photo c.1910's 1996 Comparative Per Capita Level of Cultural Investment by Regional Municipalejection ? by Demian Petryshyn The Artist Run Centre (ARC) community in this city is a marvel. There are at least nine ARCs, putting on an average of eight shows a year featuring the work of a variety of cultural practitioners using a diversity of media and ideas. ARCs provide a forum for creative development not possible in the com- mercial system (Dian Farris, Monte Clark etc.) and not accessible in the public gallery system (Vancouver Art Gallery and Contemporary Art Gallery).These galleries provide their community and the public the means to understand and expand culture free from constraints of con- sumerism. Because of this, ARCs have traditionally done a great deal with very little money. They depend on the support of the community at large and the government. Federal, provincial and municipal funding levels are critical to the viability of our Artist Run Centres. | am currently working for the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centers, as an Awareness Advocate during the municipal election. While researching the city's relationship to our ARCs, it has become clear to me that the civic government of Vancouver provides very little financial support. The numbers look especially small if you consider how much it costs to run an ARC and how much other Canadian cities invest in culture. Vancouver ARCs receive a maximum of $8,000 a year, from the municipality, in operational funding. Considering the artist fees for eight shows alone would be over $8,000, this does not leave much for other opera- tional expenses such as rent, administration and promotion (or cleaning up after a ketchup baccha- nal). Governments in Selected Regional Urban Centres Per capita spending 4996 Level of Cultural Investment by Regional Governments in Selected Regional Urban Centres 9,000,000 8,000,000 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 Total spending on culture GYRD. Ottawa- King Co, Metra: Montreal Carlton US$) Toronto (Cum) | © Population @ Total spending S Source: Derived from DeFalco, 1996 The Greater Vancouver Regional District invests thirteen cents per capita in culture; Montreal invests nearly five dollars. Not only is the amount this city spends on culture small, ARCs seem not to be recognized by the city, as significant contributors to culture. In 1997 the Arts Club theatre received $68,000 in operational funds and the Or gallery received $8,000. In 1997, Ballet BC receive $80,000 for operations and the Vancouver Symphony Society $552,650 for rent while Artspeak received $8000 for opera- tions and Access got nothing. | should be clear that the problem is not how these funds are allo- cated between the various arts organizations but simply that the funding is insufficient. This mea-- ger funding makes the near impossible task of running an ARC even tougher. This issue, however, is not solely of interest to the staff and volunteers that run our ARCs. Students at ECIAD also have a stake in the vitality of the ARC community. ARCs provide a forum for cultural practitioners that do not fit into the commercial gallery system or do not have the status to enter the public gallery system. Stan Douglas, Judy Radul, Rodney Graham, Jeff Wall, Mfanway MacLeod, Corry Wyngaarden and Damian Moppet are among the many artists that got their first shows in Vancouver ARCs. ARCs provide students with an entry point into the pro- fessional art world, and they take this responsibility very seriously. Take, for example, Access Gallery, which has given a number of artists their first pro- fessional show. They made it a priority to spend their first influx of federal grants to pay artists fees and only after $4.78 that did they consider setting up one part-time paid posi- $5.00 tion. Without the integrity of the ARC community many $4.50 emerging artists will never emerge. $4.00 More municipal funding for ARCs is an issue that can be $3.50 $2.95 raised now. The Vancouver municipal election on $3.00 November 20th generates a situation where potential City $2.50 - Council representatives are listening more than they would usually be. The best forum for having your voice heard is to $2.00 attend the upcoming all candidates meetings. These meet- $1.50 $1.22 ings provide you with the opportunity to ask the candidates $1.00 if they are addressing the issues which concern you. Even if you are not a Vancouver resident, you can let the people $0.50 si running this city's government know what your concerns $- ERE : i are. GYRD Ottawa King County Montreal Carleton Toronto Seattlel in Urban i? e photo c.1910's by Demian Petryshyn The Artist Run Centre (ARC) community in this city is a marvel. There are at least nine ARCs, putting on an average of eight shows a year featuring the work of a variety of cultural practitioners using a diversity of media and ideas. ARCs provide a forum for creative development not possible in the com- mercial system (Dian Farris, Monte Clark etc.) and not accessible in the public gallery system (Vancouver Art Gallery and Contemporary Art Gallery).These galleries provide their community and the public the means to understand and expand culture free from constraints of con- sumerism. Because of this, ARCs have traditionally done a great deal with very little money. They depend on the support of the community at large and the government. Federal, provincial and municipal funding levels are critical to the viability of our Artist Run Centres. | am currently working for the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centers, as an Awareness Advocate during the municipal election. While researching the city's relationship to our ARCs, it has become clear to me that the civic government of Vancouver provides very little financial support. The numbers look especially small if you consider how much it costs to run an ARC and how much other Canadian cities invest in culture. Vancouver ARCs receive a maximum of $8,000 a year, from the municipality, in operational funding. Considering the artist fees for eight shows alone would be over $8,000, this does not leave much for other opera- tional expenses such as rent, administration and promotion (or cleaning up after a ketchup baccha- nal). 1996 Comparative Per Capita Level of Cultural Investment by Regional Governments in Selected Regional Urban Centres Municipalgjection ? 1996 Level of Cultural Investment by Regional Governments in Selected Regional Urban Centres 9.000.000 600.000 7,000,000 000,000, 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,900,000 2,900,000 |oon.000 a = ‘GYRD Total spending on culture io eae Kieg Co. Metro Carton (ss) Tererto Population Total spending The Greater Vancouver Regional District invests thirteen cents per capita in culture; Montreal invests nearly five dollars. Not only is the amount this city spends on culture small, ARCs seem not to be recognized by the city, as significant contributors to culture. In 1997 the Arts Club theatre received $68,000 in operational funds and the Or gallery received $8,000. In 1997, Ballet BC receive $80,000 for operations and the Vancouver Symphony Society $552,650 for rent while Artspeak received $8000 for opera- tions and Access got nothing. | should be clear that the problem is not how these funds are allo- cated between the various arts organizations but simply that the funding is insufficient. This mea- ger funding makes the near impossible task of running an ARC even tougher. Morea (eum Source: Derived from DeFalco, 1996 This issue, however, is not solely of interest to the staff and volunteers that run our ARCs. Students at ECIAD also have a stake in the vitality of the ARC community. ARCs provide a forum for cultural practitioners that do not fit into the commercial gallery system or do not have the status to enter the public gallery system. Stan Douglas, Judy Radul, Rodney Graham, Jeff Wall, ‘Mfanway Macleod, Corry Wyngaarden and Damian Moppet are among the many artists that {got their first shows in Vancouver ARCs. ARCs provide students with an entry point into the pro- fessional art world, and they take this responsibility very seriously. Take, for example, Access Gallery, which has given a number of artists their first pro- fessional show. They made it a priority to spend their first influx of federal grants to pay artists fees and only after $478 that did they consider setting up one part-time paid posi- $5.00 tion. Without the integrity of the ARC community many $450 emerging artists will never emerge. $4.00 ra $27 ‘More municipal funding for ARCs is an issue that can be see 5 raised now. The Vancouver municipal election on § 304 November 20th generates a situation where potential City San Council representatives are listening more than they would & usually be. The best forum for having your voice heard is to 8 $200, attend the upcoming all candidates meetings. These meet- & $150 $10 ings provide you with the opportunity to ask the candidates 78 if they are addressing the issues which concern you. Even if ao you are not a Vancouver resident, you can let the people $050 running this city's government know what your concerns % — are. oveD Ouawe Metro: King County Montreal Carkton Toronto ‘Seattin Urtan 11_@