2015/16 BC ARTS COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT TERRITORY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The BC Arts Council acknowledges it carries out its work on the traditional territories of indigenous nations throughout British Columbia. We pay our respects to the Elders, past and present, descendants and custodians of these lands. We honour the knowledge keepers and the continuing relationships with indigenous people in B.C. that develop through our work together. The BC Arts Council thanks the Lekwungen people for allowing us to operate our main offices within their traditional territories. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS: Message from the Chair & Executive Director 4 Observations 8 Strategic Plan 10 Board & Staff Listing 12 Programs 14 Advisors & Jurors Listing 16 Communities Supported 20 Financial Statement 23 Awards Listing 24 ANNUAL REPORT 2015/16 Copyright © 2016 Province of British Columbia. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher. 3 Message FROM THE CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The BC Arts Council is firmly committed to supporting the arts and cultural community’s outstanding contribution to the cultural, economic and social well-being of British Columbians. With funding provided by the Government of British Columbia, Council focused throughout 2015/16 on its mission “to engage all British Columbians in a healthy arts and cultural community that is recognized for its excellence.” The majority of Council support is awarded to B.C. artists and organizations engaged in the fields of media arts, dance, publishing, literary arts, creative writing, theatre, music, museums, community arts, visual arts and arts training. MINISTER AND BOARD The Hon. Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, assumed the portfolio from the Hon. Coralee Oakes in August 2015 and has provided strong guidance and support to Council. The Ministry awarded $24 million to BC Arts Council funding programs in 2015/16, a consistent year-over-year level of support. On August 1, 2015, Merla Beckerman succeeded Dr. Stan Hamilton as board chair. Dr. Hamilton provided strong leadership and vision for the agency during his six-year tenure as chair. We are grateful to Dr. Hamilton for his service during his terms on Council, and his ongoing dedication and commitment to the arts in British Columbia. We also want to thank Russell J. Anthony (Vancouver) for his significant contributions during his terms on Council. To help direct the BC Arts Council as it moves forward, we were delighted to welcome our new appointed members – Lindsay Bailey (Vancouver) and Jane Macdonald (Vancouver). 4 PEER REVIEW AND GRANTS AWARDS In 2015/16 the peer review process engaged 188 artists, arts administrators, academics and related professionals from across the province. The BC Arts Council gratefully acknowledges the essential work of these individuals, ensuring that public funds are distributed through a fair and neutrally-administered process. In addition to reviewing applications, advisors and jurors also played a critical role informing the BC Arts Council Board about current priorities and challenges in the cultural sector. This information and expertise ensures that Council remains in touch with the needs of the sector and informs BC Arts Council policy development. BC Arts Council funded programs received 2,902 applications from individual artists, collectives and organizations in 2015/16. Each proposal was assessed against criteria outlined in the respective program guidelines and 1,455 applications received funding. PROGRAM REVIEW During 2014/15, Council began the most extensive program review in our history, with a focus on Operating Assistance, Capacity and Sustainability and Innovations programs. In 2015/16, Council continued to build upon the important insights gained during the consultations to ensure we continue to play a leadership role in fostering arts and cultural community activities across the province. BC Arts Council staff have been instrumental in the success of the review, and the officers’ abilities to connect with the arts and culture sector has contributed to a robust and rigorous consultation process. In 2015/16, Council began implementing recommendations outlined in the program review, including extended cycle support for Operating Assistance and the development of a new approach to some special project funding expected to be implemented in the fall of 2016. 5 ABORIGINAL ENGAGEMENT The BC Arts Council’s 2014-18 Strategic Plan reaffirmed the critical importance of the province’s indigenous artists. The third goal of the Strategic Plan is to embrace Aboriginal culture and heritage and celebrate its ongoing connection to the lives of all British Columbians. In 2015/16, First Peoples’ Cultural Council initiated a review of the Aboriginal Arts Development Awards and BC Arts Council funding to Aboriginal artists and organizations. Work will continue throughout 2016/17 to identify gaps and work together towards a responsive approach to supporting Aboriginal arts practice. In addition, Council is building on this long-term priority through the establishment of an Aboriginal Engagement Committee of the board, and a staff committee reviewing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. CREATIVE ECONOMY In February 2016, Minister Fassbender announced a provincial strategy to help grow this thriving sector over the next three years. The strategy focuses on four areas for growth: leveraging talent and creative clusters; accessing new markets; maximizing investment; and enriching communities. Council was pleased to provide advice on development of the Government of British Columbia’s Creative Economy Strategy which builds upon the long-standing stable financial support to the arts and culture community provided through the BC Arts Council. With significant alignments to the 2014-2018 Strategic Plan, the BC Arts Council has formed a committee of the board to work with government on this important initiative – raising awareness of the cultural, social and economic impact of arts and culture. THE YEAR IN GRANTS 6 SUMMARY With the commitment of staff in our Victoria offices and our appointed members from across the province, we strive to ensure that all British Columbians enjoy a rich and vibrant arts and cultural community. BC Arts Council staff are a dedicated and knowledgeable team, working diligently to support the ongoing vitality, strength and dynamism of the cultural sector. We offer our sincerest gratitude to the BC Arts Council staff and recognize their important role supporting the sector. This year saw the launch and implementation of significant initiatives that build upon the strong foundational support for artists and arts and cultural organizations in British Columbia. We celebrate and acknowledge the tremendous talent of B.C’s dynamic artistic and cultural community and are pleased to contribute to the sector’s success. In accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of the Arts Council Act, we present this report on behalf of the BC Arts Council, reporting on activities of Council from April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016. Sincerely, MERLA BECKERMAN GILLIAN WOOD BOARD CHAIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE YEAR IN GRANTS $ 24 MILLION 2,902 1,455 GRANTED REQUESTS AWARDS Includes programs delivered in partnership. 7 Observations THE ADJUDICATION PROCESS: OBSERVATIONS 2015/16 The BC Arts Council’s appointed members, management and staff, along with its advisory committees and juries, are committed to providing excellent service to the artists, arts organizations and citizens of British Columbia. Central to the success of this service is the arts community’s endorsement of the peer review process which is fortified by the breadth and depth of sectoral knowledge that members bring to the adjudication table. In constructing the committees and juries, a balance is always sought amongst factors including the province’s wide range of cultural practices and its geographic and demographic diversity. Adjudication committee members are selected based on their specific experience from the Council’s client base as well as from online nominations. This selection process ensures Council has access to the widest possible spectrum of working artists and arts administrators. To nominate yourself or someone else for consideration, please visit our website. * Throughout 2015/16, the BC Arts Council continued to implement recommendations from consultations completed as part of the 2014/15 Program Review. This year, applicants to eight Operating Assistance programs applied for funding over a two- or three-year extended cycle. In 2016/17, the balance of Operating Assistance applicants will apply for extended cycle funding. Over the course of the 2015/16 year, discipline-specific advisory committees discussed issues that arose under the three broad assessment criteria of artistic achievement, community engagement and organizational capacity. These issues reflect critical aspects of creation, development and dissemination of the arts in B.C. *https://www.bcartscouncil.ca/about/Adjudication.htm 8 A summary of points made by the discipline advisory committees is as follows: Artistic Achievement Artistic achievement remains one of the primary funding considerations, contributing to Council’s mission “to engage all British Columbians in a healthy arts and cultural community that is recognized for its excellence.” Council’s peer review panels