On Friday (October 30), the Metro Vancouver board—which comprises municipal politicians from across the region—will vote on a motion to write a letter of protest to Premier Gordon Campbell regarding cuts to cultural grants. The board will also vote on whether or not to distribute this letter to cities, regional districts, and other organizations across B.C.

On October 14, the regional culture committee—which reports to the board—approved the motion following a presentation by Sheila McKinnon, chair of the regional cultural development advisory committee. She cited a recent survey by Canada’s Performing Arts Alliance, which indicated that government investment in the arts is more important than ever because of diminished corporate support and reduced investment revenue flowing to cultural organizations.

McKinnon also said the province withdrew core investment provided by gaming grants from 44 percent of arts organizations that had received investments in previous years. The Alliance for Arts and Culture has noted that 370 arts and cultural groups in B.C. have been affected in this way.

In addition, her presentation highlighted the impact of arts cutbacks in various municipalities. The Surrey Art Gallery, for instance, will receive $138,000 this year from federal and provincial sources, including $67,000 from the B.C. Arts Council. In 2010, that will fall to $105,800—including $40,800 in a B.C. Arts Council supplement. The following year, the federal and provincial allocation will shrink to $65,000, entirely from the Canada Council.

In Richmond, $215,000 in funding has been denied, according to the Richmond Arts Coalition. Port Moody’s Golden Spike Days Society lost $20,000 in funding because of the cancellation of its Direct Access gaming grant, according to McKinnon’s presentation. And McKinnon reported that in New Westminster, the Royal City Musical Theatre has been denied a Direct Access gaming grant.