It wasn’t that long ago –– three years to be exact –– that arts groups throughout B.C. were celebrating the Winter Olympics, and more specifically, an infusion of cash from the Legacies 2010/Arts Now fund.

It was all rah-rah when it was announced that 69 community arts groups, would receive up to $800,000 in funding to “increase capacity in the arts and further engage British Columbians in cultural activities.”

Former arts minister Olga Ilich claimed, “These grants will help ensure every region of the province benefits from the cultural opportunities resulting from hosting the games.”

The Liberals’ memories are awfully short.

In August, the government dropped a bombshell that has all B.C. arts and culture groups crying foul. You’d cry too if you discovered your funding is about to be cut by 50 per cent this fiscal year, and by 92 per cent for 2010–11.

That’s $47.8 million in 2008 down to $3.75 million next year. Ouch.

Meanwhile, our MLAs and their friends are stuffing $1 million worth of tickets to some of the Winter Games’ prime events into their pockets –– with our money, no less.

There seems to be some disparity going on here. This is wildly evident in the cultural community. The government is basically saying, we’ll boost you up to make ourselves look good for two weeks, but after that, you’re on your own, kids.

The government is pulling out all the stops to ensure there is a spectacular party to show off one little segment of B.C. to the world.

The government should look at the gross domestic product music and the arts create, and look beyond the Olympics. The province’s arts and culture sector employs more than 78,000 people and contributes more than $5 billion each year to the B.C. economy –– that’s more than can be said for what kind of money these Games will create for future generations.

—Vernon Morning Star

(Black Press)