which is more than the entire spending on arts and culture projected in the 2009-10 budget.

So - does it seem to you like the BC government believes in the growth and sustainability of arts and culture? In the throne speech, the government described culture, art, and building design "as critical drivers of dynamic growth". Maybe Mr. Campbell should put his money where his mouth is.