Portrait of a Past Editor

BREAD. EAT BREAD

BY JAMES RILEY

A few years ago, an associate (let's call him that), wondered why | decided to
take the path of becoming an artist knowing that | would "probably never
make ends meet" (his words).

In his estimation, his own profession of being a realtor was a more
noble calling.

‘sian ~ One truth, probably one of the few he ever spoke, stuck in my mind:
Why. would-you want. to toss that handful of twenty dollar bills out the win-
dow every month to a landlord you probably don't even like? | kept seeing this
stream of bills - which | had busted my ass to earn - float worthlessly out the
window into nothing that ever really came back.

So you're an artist, and you need space to breathe, to think, to ges-
tate, to create art babies, ‘cause you got the need.

Okay, besides the true and sweet delusions of grandeur that you're
with it, and your work is gonna sell, and you're gonna be famous, baby - how
are you gonna make it as an artist knowing the real costs involved and the
ridiculously high level of Vancouver rents?

Down in Strathcona, a group of artists have solved that worry for
themselves the only way artists realistically can; through cooperative action.
Deed. Not just thought.

I'm not talking about a yuppie studio that some ‘saintly’ real-estate
agent developed (jumped on) because of a recent City of Vancouver study that
recognizes the need for artist's spaces. I'm talking about a destiny that these
artists worked for and made a reality.

The story goes like this. One of the members of Panneficio was
walking by this bakery, as she had done every morning for about eight years.
She had this feeling, the sort that is very intuitive, that this bakery was the
space that she would be part of someday. The group of artists who make up
Panneficio had been looking diligently for a studio to use, and perhaps to buy,
in the Strathcona area. Ten minutes after a sign went up in front of this place,
she phoned the real estate agent.

A part of the background of this story is that a couple of members
of the group had successfully bought a six-suite two-story walkup a few years
earlier with five other tenants. Mind you, when they bought it they had zero
money and zero credit. But with a little help from their friends and a small
loan from the bank they got $5000 together and succeeded in convincing the
bank of their good intentions.

The space we're talking about here used to be the Montreal Bakery
in the early Twenties. A big Italian bread production centre. Thus the name of
the new studio, Panneficio, meaning "fine bread."

One of the members of the group, a fine arts furniture maker, had
garnered a wealth of experience doing renovations. So again, with a little help
from friends they toiled and sweated to tear down the old walls and build
what exists today: two live-work spaces, and three working studios.

All this, mind you, with minimal incomes.

To dole out portions of the total mortgage obligation, the members
of Panneficio had a well-drafted agreement drawn up; and of course the
agreement spells out what happens if someone decides to sell their stake. To
date nobody has wanted to:sell their stake.

One of the most interesting things about this tale is that many peo-
ple who were approached by the members of Panneficio claimed they were
interested in the scheme but didn't manage to take this interest further than
saying "Neat! Well, if you find a place give us a call ."

To which the reaction of the Panneficio people was: "If someone is
not out there taking action, wanting to make this a reality, then forget about
them!"

What the Panneficio group succeeded in making a reality is a testa-
ment to what artists can do together with a little faith, vision, perseverance
and a lot of creativity.

FEBRUARY - MARCH 1996 / Emny 5

TOUGH LOVE

BY JAMIE LAMBERTON

Students are up in arms all over the
country. Why?

Reductions in transfer pay-
ments by government to universities
and colleges is the answer. Students
are possibly looking at tuition
increases imposed by post-secondary
administrators who will try to bal-
ance out this loss in funding.

Let's face facts. The money
that has been doled out so generous-
ly in the past to support all the social
programs is dwindling as inflation
rates climb, and debt levels increase
both federally and provincially.
Reduced payments to post-secondary
education are only part of the prob-
lem. Welfare, Medicare, Old Age
Pensions, and an increasing pile of
other social programs, are teetering
on major reform, or possible extinc-
tion.

Getting back to education,
let's look at the figures. In 1995/96,
total educational expenditures are
projected to reach $57.5 billion,
which is an increase of over half a
billion dollars from the previous year.
Across the country, this averages out
to approximately 62% for elementary
and secondary, 27% for colleges and
universities, and 11% for vocational
training. B.C. comes in third place,
behind Ontario and Quebec, receiving
approximately $7.27 billion dollars
from local, provincial, and federal
governments, as well as private
sources.

The three levels of govern-
ment cover about 90% of this expen-
diture. Of this money, in B.C.,
elementary and secondary schools
will absorb $4.42 billion, colleges
$0.6 billion, universities $1.41 billion,
and vocational institutes $0.84 bil-
lion.

