An open letter to Rich Coleman, the Minister of Housing and Social Development:
Dear Minister Coleman,
I am responding to the comments you made about arts festivals in the Vancouver Sun while speaking in support of the B.C. government’s decision to exclude festivals from gaming funds.
You are quoted as saying that: “Many of those festivals are commercial enterprises that charge admission and should be able to operate without government subsidies.”
Let me remind you that our Festival and all festivals that apply for gaming funding are registered charities, not commercial enterprises. Charitable status is what makes us eligible to apply for grants in the first place. The reason gaming funds exist as a legal and legitimate stream of government revenue is because government chose to use the non-profit, charity sector as a benefactor of gaming funds. With the aforementioned statement, it seems that you are redefining the word “charity,” which is entirely inappropriate.
It shows ignorance and disrespect in saying that: “There were some festivals that had been running for 25 years and they were saying if they couldn’t get a $10,000 grant they wouldn’t be able to survive for a year. I’m thinking, you’ve got to wonder, what have you been doing as far as planning for your organization … the past 25 years.”
You’re not naming names here, but I am going to take that as a shot at our 25-year-old organization.
Our gaming grant is $70,000, which is 16 per cent of our cash budget, a significant portion. We will struggle to adapt to this change but we will outlast the philistinism of this funding change. We will do so because people care about our organization and its vision of “Theatre for Everyone.”
Furthermore, other sectors in the province receive numerous and massive subsidies in the form of tax incentives, tax breaks, and kick backs. Forestry, fisheries, and mining all receive government subsidies, including major bail outs when things get difficult.
I am concerned that you are making massive changes to an ecosystem you do not understand and I urge you to reconsider these changes.
The arts sector has been a thriving and healthy contributor to the cultural and economic health of the province.
Rather than being valued for what we provide, we’re faced with a wholesale clear cut of provincial arts funding and a Minister that changed the eligibility requirements for gaming funds after the applications have been submitted. This is neither sporting, nor fair. As Ian Case, of Intrepid Theatre said, “Rich Coleman has turned into Lucy, yanking the football out from us just as we come in to kick it. Good Grief!”
David Jordan,
Executive Director
Vancouver International Fringe Festival
David will be speaking at the Make Art History symposium, “Now What?” on June 25. For details on attending, please visit their Facebook event page.
Just Desserts
Here's just one of the cards you'll see on the tables at Havana.
This phrase, properly spelled “just deserts,” means the deserved outcome someone receives—often a punishment for something bad they’ve done. We’ve twisted this meaning up a bit and, along with our pals at Havana, are bringing you the “Just Desserts” campaign. For every dessert purchased at Havana between June 1 and September 30, $1 will be donated to the Vancouver Fringe! This includes mainstays like Crème Brûlée and Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding, as well as their daily creations!
We figure that everyone gets their just deserts with this little deal. Due to the cuts to the B.C. Arts Council and the loss of eligibility for gaming grants, the Fringe is looking at a loss of $70,000 for future festivals. To prepare for these cuts, the Fringe is raising awareness of our charitable status with fundraising events such as “Just Desserts.” So we get our just deserts with a little funding help from you and Havana, the B.C. government gets theirs with regular scrutiny from art lovers, and you get a lovely dessert!
Visit Havana before September 30 and get yourself a treat!
Tasty Treats
Notice a food theme? Our artists are keeping it up. This tale using chicken balls as a demonstrative tool comes with a warning to our male readers. You may want to cross your legs now. Thanks to Sara Vickruck of Happily Ever After?, which will be staged at the Playwrights Theatre Centre during this year’s Fringe, for sharing!
Sarah Vickruck is a loud lady!
The first thing you should know about me is that I am loud. My voice just carries and whispering is impossible for me. While eating at a buffet with two friends, I began to discuss the fact that I have never intentionally hit a man in the balls before. I just can’t seem to follow through. You see all those kick-ass female action movie stars who walk up to egotistical, chauvinistic pigs, grab them by the balls and twist. I would love to have the fortitude to grab a guy that way someday. In order to demonstrate the tactics, I grabbed two chicken balls on my plate, squeezed, and twisted. While violently smushing the balls in my hand, I look across the way to see a man’s face go stark white, and immediately after, start choking, coughing up pieces of his now ruined meal. I probably should have listened to my mother when I was little: “Food is for eating, not playing.”
Ticketpalooza!
It looks like a scratch and win, and in a way, it is!
This mystery package purchase is one hell of a way to raise money!
When you visit the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance (GVPTA) website you can purchase a mystery package for $50 or $200. The packages include tickets to select shows from the GVPTA’s 45-plus member theatre companies (and maybe even an exclusive Superpass from the Fringe!), as well as gift certificates to restaurants, hotel stays, and more!
You won’t know what’s in your package until Ticketpalooza ends on June 30, but you’ll know that the contents of your mystery package are valued at least as much as you paid (and often higher than you paid). Plus your purchase goes towards the GVPTA’s work of promoting theatre in Vancouver. There’s some amazing deals so don’t miss out!
Get Involved with the Fringe
Hey Fringe fans! Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to work with us? Well here’s your chance! We’re searching for a couple more seasonal staff members as well as some quality interns to help in our volunteer department. Check out the job descriptions here.
Speaking of the volunteer department, we’re also looking for a handful of pre-festival volunteers to distribute our program guide and do other pre-festival tasks. Get your volunteer hours in early and enjoy the Festival without interruption! For details, email our Volunteer Coordinator, Shellbie Wilson.
We’re getting geared up for our Opening Night and are looking for silent and live auction items too! In previous years auction items included artwork, weekend get-aways, spa nights, and more! If you or your company would like to donate an item, contact Tanja Reinkens, our Events Coordinator, for more information.
