Art Matters Victoria

Petition in Support of the Arts: The Home Stretch

2010-01-22T12:51:00.000-08:00

The Petition in Support of the Arts will be presented to the Legislature Feb 10 or 11. The petition (see link below) is a comprehensive 3 year vision for arts funding in BC.

This is the last few weeks to have our say before the budget is presented.

Over 2800 signatures have been collected as of Jan. 20th. A huge thanks to all the individuals and groups involved.

How many more can we collect by Feb 9 in a wholehearted blitz? We will continue the petition after that date, and present to the House again during the spring session, but the more now the better.

The Petition
To read or print petition, click here

What can you do?

1. Spread the word: Circulate this script widely. Send it to your personal and professional networks all across BC, members of your organization, to fellow faculty members. We especially want to get it out widely in Vancouver, up Island, the Gulf Islands and the Interior. Let your Twitter followers know about this blitz. Post it on your website and facebook pages.

The petition and info are posted on the Art Matters, Victoria
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204461113452
Search for the "Art Matters, Victoria" group from any Facebook page.

2. Collect Signatures: Print the petition from the PDF below, sign it, and get as many signatures as you can. Circulate it wherever you are--at events, classes, and one to one with friends, family and neighbours. Put it out in your venue, on your office door, in your business or in your mailbox and let your network know it is there. Drop copies off at local stores, galleries, coffee shops, let us know where they are at artspetitionbc@gmail.com and collect them in time to send them in. We have included PDF's of 3 signs (see end of document) to make the display more visible.

3. Sign the petition: Even if you can’t collect signatures, print one off and mail it in—one signature is fine! Or drop in to one of the designated collections spots across the province (see below). Check our website for location, hours, and new locations as we get them. So far, in Vancouver: Pacific Cinémathèque, Vivo (formerly Video In), Firehall Arts Center, Or Gallery, MacLeod Books, The Alliance for Arts and Culture, Opus Framing (all 3 locations); in Victoria: Open Space, The Belfry, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, MediaNet, Vancouver Island School of Art, Victoria College of Art, Opus Framing, Island Blueprint: in Kelowna: Opus Framing.

4. Be a designated collection spot: We need orgs, schools, businesses and studios who will have the petition available for people to drop in and sign. Email us and we will post it on our website. Please include address, phone number and hours of operation.

6. Become involved: The success of this depends on the involvement of many. There are plenty of ways to get involved, no matter where you live: being part of the organizing group, a contact in your area (geographical or your sector), making phone calls or doing odd jobs. And we would love to have a social media/web whiz or 2 on board.

7. Support other initiatives: “Stop BC Arts Cuts” http://www.stopbcartscuts.ca/ has several excellent initiatives including a letter writing campaign. Also check out the “Alliance for Arts and Culture” http://www.allianceforarts.com who are also working on many fronts to the same ends we are.

Returning petitions: Please return in time to be received by Feb 9th for presentation to the legislature Feb 10th or 11th, and by March, April & May 15 for presentation later in the spring session. Return to: Arts Petition BC: 1813 B Crescent Rd. Victoria, BC. V8S 2G7.

Rules and Regs: All petitions MUST be on the petition form, and have original signatures in ink. The House will only accept signed hard copies. Signers do NOT have to be 18 years of age.

Contact us: artspetitionbc@gmail.com

Sign Number 1: click here

Sign Number 2: click here

The Petition: click here

If not us, who? If not now, when?

Petition in Support of the Arts - Available for Download

2009-12-01T15:37:00.000-08:00

The petition launched at the November 26 rally is available here for download.

This petition will be presented to the Legislature when the house resumes sitting in February. As budget decisions will be made between now and then, we will be making interim reports on the progress of the petition to media, and are asking that completed sheets be returned by December 14, January 14 and February 7.

Spread the Word

Please send this petition notice out as far and wide as possible, through as many mediums as possible. We are aiming for this to go huge, very quickly--we have a short window to let the government know what the people of BC want. The success of this depends on many people sending it out, and many gathering signatures.

When you send the notice out, it would be helpful if you send a quick note back to artspetitionbc@gmail.com so we can see what geographical areas and sectors are covered, and where our gaps are.

