BECOME A MEMBER OF THE DELTA ARTS COUNCIL TODAY. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP - APRIL 1ST TO MARCH 31ST.
If you join after January 1, your membership will extend until March 31st the following year.
SEND US AN E-MAIL WITH YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, E-MAIL AND WEBSITE; THEN PICK A PAYPAL BUTTON AND PAY ON-LINE. WE WILL THEN LINK YOUR SITE TO OURS; SEND US ANY SHOWS, SALES OR PUBLIC INFO AND WE WILL LIST IT ON OUR MEMBERS NEWS PAGE.
Family Membership - $40
Group Membership - $40
Business Membership - $50
Corporate Membership - $100
Supporting the Arts is Important
Supporting the Arts in Your Own Backyard is Extraordinary!
The Delta Arts Council has been an advocate for the arts since May 16th 1969.
It is our on-going goal to stimulate, develop, co-ordinate and promote all artistic and cultural activities within our community.
The Delta Arts Council welcomes amateur, emergent and professional artists; individuals & groups invested in the Arts: visual, performing and literary art events.
The DAC hosts annual Delta-wide events: artSpacific, artShots, Gallery in the Garden, and Arts Alive. We sponsor and work with community groups to present concerts, readings, plays and variety shows.
We're in your Neighbourhood!
Message From The Board of Directors and Dave Stevens, President
The Arts in Delta
When we look at the Arts in Delta it is important to see the context of the arts in Canada and British Columbia. At both these levels there is a recognition that the arts need to be supported and that the arts contribute to the overall economy and well being of the country and province.
Nationally:
The Conference Board estimates that the economic footprint of Canada’s culture sector was $84.6 billion in 2007, or 7.4 per cent of Canada’s total real GDP, including direct, indirect, and induced contributions. Culture sector employment exceeded 1.1 million jobs in 2007.
(Report by The Conference Board of Canada, 72 pages, July 2008)
http://www.conferenceboard.ca/documents.aspx?did=2671
Government of Canada Invests in Arts, Culture, and Heritage in Vancouver
VANCOUVER, March 19, 2011 - Youth, artists, festivals, and arts training organizations are thriving in Vancouver, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada. Support for a total of 40 projects was announced today by the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. Minister Moore made the announcement at the Vancouver Playhouse in downtown Vancouver alongside leaders of Vancouver's arts and cultural community.
"With Canada's economic recovery still fragile, we are focused on creating jobs and economic growth throughout British Columbia," said Minister Moore. Supporting Canadian culture means supporting Canada's economy. Arts and culture bring communities together and contribute to the economic strength of cities. We are proud to support our artists and arts organizations, because investing in the arts is central to strengthening communities in Vancouver and throughout British Columbia."
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=598289
Provincially:
Arts BC states:
“British Columbia’s arts and culture sector contributes significantly to economic strength and employment growth in this province, with the creative economy in British Columbia experiencing more growth than all other economic sectors. With cultural tourism becoming a key factor in this province’s economic profile, British Columbian’s are continuing to show their appreciation for cultural goods and services. BC consumer spending on the arts and culture per capita is 11% higher than the national average, greater than any other province except Alberta.
Government spending per capita on arts and culture in British Columbia is below average. At $14.2 million, the BC Arts Council has one of the lowest budgets of any provincial arts council in Canada. Provincial government funding in British Columbia from all sources makes up an average of 7% of the operating budgets of performing arts organizations. This is the lowest in Canada. The cost of increasing the BC Arts Council’s budget to $32 million would amount to barely more than 1% of the projected provincial surplus.
British Columbia has the highest growth rate of artists in the country. The number of artists grew by 47% in BC over the ten-year period between 1991 and 2001, compared to a 29% growth rate nationally and a 33% growth rate in Ontario, the province with the second highest growth rate. The overall labour force grew by 18% in BC over the same period.
British Columbians appreciate and value cultural goods and services. British Columbians spent $3.1 billion on cultural goods and services in 2003, 3.3% of total consumer spending. BC consumer spending on culture per capita is 11% higher than the national average, greater than any other province except Alberta. BC residents spend 67% more on live performing arts events than on live sports events.”
http://www.artsbc.com/story/artsfuture-bc/
Locally in Delta
The same principles as we see Nationally and Provincially also apply at the local level. An example would be the city of Chemanus where the murals that adorn the sides of building all through the downtown area have become a huge tourist draw.
