I really have mixed feelings about public funding of the arts. Part of that stems not from the concept but from what I can only describe as bureaucratic sillyness. For example, a number of municipalities have requirements that X percent of construction of public buildings must be used for “art”. This has led to the production of some pieces that I consider to be a) grossly overpriced and b) excrement being inflicted on the public. At the same time, it can be very difficult for good artists in almost every medium to get funding for their work (even if I don’t, personally, like it ).

Personally, I would like to see more public funding for publicly oriented arts production – community choirs, local art shows, competitions, etc. I would also like to see more money going towards operating grants for all levels from local, community groups to professional groups (i.e. professional quality, but not income). I think it would also be very useful to put money towards training of people in the arts in business management issues and other forms of professional development.

I live in British Columbia. In a few days the 2010 Winter Games will open in Vancouver. The Games, and the expense associated with them, have proven to be an issue of great controversy in this province. The budget for the Cultural Olympiad, recently cut by 20% from $25 million to $20 million due to the Organizing Committee’s cost overruns in other areas, forms about eight-tenths of one percent of the estimated cost of $2.5 billion for the entire Games (including almost a billion dollars for security alone). It’s a small amount, very near zero. But people seemed to be happy about it, not only because it’s allowing the display of a great deal of talent and creativity, but also because it could just as easily have been exactly zero.

Last year, the British Columbia arts and culture sector received about $47 million per year in funding from the provincial government. This is about one-twentieth of one percent of the entire provincial budget, almost the least arts funding of any Canadian province. But the government has announced that this $47 million will be reduced to about $2.65 million by 2012. This is almost a 95% cut.

No other province has cut arts funding during this recession. Many provinces have actually increased funding, because they understand the compelling social and economic arguments for it. But after the Cultural Olympiad is over, there will be very little left in the cupboard for British Columbian art and artists.