COLUMBIA CARFAC BC disappointed by cuts to core arts investments Vancouver, February 20, 2009 - The Canadian Artists’ Representation/le Front des artists canadiens of BC (CARFAC BC) is disappointed by the 40% reduction to core Arts and Culture programs by the Government of British Columbia in Budget 2009. These programs fuel an important economic driver employing thousands of British Columbians. Although it appears these cuts will be compen- sated by supplemental funding for this year, this is a temporary measure meaning the real impact of these cuts will hit in the next budget. “This is a missed opportunity to stimulate the economy through one of the most efficient ways to create jobs,” said Julie McIntyre, President of CARFAC BC. According to the B.C. Government's numbers, the creative industries employ 78,000 people in B.C., generating $2.3 billion or 1.6% of the province’s GDP. The B.C. Government recoups 136% of the money it invests in the arts directly through taxes, making cuts to the sector a loss not a gain to the taxpayer. There are also many social benefits of participation in the arts such as personal development, social cohesion, community empowerment, local image and identity, imagination and vision, and. health and well being. B.C. has already lagged behind other provinces in arts funding for many years despite the fact that the cultural sector employs more than forestry, mining, fishing and agricultural industries combined. “The repercussions of the cuts will be very hard on artists outside the Lower Mainland, where there isn’t a concentration of major like the Art Gallery or massive spending like the cultural institutions Vancouver Olympics,” said Wells artist Bill Horne. “It’s also where economies have already been strug- gling due to the mountain pine beetle, the softwood lumber dispute, mill closures, etc.” CARFAC BC is the provincial branch of the Canadian Artists’ Representation/le Front des artists canadiens, the national association of Canada’s professional visual and media artists. CARFAC defends artists’ socio-economic and legal rights through advocacy and professional development and produces a schedule of artists’ fees that is widely recognized as the national standard. The Status of the Artist Act empowers CARFAC to negotiate with national organizations on behalf of all visual artists in Canada. www.geeenbarn.com 9548 192 Street, Surrey, B.C. VAN 3R9 Phone: 604.888.3411 Fax: 604.888.4247 (ean barn POTTERS SUPPLY LTD. Tuesday-Friday 9-5 Saturday 9-1 Closed Long Weekends greenbam@telus.net Chop Marks & Signatures Send in your chops and have them available through the guild. For the form, click on the link here: www.bepotters.com/forms/chop_ marks_form.doc You can email it back to Debra Sloan at sloanyip@shaw.ca as an attachment. Or print and mail your sheet[s] to Potters Guild of BC 1359 Cartwright Street, Granville Island Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3R7 attention: chops. pLOoviNs SPOON, F Ho One Living With AIDS Should Live With Hunger Potters, We Need Your Help! A Loving Spoonful will be hosting the 8th Project Empty Bowl Gala at the Pacific Palisades Hotel on June 11, 2009. This event raises $35,000 to help provide food and related services to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS and we need your help! We are in need of 250 ceramic two-cup bowls for the event. These bowls will need to be food safe. To donate bowls please contact Lisa Martella at lisam@alovingspoonful.org or by telephone at 604-682-6325. Bowls can be dropped off at A Loving Spoonful, #100- 1300 Richards Street, Vancouver or at the Gallery of B.C. Ceramics on Granville Island. (Please mark for Project Empty Bowl c/o A Loving Spoonful) Arrangements can be made ifa pick up is required. All donations will be recognized in our event program. Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - March 2009 11