Celebrating arts and local artists

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Editor's Note -- this week's Quesnel City Council column is written by Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson. He can be reached via email here

With the majority of the pandemic restrictions now lifted, many of the events and activities we’ve missed over the past few years are available to us all once again. It’s nice to see people returning to our local restaurants, sports activities ramping up, tournaments being planned, and our summer festivals (fingers-crossed) back on the calendar. 

One of the sectors hardest hit by the necessary health restrictions was the Arts, particularly the performing arts community. That’s why it’s so important for us all to seek out every opportunity to support our local and visiting artisans when they schedule performances in the community; whether organized by Quesnel Live Arts (next event on April 23), by local groups and businesses, or by the Quesnel and District Community Arts Council.

I had the privilege to attend last week’s “Gallery of Honour” event organized by both the Quesnel and District Arts Council and the Quesnel Art Gallery and Gift Shop. The event had a two-fold purpose: to open a new art exhibit featuring two local artists, Sam Walters and Pat Hildebrandt; and to induct two new artisans into the Gallery of Honour. Both the Art Gallery and the Gallery of Honour are located at the Quesnel and District Arts and Recreation Centre.

The Gallery of Honour recognizes individuals “who have made significant contributions to the community through the Arts over the years” either in the domains of visual or performing arts, or in the areas of support, education, or advocacy.

This year two of Quesnel’s youth were inducted, both in the field of dance.

Larissa Munch, a member of the Nazko First Nation, was recognized for her leadership, advocacy, and performance of traditional dance. She graduated high school with honours and attended the University of British Columbia. Larissa has performed traditional dance at a great number of events, both locally and regionally, and is a strong advocate for her culture and a great role model for all of our youth. 

Elledae Armstrong is also a local graduate who is currently attending the University of British Columbia. She has practiced and performed dance in multiple genres, including jazz, ballet, stage, modern, tap, contemporary, and musical theatre. It was noted during the presentation that Elledae is renowned for her particular talent of being able to quickly shift between genres within the same performance. 

Both young women were recognized by the Arts Council for their outstanding leadership, youth mentorship, hard work and dedication that went beyond their craft, and their citizenship (overall contribution to the general community). It was a privilege to congratulate, on behalf of Quesnel City Council, both these young women for the well-deserved recognition they were receiving from the Arts Council.

Please take the time to drop into the Quesnel and District Arts and Recreation Centre to view the Gallery of Honour and to the Art Gallery to see its latest exhibit of local talent.

As we go about the community and participate in events, it’s important to continue to take precautions against the spread of the latest variant of the virus. Let’s respect the rights of our most vulnerable populations to also enjoy the restoration of these events by adhering to basic public health protocols: hand washing, minimizing contact, mask-wearing where appropriate. Let’s do our best to take care of each other as we transition back to normalcy.

BC Gov't maintains support for Arts Sector

The BC Arts Council received $16,831,000 from the provincial government to help fund artists and cultural organizations in British Columbia for April 1st 2011 to March 31st, 2012.

Arts groups large and small apply to the BC Arts Council – an independent agency of the Province – to support opportunities for artists, strengthen local economies and enhance quality of life for citizens in communities across British Columbia.

This year’s funding will benefit artists, major cultural organizations and institutions, as well as local community arts councils. British Columbia’s diverse and robust arts scene draws significant support annually from the BC Arts Council for art galleries, theatres, orchestras, museums, festivals and more.

Quotes:

Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Hon. Ida Chong –

“Arts in British Columbia enrich families and support careers, while infusing creative and economic energy into communities in every region of the province. We will continue to work with artists and cultural organizations through the BC Arts Council, our principal development and funding agency for the arts, to build on British Columbia’s well-deserved international reputation for artistic excellence.”

BC Arts Council chair Stan Hamilton –

“On behalf of the board we thank the minister for this support – the second-highest level in the council’s history. The funding is the key to ensuring the long-term health of B.C.’s creative sector. It means that council can continue to provide a high level of service to our clients. These resources allow council to take the strategic steps to ensure the arts in this province will grow and thrive over the long term.”

Quick Facts:

· BC Art Council’s $16.831 million 2011-12 budget consists of:

o $7.931 million from the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
o $2.150 million from the BC150 Cultural Fund (a $150-million interest-generating endowment fund).
o $6.75 million from the 2010 Sport and Arts Legacy.

· Total arts and culture support from the B.C. government exceeds half a billion dollars over the last decade.

· From 2001 until March 31, 2011, the BC Arts Council granted $152 million to artists and cultural organizations in British Columbia.

· B.C.’s creative sector employs more than 78,000 people and contributes $5.2 billion to our provincial economy.

Backgrounder:

By restoring core funding for the BC Arts Council this year to 2008-09 levels, the Province is standing by a government recommendation and a commitment from Premier Christy Clark to make funding of the arts a high priority in British Columbia.

In 2011, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services recommended a return to funding levels in 2008-09 for the arts. This year’s $16,831,000 in BC Arts Council funding is only $20,000 below the Province’s core funding for council in 2008-09.

Recent fiscal years reflect the stability of provincial government funding for the BC Arts Council.

Provincial government support for the BC Arts Council:

2008-09 funding - $16,851,000 (April 1, 2008 to March 31st, 2009)
2009-2010 funding - $11,593,000 plus an additional $7 million in one-time supplemental funding from the previous year. (April 1st, 2009 to March 31st, 2010)
2010-11 funding - $16,831,000 (April 1st, 2010 to March 31st, 2011)
2011-12 funding - $16,831,000 (April 1st, 2011 to March 31st, 2012)

The BC Arts Council awards funding to over 1,000 recipients annually across British Columbia. Council funding supports many of British Columbia’s key cultural organizations and events. Recipients include the Vancouver Art Gallery, Prince George Symphony, Alert Bay U’mista Cultural Centre, Fort St. James Community Arts Council, ArtsBC and Pacific Opera Victoria.

The funding benefits diverse organizations and individual artists working in visual arts, literary arts, theatre, dance, film, music and more.