Tough times in the arts

Managing Editor Jon Manchester Kelowna Daily Courier 2010-08-26
The term "starving artist" may be truer than ever in British Columbia after the latest round of funding cuts to arts programs in our province. It‘s not an easy time to be a musician, actor or artist in B.C. The Okanagan Symphony, for example, has had its gaming grants slashed from $200,000 a year to $46,000. That‘s a big chunk out of a budget of $800,000 annually. Despite the bleak outlook, the symphony vows to play on with a full season of concerts and school programs. It will no doubt have to get creative in its fundraising endeavours. Basically, if you want to see professionally played classical music continue in the Okanagan, it‘s going to be up to audiences and patrons to support it.

Local arts groups Viva Musica and Sunshine Theatre have already felt the pinch, cancelling productions and in Sunshine‘s case, closing the doors for good. The chairwoman of the B.C. Arts Council has resigned over the cuts, which she described as "devastating." In troubled economic times, we can‘t blame the provincial government for putting its priorities on roads, education and health care. The arts are certainly a beloved part of our society, but they are a discretionary one. Still, it doesn‘t make sense that the government would cut funding at one end and move it over to festivals on the other. If artists are packing up shop, fewer will be left to take part in those festivals. Far from being just a frill, the arts are an economic driver in B.C. Let‘s get out there and support them.