Comments on: Billboard tax: yes. Arts funding: maybe.

By: Michael Wheeler

Michael Wheeler — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:29:35 +0000

And an editorial by Sun Media that is also comfortable using openly hostile language towards artists on this topic.

http://www.torontosun.com/comment/editorial/2009/12/10/12103966-sun.html

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:53:47 +0000

Official beautifulcity.ca statement on the vote here:

http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001rj64Pj8NTf4NHDF4yKln5Rc5DuYrWUKTJbMDXuVnEkcRW9o0Wh5Tu17ssTDup4SNBEN376lw655c_R4RzdSRA6sxqt-Sl55hrSeaaEKlinjeimlt3TxJw6W3t3gwETYC

By: michael wheeler

michael wheeler — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:29:08 +0000

If you want to know exactly how this all went down from the inside, Spacing published a fairly comprehensive report today here:

http://spacing.ca/wire/2009/12/08/billboard-tax-what-really-happened-to-arts-funding/

By: michael wheeler

michael wheeler — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:13:29 +0000

Thanks Zoe, it’s rewarding to read that.

Given the way the massive arts cuts have been justified in B.C., where they put forth the false dichotomy of funding arts or feeding the homeless, I think’s more important than ever that these divide and conquer tactics don’t stick. You can’t cherry pick which of these you would like to support. Either you are committed to a healthy well-rounded society or a bleak corporatist wasteland. Lets put these two options to the public.

I think it is an interesting sidenote that nowhere in this post or the comments has anyone been forced to resort to relating the value artists bring to society to their impact on real estate prices and all sorts of nonsensical Richard Florida jargon that often dominates discussion of creativity and government.

By: zoe

zoe — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:38:28 +0000

Michael,
your post helped me to feel more positive about the results of this. Your list of other things that make the city beautiful calmed me down when I realized – hey! I’m an artist and I like those things too. It would have been great to have earmarked funds, but (hopefully)some of these other important issues will be aided. At the same time, comments by Ford make my blood boil. I’m not always good at taking the high road as you suggest, but your post is well written and thought out and helped to calm me down!

By: michael wheeler

michael wheeler — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:07:21 +0000

I also can’t resist (re)posting from the day of the vote the “most-liked” Facebook status that any of my friends not named Barack Obama has ever posted:

Dave Meslin stepped onto an elevator full of outdoor advertising lobbyists and execs, moments after we beat them at City Hall. They knew who I was and we all stood there, silently and awkardly, as the elevator took us to the lobby. They were thinking “you little shits”. I was thinking “You lost. There is hope for this city.”

Makes me a little misty-eyed Dave.

By: michael wheeler

michael wheeler — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:54:36 +0000

Me too. There are several other less vocal councillors that share his perspective and have even more precarious seats…In general I think the more negative consequences for that sort of behaviour the better. The only reason why it even happens is because the incumbency rate for city councillors is incredibly high.

By: matt

matt — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:11:18 +0000

I’d like to see an artist run for Ford’s seat in the next election. And win.