In a province that prides itself on fiscal restraint, one of the easiest targets has been the arts. It is simple to see why: Given a choice between investments in culture or social housing, it’s usually no contest.
The problem is that from an economic perspective, it is a big mistake. Beyond the usual multipliers that indicate that for every $1 million invested in the arts, there is a $1.1-million return, there is the case that British Columbia needs as diverse an economy as it can build. As cities compete for talent in the new economy, it is access to the arts that is attracting the best talent and the smartest professionals.
Governments across Canada have recognized this, and have made strategic investments in building their cultural infrastructure. Sadly, British Columbia has been lagging and will suffer the economic consequences.
In late 1989, the board of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria was considering a move to a more central location in the capital region. It was the start of what would become a preoccupation to put the gallery into a bright, shiny new building in a central location of the provincial capital.
A steady stream of developers, real-estate agents and well-meaning citizens approached the gallery for the next 20 years with a variety of schemes and proposals to relocate the AGGV. Some were obviously not going to work, but several of them looked good enough for the gallery to invest in consultants’ reports and feasibility studies.
It became increasingly clear, particularly after the financial meltdown of 2008, that there were not the available funds nor the political will for this to happen. A new home for the gallery came very close on a number of occasions — federal money would be committed, however the anticipated matching provincial funds never materialized.
The government of Canada has programs to assist with maintenance or expansion in the cultural sector, most other provinces have matching programs that can be used to leverage these federal funds and they all take advantage of them.
In British Columbia, there is no program, and cultural organizations must make appeals directly to the government and take their chances against the distribution of funding that is based more on politics than need. The result has been millions of federal dollars being left on the table and the health of our cultural organizations being left in a precarious position.
The funding problem is worse in Victoria than for any other district in the province. The region has a population of more than 320,000, and 93 per cent of people make use of the arts facilities annually. Most of the capital region’s larger arts organizations are situated in the city of Victoria, which does not have the economic base to support them — there is too much demand for the available capacity.
And it’s not much different for the Vancouver Art Gallery. Although the provincial government gave it $50 million, it is still far away from its capital-campaign goal of $350 million.
The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s expansion project is modest in scale and fiscally sustainable. Our request to the provincial government is for $7 million, to be matched equally by the federal government and our own fundraising efforts. As we near our capital-campaign goal, several donors have made contributions that, like the federal government’s, are contingent on the contribution of the province of British Columbia.
In addition to works of art by Victoria and B.C.’s most acclaimed artists, the AGGV has an important collection of Asian art that has been acquired over the past 35 years from around the Pacific Rim. It is the second finest collection of its type in Canada, and recognized around the world for its quality and scope. It is palpable evidence of the AGGV’s importance to the cultural fabric of Victoria, the province of British Columbia and the Asia Pacific community.
We have to stop thinking about the arts as a luxury for the few. They are enjoyed by everyone. Art and culture enhance every part of our lives. They bring us happiness and help us to make sense of our and others’ experiences, and build empathy and tolerance.
We must support our creative infrastructure, such as a renewed art gallery, to build our economy, enhance our education and strengthen our communities’ health and well-being.
Jon Tupper is director of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
