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NO CASH BuSkerS Festival shut out of B.C. arts grants Daniel Palmer News staff
An annual arts festival expected to attract up to 200,000 people to downtown Victoria won’t be receiving provincial funding this year, leaving its organizer with some difficult cost-cutting decisions. The free Victoria International Buskers Festival takes place July 19 to 28, featuring actors, musicians, dancers and acrobats on outdoor stages on Government and Langley streets. Organizer John Vickers said he was rejected for B.C. Arts Council and B.C. community gaming grants, despite receiving $20,000 from the province in 2012. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow when you feel you’re doing this for a better downtown, and during the festival itself we really don’t make a lot of revenue,” Vickers said. “I’m looking at cutting back on portable washrooms and seating, for starters.” Last year, the festival created $3 million in direct and indirect spending in the Capital Region, prompting the Capital Regional District and City of Victoria to renew $16,500 in grants for this year’s event. Heritage Canada is also providing a $20,000 grant. But Vickers said even with
strong corporate sponsors, the public funding isn’t enough. “Our annual budget is around $165,000 and we are busy throughout the year. I don’t get (the City of Victoria grant) until the month of the festival … it’s just a struggle,” he said. Last December, Victoria city council approved $156,000 in festival grants, but any increase in funding would need to be a regional discussion, said Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin. “Does every community have a small Canada Day festival, for example, or does everyone contribute to the $200,000 to $300,000 festival that happens in the downtown core? It’s recognizing that these events promote the region,” Fortin said. The B.C. government benefited from the buskers festival last year to the tune of $79,000 in tax revenue, according to an Economic Planning Group report. Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Carole James said she’s surprised the province hasn’t stepped up to fund a festival that has proven itself as an economic driver. “It’s very short sighted to not approve this grant, particularly when you’re a month and a half away from the festival,” James said. The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development is providing $16.8 million in arts grants this year through the B.C. Arts Council. dpalmer@vicnews.com
Don Denton/News staff
John Vickers on Government Street, a major venue of the Victoria International Buskers Festival. Funding woes have forced the festival to consider last-minute changes.
Capital Region approves funding, but more needed Daniel Palmer News staff
The CRD is providing a $7,000 grant for the International Buskers Festival, but organizer John Vickers said his society doesn’t qualify for a portion of the much more stable $2 million allotted by the CRD in annual operating grants. “Operating grants tend to be for larger orga-
nizations doing year-round programming,” said James Lam, the CRD’s arts development program manager. But there are exceptions. The Victoria Jazz Society and Victoria Film Festival receive operating grants of $54,000 and $30,000 respectively. Lam said Vickers has never submitted an application for an operating grant. dpalmer@vicnews.com
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