A Message from the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
Arts and culture contribute significantly to the way the world sees British Columbia – and the way British Columbians see themselves. Artists, arts and cultural organizations in communities across the province positively impact the quality of life for families and citizens throughout B.C.
The BC Arts Council plays an important role in the province’s creative sector. With funding from the provincial government, council provides financial support for artists and arts organizations ever year in British Columbia. In addition, council supports the arts and cultural community though research and public advocacy.
Council’s board governs distribution of these funds – providing a critically important arm’s length relationship with government. Council consults the community to develop and implement a strategic plan that guides goals and priorities. Also, council is best placed to adjudicate questions of artistic excellence through its peer adjudication process. Peer adjudication results in fair, equitable and transparent arts funding decisions.
Council provides a powerful voice for the arts sector – connecting artists and arts organizations across disciplines and throughout communities in every region of the province. Council also informs arts policy and decisions the ministry makes on behalf of the arts community.
I am proud of the Province’s track record on the arts in British Columbia. We’ve given unprecedented support to the arts and cultural community, totaling more than $500 million since 2001. For fiscal year 2011/12, we provided over $47 million in funding to artists, art and culture organizations in B.C.
This commitment benefits the arts in British Columbia in many ways. Artists and arts organizations get direct funding. Major endowments can sustain long-term support for the arts. Key institutions, such as the Royal British Columbia Museum, receive continued funding. In addition, the Province supported several significant arts and culture projects with the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, the 2009 Juno Awards and the 2009 Canadian Country Music Awards.
The Province is committed to the long-term health of the arts and culture sector. I look forward to working with artists, arts organizations, members of the creative sector and the public to ensure that B.C.’s diverse arts and culture community continues to thrive and flourish.