Artistic Endeavors - Grants, public funding and your own business

This is the time of the year that most private run venues or organizations draw up their fiscal year and apply for a government funded grant. Now most of us know that for the last 10 years or so, the government has severely cut grants from Arts programs of any kind. And that alone is disturbing. So in these troubled times, venues and organizations are constantly dependent on the general public for donations, which can be used as a tax write off regardless of how much income you make, and also they turn to sponsorships as well. The Vancouver East Cultural Center is dependent upon both avenues. The Coastal Jazz and Blues does as well. This is pretty much the only avenues that they depend on for financial income, which in turn, is either spent on advertising, paying staff, drawing talent from a global diversity and paying them for their time and performances and with what is left is a profit for that organization or venue. Which by today's standards is not much of a profit, if there is a profit. Most times there is no profit and the banks they deal with are left to deal with a continuing debt.

A few years ago, I was told that a Credit Union here in Vancouver was having a competition of sorts and would give a grant in the total of $1 million dollars to the "winner". Well, this competition is getting to be legendary in these parts, as this grant has gone to the same place from this Credit Union since 2003. Not that this particular place should not receive this, it just looks a bit strange, and in the spirit of the Arts, it should be spread out evenly every year. I find this pattern a bit disturbing on the part of the Credit Union. Have they signed a deal with this particular venue/organization? And if so, why are they not informing the general public? It is the general public who donates money, spends additional money on going to the events and spreads the word to their friends about what a great show or place they attended, which is free advertising. I think they deserve more than just what they get, which is good entertainment, but at what cost?

Why are private deals made, not only in the Arts, but in other areas, which is kept from the public? Does the government fear the power of the people as a whole? You bet they do! If we were to demand as a large, strong group of people, and not back down, things would become clear and we would see what they've been hiding from us. The government deems that the Arts are not as important as say Athletes, who advertise for the country they come from because they are paid a sum of money and sponsored by the government, and are basically only in it for self gratification, fame and money through promoting designer labels/shoes. I think Artists of any kind deserve the same recognition that athletes do. We are all people who have different talents and should not be treated differently because we have different talents. Artists also have some morales as well because I would not advertise for any country and would not accept any form of payment for what I choose to do. I would also not want to advertise for fashion or designer labels, not even for the paints, pencils, brushes and cameras I use. Why would I do this? Because it is not a reality. The government would never sponsor an Artist when they have Athletes. I am only using Athletes as this is a reality and the governments do do this.

I myself am a Visual Artist (painting, photography, comics) but I also am a Literature Artist (poetry) and a Musical Artist. I decided 5 years ago to open my own business, and found that the government was unwilling at that time to grant me any funds to start my own business because I was not "bankable". In other words, they could not see a future for me as an artist because I would not make enough money. Period. I was very shocked but not discouraged about this revelation I had about our wonderful government and decided that I would get my business registered with the government. I contacted my networks, and met tons of people to get jobs so that I could register my business. I also took a job part time in a hospital making good money to prove to the government that I was serious about my talent and could run a business with my talents. In the past 6 months, I have worked as a photographer for VFest at Thunderbird Stadium, taking many photos of the bands there that day, and had some of my photos from that show published in Vancouver, Toronto, London UK and in magazines in other countries. The government took notice. And finally, I was allowed to register. But only after I could prove that I was viable.

This is the sad state of what the governments think of Artists in general. And I for one am appalled that they can do this to citizens who were born and raised here. We should be the government, and dictate to them what they can and cannot do. This was the reason democracy and freedom were based into a governmental body to work for the people of that country. It certainly is not that way anymore. Governments look out only for themselves and for money to feed the monster it has become.

Jade
Vancouver BC
September 2007