The Bowen Island Arts Council is looking forward to 2010 with a  mix of hope and optimism. Last year arts groups weathered a grim economic environment that took its toll on arts spending coupled with severe cuts to funding. Today, we are still threatened by the potential of a loss of up to 90% of funding from the BC government over the next few years. The economic, social, health and educational benefits to our communities created by investing in arts and culture are well documented and supported. Fortunately, in our community, the Bowen Island Municipality recognizes the benefits of arts and culture. We are grateful for their continued support. 
   
Our optimism is sparked because the provincial government's own Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services has recommended the reinstatement of provincial arts funding in British Columbia to last year’s levels, and the cancellation of further decreases in investment. BIAC joins the Alliance for the Arts, Assembly of BC Arts Council, the Metro Vancouver Board and hundreds of other organizations province-wide in sending a message to Premier Campbell to heed this recommendation. We are specifically asking the provincial government to:

• Maintain the British Columbia Arts Council's arms-length relationship with the Province, by funding it through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts;
• Return the gaming grants budget to arts and culture to 2008-2009 levels;
• Restore the one-year funding commitments to arts and culture organizations through the Gaming and
  Policy Enforcement Branch at the Ministry of Housing and Social Development that were rescinded
  this year;
• Maintain the multi-year funding program beyond the current three-year commitments;
• Using legislated appropriations, return the BC Arts Council grants budget to 2008/09 levels;
• Seek mitigation for the anticipated impacts of the HST on the cultural and social profit sectors.

In the long-term, we are also requesting that the government:

• Makes a clear and unambiguous public commitment to the arts and culture sector through developing a coherent policy, taking such funding out of the category of discretionary funding and aiming to increase the investment in the sector in the future;
• Designate a $40 million legislative appropriation for BC Arts Council.

You too can help remind the government that culture matters! Check out Creativity Counts. To become more familiar with background on the cuts, visit the Alliance and read their letter to Premier Campbell. Watch Restore Arts Funding Now on youtube. Express yourself and speak out about arts cuts. Let our voices be heard in support of buiding creative communities.

Coming Soon

 

Martyn Joseph performs at
Cates Hill Chapel
Sunday, January 24

7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25.00 at Phoenix

Welsh singer/songwriter. Powerful lyrics; great stage presence and charisma. Check him out on the web, but see him on Bowen!







 

 

CAIRO TIME, Canada, 2009, 90 minutes
Saturday, January 30; Film rolls at 7:30 p.m.
      
Ruba Nadda’s cinematic sensibility is showcased in her newest film, which takes us to the exotic capital of Egypt and flows like a distant dream. Patricia Clarkson (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) is radiant as the heart and soul of the film, evocatively rendering a middle-aged woman’s search for herself when her children have just left the nest. Despite the sense of emotional isolation, Cairo Time is able to welcome new beginnings and offer a possible way forward.


". . . a superbly directed lyrical waltz of longing and desire across disparate worlds, with exquisite performances by Patricia Clarkson, Tom McCamus and Alexander Siddig."
–TIFF Jury, in making the selection of Cairo Time  for Best Canadian Feature Film

View the trailer, or learn more about the making of CAIRO TIME.




The Spirit of Bowen Committee is pleased to announce a series of local events and festivities, held in conjunction with the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in February. Sing a made-on-Bowen tune -- Back to the Island Again, by singer/songwriter Lorne Warr; come to the unveiling of the new mural on the cement wall in Snug Cove; warm up by the bonfire at Winterfest; join the parade to coincide with the Torch Relay on Bowen; have some fun at the No Snow Games; join friends and neighbours to cheer on athletes during the Games. To find out dates and locations of these activities, visit the Spirit website and check local media for updates. Let's let our Bowen Spirit shine!

Artful Pursuits

is currently closed for renovations. It will reopen on Friday, February 5, with the presentation of the Youth Olympic Poster show. The first exhibit of 2010 features the work of local students, expressing visually their impressions of true Olympic spirit. The show runs until February 21. A reception will be held at the Gallery on Sunday, February 7 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

The Gallery is available for rental. To inquire, please call 604-947-2454 and leave a message, or email gallery@biac.ca.

Art Instruction @ the Gallery

To register for the following programs, please contact Community Recreation at the Bowen Island School, 1041 Mt. Gardner Rd. 604-947-2216.

Oil painting classes with Stuart Slind
The class will focus on the basics of building a painting from concept to finish with no restriction on subject matter, i.e., students can work on figure landscape or still life.

Tuesdays Feb 9-Mar
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m

5 sessions; Cost: $175 plus tax

Introduction to Watercolour with Bill Hoopes
Learn the basic materials and techniques involved in the creation of watercolour paintings. Explore, through a series of exercises, the nature of the medium and the exciting effects that can be accomplished using transparent watercolour.

Mondays Mar 1–Apr 5
10 a.m. to 12 noon

6 sessions; Cost $135. plus tax

Concept, Composition and Colour: Intermediate painting with Marilyn Lemon Fine tune your painting skills in acrylic or old dealing with big issues -- What is my intention? What is good painting? and smaller issues -- colour, composition, idea development, implication of depth and volume.

Thursdays Mar 18-Apr 15
10 a.m.-1 p.m.

5 sessions; Cost $150 plus tax



Organizations such as the Bowen Island Arts Council rely on the support of many who value the arts and who are willing to show their support in concrete ways. BIAC is always grateful for the help of its volunteers and donors who have, and continue to support the arts. 

This week we wish to thank some people who have stepped forward to help BIAC assist Bowen artists, galleries and studios gain a more public profile, contributing to a publicity initiative. The Arts Council would like to thank Richard Underhill,  Don Ho and Edwin Lee of The Cape on Bowen Community Development Limited, Cindy Ho, the Bowen Building Centre and Shannon Rondeau for their generous donation and kind assistance.





Paintings by Mary Farris from her exhibit ARTANTARCTICA are on view at the Bowen Island Public Library from now until March 13. To check Library Hours, visit their website.






If you or your organization would like to have your event, activity or arts related program listed in our weekly update, please contact Jacqueline at the Bowen Island Arts Council via email or telephone at 604-947-2454.

Box 211, Bowen Island, BC

604-947-2454

E-mail: admin@biac.ca