Facebook and Web: The petition and this info will be posted on the Art Matters blogspot http://artmattersvictoria.blogspot.com/ and Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204461113452 during the week of December 1. Please post it on your website and facebook pages.

Gathering: We need lots of people, all over the province, to gather signatures from people from as many walks of life as possible who value the arts, and agree with the need for a visionary arts funding policy.

Please print the petition, sign it, and get as many signatures as you can. Post it in your venue, circulate it at events, in classes, and one to one with friends, family and neighbours. Find a tube and put it in your pocket and take it wherever you go. It’s an opportunity to increase understanding of the issues, and what is at stake.

We would also appreciate if people gathering signatures could drop a quick line with the heading “Gatherer” to artspetitionbc@gmail.com to help us track our progress, and so we can insure that all petitions are returned.

Rules and Regs: All petitions must have original signatures in ink. There is no online petition as the House will only accept signed hard copies. Signers do NOT have to be 18 years of age.

Returning petitions: Please return petitions to: Arts Petition BC: 1813 B Crescent Rd. Victoria, BC. V8S 2G7 . You can get 5 pages in a business envelope for the basic rate of 54 cents (57 cents after Jan 11).

Please send completed sheets in by December 14, January 14 and February 7.

Info: artspetitionbc@gmail.com.

Thank-you!!!!!

If not us who? If not now, when?

Good times pre- and post-rally

2009-11-25T14:12:00.000-08:00

Button and sign making session - 9-11 am - November 26
Open Space Gallery, 510 Fort St., 2nd floor

Join with colleagues and friends before tomorrow's Art Matters Rally for a session of sign and button making.
Bring your favourite slogan to send a positive message to the government to Restore Arts Funding Now!

Plus, the fun continues with a post-rally gathering...
...again at Open Space. An opportunity to get together, share notes and plan for the future. The party starts immediately following Thursday's rally.

Art Matters: Restore Arts Funding Now Rally

2009-11-21T15:11:00.000-08:00

What: "Art Matters: Restore Arts Funding Now" Rally

When: Thursday, November 26th at noon. Rain or Shine.

Where: BC Legislature Buildings- on the back steps (the front lawn is CLOSED for the season)

Who: All British Columbians Who Care About Arts and Culture

Why: The B.C. Legislature finishes its current session on Thursday November 26th. Artists and their supporters need to send one more strong show of public support for the restoration of arts funding in British Columbia before MLAs depart.

The time is now and the message is clear: Restore Arts Funding Now.

Dear Artists & Arts Supporters

As you are no doubt aware, the Provincial government has proposed a 92% cut to arts funding over the next two years. (From $47.7 million to $3.7 million) These cuts would have extremely serious ramifications throughout BC's cultural sector. They are also fiscally unwise, as by the government's own estimates every $1.00 of provincial funding spent on the arts brings back $1.36 in revenues to the provincial coffers.

The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services issued their Report on the Budget 2010 Consultations on November 13th. The cross-party committee unanimously recommends that our government: ”Make funding of the arts a high priority in the 2010/11 budget by returning to overall actual funding levels of 2008/09.”

Positive news indeed- it seems our politicians are beginning to get the message that the arts are a wise investment, a strong industry, a vital part of our social fabric and are worthy of support. With the voices of MLA’s from both the Liberal and New Democrat parties behind this decision, the time for a positive message to all MLA’s is now and our timing is critical.

Professional artists in Victoria have already begun to organize a series of activities in support of the arts, with the clear message to all MLA’s to Restore Arts Funding Now. In addition to the rally these activities include:

* Regular, official introductions to the house by MLA’s of professional artists, students and their families who will be seated in the gallery.
* A pre-rally button- & sign-making session the morning of November 26
* A petition in support of visionary arts funding
* A post-rally party (we’re working on it)

On the heels of this positive message from the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, the mood of this rally will be artful and festive. Your attendance is requested, and perhaps you will agree, required. Please wear a colourful scarf. We hope to see a massive turnout for this celebratory positive farewell to our provincial politicians. A strong turnout will send a clear message and let our politicians know it is not too late to Restore Arts Funding Now.

Please circulate this widely and join the rally on November 26th for featured speakers and the launch of a petition followed by a circling of the legislature by artists and their supporters.

Join us on Facebook.

For further information, to volunteer, or to be added to our email list, contact: artmattersvictoria@gmail.com.