The cost of education in
B.C. has also risen almost a billion
dollars in the past three years, 75%
of which has accumulated over the
past two of these years. A surprising
truth is that B.C. has been increasing
its spending on education every year
for the past three years, relative to
all the other provinces.

On average, state-funded
universities in the U.S. have a tuition
rate of about $4,274 Cdn. This is far
above the rate that any Canadian
university now charges; therefore, in
relation to our closest social-eco-
nomic partner, who is also economi-
cally more stable, whining over the
high cost of education in Canada has
little weight.

The Canadian Federation of
Students dreams of a Canada with
full accessibility to post-secondary
education through free tuition. The
truth is that Canadian post-sec-
ondary institutions, as well as the
general public, must accept the fact
that the money simply is not avail-
able.

Universities and colleges
have to raise tuition to cover their
operating costs and the reduction in
funding, and to be able to provide an
adequate standard of education for
their students. UBC, for example, has
felt the weight of this burden over
the past seven years, having to
increase class size while decreasing
the number of educators in certain
faculties, and losing variety in subject
matter.

ECIAD will probably face
the same difficulties if posed with
the problem of not raising tuition.
And thus the students would suffer,
as a result, with loss of facility space,
accessibility to resources, and per-
sonal time with instructors. The reali-
ty is only too close, and a balance
must be created somewhere.

The situation Canada is in
does not allow for more spending.
We as Canadians have to take
responsibility for the state our coun-
try is in, and look forward to reduc-
ing our debt load. Too many have
been feeding from the trough of
kindliness, and the general public has
come to build a soft place in their
hearts for the accessibility of the
innumerable social programs that
have been instituted in the past.

Mismanagement and over-
spending on all levels, government
and public, has led this country into
a cumulative downward spiral which
has finally started to reveal its ugly
consequences in the nineties.
Increased tuition is a reality that may
be slowed temporarily, but not
stopped. Those individuals who can-
not afford this increase will have to
get of the couch and work harder for
their education. Those who really
want an education will find a way to
achieve their goal.

It is time for Canadians to
become economically responsible,
and accept their role in trying to
rebuild the country instead of sitting
back and whining about handouts
that we cannot afford.

As Canadians, we must set
aside the past and search for the
future, and open our eyes to the eco-
nomic problems that we are facing.

 S

Rena Del Pieve Gobbi
Femur =o 1996 | amy 5

TOUGH LOVE

vy JAM LaxwExr0N

Portrait of a Past Editor Students are up in arms all over the ‘The Canadian Federation of
country, Why? Students dreams of a Canada with

Reductions in transfer pay- full accessibility to post-secondary
‘ments by government to universities education through fee tution The
‘and colleges i the answer Students truth is that Canadian post-sec-

are possibly looking at tuition ‘ondary institutions, as well s the
Increases imposed by post-secondary general public, must accept the fact
‘administrators who will ry to bal- thatthe money simply isnot vail
‘ance out this oss in funding, able

Let's face facts. The money Universities and colleges

‘that has been doled out so generous- have to ais tuition to cover their
Iyin the past to support all the social operating costs and the reduction in

programs is dwindling as inflation funding, and tobe able to provide an
rates climb, and debt levels increase adequate standard of education for
both federally and provincial their students. UBC, fr example, has

Reduced payments to post-secondary felt the weight of this burden over

‘ducation ae only part of the prob> the past seven years, having to

lem, Welfare, Medicare, Old Age increase class size while decreasing

Pensions, and an increasing pile of the numberof educators in certain

other socal programs, are teetering faculties, and losing variety in subject
reform, or possible extine- matter

ECIAD will probably face
Getting back to education, the same difficulties if posed with
let look at the figures. In 1995/96, the problem of not raising tition.

{otal educational expenditures are And thus the students would suffer,
projected to reach $575 billion, a5 result, with loss of fality space,
Which isan increase of over half _accessiblity to resources, and per-

billion dolars from the previous year. sonal time with instructors. The reali-
‘Across the country, ths averages out tyis only too close, and a balance

to approximately 62% for elementary must be created somewhere.

‘and secondary, 27% for colleges and The situation Canada i in
Universities, and 11% for vocational doesnot allow for more spending.

BREAD. EAT BREAD SET eee oe ane oe ees Sin:

approximately $7.27 billion dollars. try sin, and look forward to reduc-

hia weir from local, provincial, and federal ing out debt load. Too many have
governments, 2s well as private been feeding from the trough of
sources Kindliness, and the general pubic has

‘few years ago, an associate et’ cal him that), wondered why I decided to
take the path of becoming an artist knowing that | would "probably never
make ends meet” (is words).

