Prince George pulp mill worker, Denise Dauvin, loves her tunes and is unhappy about recent cuts to the arts in BC that affect the province’s musicians.
“Sara McLachlan is one of my faves,” said Dauvin at the truck dumps, “and she’s right when she says the cuts are a tragedy.”
McLachlan has been speaking out against the cuts in the media recently and has said she thinks “the arts and culture are a huge part of what makes our part of the world vibrant.”
Dauvin likes the music of Roy Forbes, too, and wonders what support there will be for budding musicians who come from far-flung corners of the province like he did (Forbes hails from Dawson Creek). As one example of the current crisis in the arts, Music BC faces cuts to its travel assistance program, operating funds, and the Western Canadian Music Awards.
She believes that music is an essential creative outlet for children, and as important as sports and education in a child's growth and development.
“Why is our government cutting culture at a time when US President Barack Obama has just named 25 artists and educators, to a national arts advisory committee, and the US Congress has increased funding the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities?” asks Dauvin.
“If they think it’s smart to invest in the arts during a recession, why can’t we?”
Dauvin has been a heavy equipment operator at the pulpmill for over seven years.
For further information, contact Bill Horne at Amazing
Space Studio, Wells,
BC
250-994-2332
mazing at claireart dot ca
photo by Bill Horne
If anyone wants to reproduce this or any other photos in this series, please contact me before doing so. In most cases I am happy to give permission, but out of respect for the people in the photographs, I like to check with them first. Thanks!
Some important addresses to write to: http://tinyurl.com/ykkc6sh
British
Columbians and Canadians Speak Out Against Funding Cuts
" Government
is gambling with other people's money", The Province
"Flex
Your Muscles, BC Arts Community", The Tyee
"Budget
Cut Blues' Played for Politicians", The Tyee
"Government
cuts steal colour from life" canada.com
Article
in The Straight including reactions from individual artists
Visualize
the cuts (CARFAC BC on Facebook)
You can see more images of Solidarity with the arts from:
forestry
mining
farming
small town small businesses
vs HST
hunting
Sled dog mushers
Train drivers
Backhoe drivers
Home page of claireart.ca
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