Comments on: Webcast – National Summit on Arts Journalism http://www.belfry.bc.ca/news/webcast-national-summit-on-arts-journalism/ A Great Place to See Great Theatre Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:28:27 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: John Carswell http://www.belfry.bc.ca/news/webcast-national-summit-on-arts-journalism/comment-page-1/#comment-59 John Carswell Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:58:04 +0000 http://www.belfry.bc.ca/?p=587#comment-59 Here in BC, Canada our government has recently cut arts funding over the next 2 years by 90%. Yes - that's nine zero. Arts organizations are already withering and dying. At the same time, our traditional media outlets are in desperate financial trouble and staff levels have been drastically reduced. One of 2 local TV stations in BC's capital city of Victoria was slated for closure in September and rescued at the last minute by it's staff and a handful of investors. As a result, arts coverage is nearly non-existent. And as we all know, less arts coverage = less arts support: we find ourselves in a deadly vortex. It is imperative that we explore ways in which we can revive and redesign arts journalism, as this is key to the very survival of our arts community. This summit could not have been more timely - thanks for offering a glimmer of hope by shining a light on some very innovative ideas. Here in BC, Canada our government has recently cut arts funding over the next 2 years by 90%. Yes – that’s nine zero. Arts organizations are already withering and dying. At the same time, our traditional media outlets are in desperate financial trouble and staff levels have been drastically reduced.

One of 2 local TV stations in BC’s capital city of Victoria was slated for closure in September and rescued at the last minute by it’s staff and a handful of investors. As a result, arts coverage is nearly non-existent. And as we all know, less arts coverage = less arts support: we find ourselves in a deadly vortex.

It is imperative that we explore ways in which we can revive and redesign arts journalism, as this is key to the very survival of our arts community. This summit could not have been more timely – thanks for offering a glimmer of hope by shining a light on some very innovative ideas.

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