The three levels of govern- come to bulld a soft place in their
‘ment cover about 90% ofthis expen-_ hears forthe accessibility ofthe

Giture. OF this money, n BC, innumerable social programs that
In his estimation, his own profession of being a realtor was a more ‘elementary and secondary schools have been instituted in the past.
noble calna wil absor $4.42 lion, coleges Mismanagement and over
noo One tut, probably one ofthe few he ever spoke, stuck in my mind: ‘$06 bilion, universities $1.41 Billion, spending onal levels, goverment
‘Why, would you want to toss that handful of twenty dollar bills out the win- and vocational institutes $0.84 bil- ‘and public, has led this country into.
dow every month toa landlord you probably don't even ite? kept sein tis fon. 3 cumulative downward sia which
stream of bills - which | had busted my ass to earn - lat worthless out the Rene aie iene ay
window into nothing that ever really came back: BC has also risen almost a billion consequences in the nineties.

So you're an artist, and you need space to breathe, to think, to ges= Salis I the past ace eas 7,
tate, to create art babies, ‘cause you got the need.
(Okay, besides the true and sweet delusions of grandeur that you're

Increased tution isa reality that may
‘of which has accumulated over the be slowed temporarily, but not
ast two of these years. A surprising stopped. Those individuals who can-

witht and your work s gonna sl, and you're gona be famous, baby - how truths that B.C. hasbeen increasing not afford this increase will have to
ae you gonna make it san artist knowing the real costs volved and the its spending on education every year get ofthe couch and work harder for
‘iiculously high evel of Vancouver ents? forthe past thre year, relative to thee education. Thase who realy
Down in Strathcona, a group of artist have solved that wor fr all the other provinces want an education wil ind a way to
themselves the only way artist elstically ean; trough cooperative action, (On average state-funded achieve their goal
Deed Not ust thouoht. niverstes inthe US. have tuition Iris time for Canadians to
tm not talking about a yuppie studlo that Some ‘sin real-estate rate of about $4,274 Cdn This far become economically esposil,
agent developed (umped on because ofa recent City of Vancouver study that above the rate that any Canadian and accep thee ole in trying to
recognizes the need for aris’ spaces. 'm talking about a destiny that these university now charges; therefore, in rebuild the country instead of iting
arists worked for and made a reality reaton to our closest socil-eco- back and whining about handouts

The story goes like this. One of the members of Panneficio was GMRARGegMisaicaescconoe!. that we connot ard”

walking by this bakery as she had done every morning for about eight years. Healy Fomttnde Migr the is Conadkane we niet
She had this feling, the sort that is ver intuitive, that this bakery was the gf a EMIT TCR Ga fas aside the pest and search forte
Space that she would be part of someday. The group of artists who make up Tittle weight, ipa ene sins
Pannefico had been looking diligently fora studio to use, and perhaps to buy, nomic problems that we are facing.
in the Strathcona area. Ten minutes after a sign went up infront of this place, ~~
she phoned the realestate agent.

‘Apart ofthe backaround of ths story is that a couple of members
ofthe group had successfully bought asix-sulte two-story walup a few years
caries with five other tenant. Mind you, when they bought it they had zero
‘money and zero credit. But wit a lite help from their friends anda small
Joan from the bank they got $5000 together and succeeded in convincing the
‘bank of their good intentions.

‘The space were talking about here used tobe the Montreal Bakery
in the early Twenties. big Italian bread production centre. Thus the name of
the new studio, Panneficio, meaning “fine bread”

(ne of the members ofthe group a fine arts furniture maker, had
garnered a wealth of experience doing renovations. So agai, with a tle help
from fiends they tiled and sweated to tear down the old walls and build
wiat exists today: two lve-work spaces, and three working studios.

{Al this, mind you, with minimal incomes.

To dole out portions of the total mortgage obligation, the members
of Panneficio had a well-drafted agreement drawn up; and ofcourse the
agreement spells out what happens if someone decides to sell their stake. To
date nobody has wanted t-sell their stake

(ne of the most interesting things about thistle fs that many peo-
ple who were approached by the memibers of Pannefcio claimed they were
interested inthe scheme but did't manage to tae this interest further than
saying “Neat! Well if you fin a place give usa call”

To which the reaction ofthe Pannefcio people was: If someone is
not out there taking action, wanting to make this a reality, then forget about
them!”

What the Panneficio group succeeded in making a reality is testa-
iment to what artists can do together with alte faith vison, perseverance feral eve Gd
and alot of creativity. -®