News at a Glance
Island Mountain Arts devastated by new provincial budget - A Message from Artistic Director, Julie Fowler
Sep 6 2009The arts are a catalyst for economic growth, as well as make communities livable and vibrant. Island Mountain Arts, the arts organization that I work for is a integral part of the economy of Wells and Barkerville, BC where it has been operating a School of the Arts since 1977, a Public Gallery since 1988 and the ArtsWells Festival Of All Things Art since 2004.
Every dollar that the government invests in our organization brings in double that in terms of money spent at hotels, motels, restaurants, galleries, gas stations and other attractions. We also employ and provide amazing training opportunities for our workers who get the chance to learn great business skills from administration and computer skills to public relations and marketing. More than once I have had past employees ask me to be a reference as they go on to other work in places like banks and other parts of the corporate sector, as they can inevitably make more money there. Arts organizations invest lots of money and resources in training workers, who they can most often not hang on to b/c of the wage being so small. Its frustrating to be subsidizing the corporate sector, by offering up trained workers for there use. We also hire hundreds of professional artists again sending the government grant money back into the economy. Investing in the arts is investing in our HUMAN resources - a renewable resource!
Of course beyond the economic benefits of supporting arts and culture, there is the social benefit. This is often intangible in terms of dollars and cents, but it would be a pretty poor world if we did not have song and dance and art. These pursuits build community, provide inspiration and connect humans to a side of themselves that is inexplicable and mysterious. It is important to have these experiences to understand what it is to be human.
Island Mountain Arts. along with so may arts and culture groups across the province, lost its gaming grant when the cuts were announced last wee ($20 000 - roughly 10% of its overall budget). What makes this worse is that there was no warning or time to plan. In the arts we are used to surviving against all odds, having to volunteer our time, and fundraising, fundraising, fundraising - but this kind of a cut, from a source that has been stable for twenty or more years will send our organization into a tail spin.
We are currently working with arts groups around the province to mobolize and fight these cuts. Please help us send a message to the Provincial Government that these cuts to such a vital part of our society is not acceptable! Send a letter or give a call to your local MLA.
Also consider helping Island Mountain Arts with a donation. Every little bit helps! Link here to send a donation.
Thank you for your support.
Sep 6 2009 Undesirables from Toronto perform September 8 in Wells