There are groups of volunteers that are running arts and culture venues in all three areas of Delta, but there is limited support from the Corporation of Delta. Parks, Recreation and Culture are under one Commission but the distribution of funds is skewed towards Parks and Recreation. According to their own figures $16 million of their overall budget goes to Parks and Recreation, while $1.6 million goes to Culture.
The Municipality does provide facilities to recreation, arts and culture groups at the same rental/lease rate for all groups, which is perceived as being equitable to everyone. This plus introductory programs offered through Parks, Recreation and Culture seem to be the limit for the Corporations support for the arts.
*We have no arts center where visual and performing arts in Delta can be showcased.
*There is little or no leadership to elevating and supporting the arts in Delta, and there is no vision for how the arts can contribute to the community.
*The corporation offers classes, usually described as targeted towards beginners, in different areas of the arts. Beyond these programs there is a need for other activities and venues for visual and performing artists to show case their talents or to develop them more.
*There is no funding or process for providing grants to groups within the arts or to promoting the arts among young people.
A society that values the arts sees the importance of supporting it with leadership and funding. There is a recognition that an investment in the arts will benefit socially and financially.
A society that does not value the arts only considers it’s funding after everything else is covered, and it is quick to cut its support if things change. This society does not provide leadership and vision for how the arts can grow.
What can Delta Do to Support the Arts?
* Set up a separate “Arts and Culture Commission” with staff, funding and a realistic budget.
* Provide an “Arts Center” for Delta.
* Seek ways to make Delta an “Arts and Culture” attraction for the people in the community and from elsewhere.
- How many residence of Delta spend their time and money in other communities because Delta does not provide the venues they seek?
- Provide an infrastructure for business and the Arts to develop unique and creative ways of offering the arts to the community. (Harrison and White Rock have sand sculpture festivals, Vancouver has sculptures placed at various sites around the city, Surrey has the music festival and the International writers conference…)
* Help volunteer based, not-for-profit groups provide support to members and to new artists. Grants and scholarships should be a goal for this.
* If the Corporation cannot commit staff to these goals provide financial support to not-for-profit organizations that will. Reinstate fee-for-service funding similar to what was contained in the 2007 agreement with the Delta Arts Council with groups that can serve the citizens of Delta.
It is time for the Corporation of Delta to better serve the citizens of Delta in the areas of Arts and Culture. We are a diverse and growing population with many diverse forms of expression. These need to be celebrated.
Yours truly,
Dave Stevens, President of the Delta Arts Council
With the Board of Directors for the Delta Arts Council.
Delta Arts Council Constitution:
Article 1: Name: The name of the Society is the "Delta Arts Council" and accordingly wherever the expression "Council" is used, it shall be deemed to mean the Delta Arts Council.
Article 2: Purposes: a) To help coordinate the work and programs of cultural groups in Delta. b) To stimulate and encourage the development of cultural projects and activities in Delta. c) To render service to the community, artists, individual and family members and to all member groups. d) To enhance the profile of Delta artists. e) To act as a resource centre and as a clearing house for information on cultural projects and activities. f) To bring to the attention of all levels of government the needs and concerns of the Council. g) To continue to advocate for equity in funding a balanced portion of the Municipal Budget allocation for the arts. h) To continue to network with the Regional and Provincial Arts Councils. i) To foster interest and pride in the cultural heritage of Delta. j) To repositiion the arts and artistic activity at the centre of community life. k) To recognize the value of all cultures within the broader context of Canadian culture.
Article 3: Dissolution: Upon winding up or dissolution fo the Council, any funds or assets remaining after the satisfaction of its debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred over to the Corporation of Delta to be used to further the purposes contained in this constitution. This provision is unalterable.
2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE
Rita Chaplinsky, President
Janet Law, Vice-President
Dave Stevens, Secretary, Past President
Evelyn Wedley, Treasurer
DIRECTORS
Wayne Turner
Karen Brey
Carla Weaver
2012 STAFF
Lara West