At least we'll have the northern lights.
I have two kids, a two year old and a five year old and every day at dinner we talk about the best and the hardest parts of our days. I’ll tell them about falling off my bike or that I felt very tired, but I won’t let their tender ears hear the real hard parts of my day, like how, instead of receiving a cheque for $32,500 (our usual amount) from the BC Arts Council, I opened up their envelope to find a cheque for $12,700. My kids may not know what that means, but it indicates the dismantling of the culture of the province of British Columbia.
Earlier this month the provincial budget was handed down and it contains a lot of other content that I would classify as “not for young ears.”
Firstly, the government is taking core funding (that is the type of funding you need to keep the lights on) and replacing it with “new funds.” For example there is a $10M mystery fund in the BC Arts Council budget. It’s not clear what it’s for, except perhaps for winning brownie points for creating a new fund. It is not a restoration of funding or an increase in funding. It will likely be short term.
The second problem with this budget is the change to Gaming funding. This money, derived from the government’s legalization of gambling, has been the largest source of provincial arts funding. It has reprioritized and the only arts it will fund is for youth. I’m all for funding youth initiatives. I want my children to appreciate art so much that they will consider it an essential part of society—even for adults. However, if their dad is soon out of a job, they’re not going to receive any benefits of youth culture in BC, because we’ll have to move to the Yukon so I can find work in the arts.
After 25 years of building a cultural legacy that lives in the hearts and minds of British Columbians, the provincial government has cut Fringe Festival BC Arts Council core funding by 60%. Also, it is now abundantly clear that, effectively, the arts have been all but eradicated from the Gaming program. The Fringe stands to lose $70,000 in Gaming funding after our current agreement with the provincial government expires at the end of next year’s season.
Good thing that our youth are being instilled with a value for arts and culture. They’re going to need it to work hard to rebuild what their parents and grandparents built and the provincial government destroyed.
Many of you have found you are able to give as little as $5 or $10 per month to help us overcome this substantial loss in core funding. Thank you a million times! If you have thought about donating, but have yet to do so, please help us make up the enormous $90,000 funding gap we are facing.
We’ll also be coming up with some amazing fundraisers in the spring and summer that will help you forget all about budgets! Stay tuned and stay positive!
Yours in Fringe,
David Jordan
Executive Director
Opportunities for Actors, Performers, Playwrights and Circus Freaks!
So many freaks come from the Fringe...
You can tell the summer theatre season is getting ready to gear up. If you’re a performer or a writer, it’s time to start looking for work! Check out some of the opportunities that have been shared with the Fringe recently:
Tremors Showcase: Rumble Productions produces the Tremors Showcase Festival for emerging writers and artists April 6-17, 2010. If you are an artist with less than five years experience, you can apply to participate. Email producer Heather Lindsay at hlindsay@rumble.org for more info and an application form.
There’s also a free workshop for high school students who want to work in theatre as part of the Tremors Showcase on April 10, 2010. Sign up by emailing Heather Lindsay at hlindsay@rumble.org.
The Massey Helps Program
The Massey Theatre offers free theatre space four times a year for artistic and community groups to better their artistic initiatives. The next deadline for applications is March 31 for events between July and December.
Cirque du Soleil
The famous Circus is holding auditions for actors and clowns in Vancouver in April, 2010. Apply online now. They’re also looking to fill other positions, so be sure to check out their website
Act Now!
Act Now! Playwriting Competition: For writers aged 14 to 26, this competition is for a short play about sustainability. The deadline is March 31, so get writing! Click here for more info.
Walking Fish Festival
You may be familiar with the producers of this great little festival from their work in the Fringe. In 2009, Daniel and Dave could be found in their camper van performing their site specific work Wagabondi Ho! Up In The Air Theatre’s theatre festival for emerging artists is putting a call out for actors to participate in the Festival this July! Email your headshot, resume and contact info to walkingfish@upintheairtheatre.com or check out their website for more details. Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2010.
Time for Everyone’s Favourite Holiday:
World Theatre Day!
This is actully Judi's wax figurine. Doesn't she look good?
Ok, it’s not really a day but a month’s worth of free and discounted performances, open rehearsals, and opportunities to discuss shows with the performers! The most fun though will come from trying to spot the flash mob events happening on the streets of Vancouver from March 21 to 27!
So just what is World Theatre Day all about you ask? The International Theatre Institute (ITI), whose purpose is to help bring about peace between people by sharing the knowledge and practice of the theatre arts organizes World Theatre Day, which began in 1961. One of the ways the day is commemorated is by circulating the World Theatre Day International Message, which is written by a world renowned theatre figure. This year’s message was written by Dame Judi Dench, well known for her role as James Bond’s boss M, and for numerous theatre roles that have garnered her six Laurence Oliver Awards. You can read Judi’s message here.
For a full listing of World Theatre Day events, click here.
