Last week I attended Caleb and Jeff Moss’s release party for their new CD, The Woodshop Sessions.

As I waited for the show to begin, I chatted with other audience members about how great it was to have an event like the poetry reading in our community. Many people that came to the release party had also attended an art exhibit opening earlier at the AGOG. I chatted with one resident about how great it was to have an evening where one could attend an art show and then a poetry reading in the same night. We talked about how amazing Golden’s arts and culture scene really is and how there are so many talented people and so many people that are interested in promoting that.

As Caleb Moss took the stage, he took a moment to reflect on funding cuts to the arts community and how that affects everyone involved. What really resonated in my mind was when he spoke of how artists, who may have struggled before, now have to “squeeze through the cracks” to bring their talent to their communities.

At the end of the summer, the announcements came that gaming grants would be cut; there would be severe cuts to arts funding in September’s provincial budget (with projections showing no money for arts council grants next year, only operating funds); and the elimination last month of funding for three publishing bodies as well as Music BC.

It seems that though Minister Kevin Falcon has been quoted as saying that he is unhappy about the situation, that the arts were definitely low on the province’s list of priorities.

In Golden, Kicking Horse Culture has launched a public awareness campaign that uses feedback from the public. You can check it out on their website. KHC is inviting audience members to have their photo taken with a sign that identifies them and reads: “The cuts hurt me and my community.” Executive Director Bill Usher has created an on-line slide show, and he’s urging other arts councils to do the same.

As stated on their website, the campaign puts a human face on these cuts to arts, social services, health and sports and rec groups all over the province.

Like all arts organizations around the province, Kicking Horse Culture is facing a 40 per cent to 100 per cent cut on their provincial funding. How then can they continue with their amazing service to our community?

I think that it is important to realize that public funding offers society access to art and artists. That is something that is important to health and happiness of a community.

Hopefully, the efforts of KHC catch on in B.C. and convince the province to re-evaluate their priorities.

Maybe some of the MLAs and cabinet ministers could give back their high priced (taxpayer financed) Olympic tickets so that money could be put back into the provincial budget.