Unceded Territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh (Vancouver, BC) – The Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres (PAARC) calls on the City of Vancouver Mayor Stewart and Council to approve, relax and re-allocate funds to support the COVID-19 Pandemic.

To: Mayor Kennedy Stewart and City Council
Re: Cultural Grants & COVID-19 Emergency Funding

PAARC represents 21 non-profit cultural organizations based in Vancouver. These centres were established starting in the 1960s to democratize the production of art and make sure artists drive culture.

We are writing to urge the city council to:

1. APPROVE the 2020 Cultural Grants as presented within the March 31, 2020 council report;
2. RELAX the use of the operating funds for the purposes of addressing emergency issues related to COVID-19; and
3. RE-ALLOCATE unspent funds within the Cultural Services towards additional emergency funding for arts and culture.

The severe impact of COVID-19 has created a downward spiral of economic challenges. Cancelled events, performances, festivals has seen a staggering loss of self-generated and private sector funding. At this time, PAARC is calling on the City of Vancouver to vote in favour of the allocation of operating funds to halt the insolvency of non-profit cultural organizations that would further stress the economy and end decades of cultural development. Deeply rooted neighbourhood businesses and cultural centres were already under stress prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. These organizations take decades to develop and are extremely exposed to the economic hardship brought on by the pandemic.

Media Contact
Brian McBay, President, PAARC, info@paarc.ca

Downloadable PDF Version
2020-03-27-Letter-Mayor_Council-Cultural-Grants

Link to Vancouver Council Report
https://council.vancouver.ca/20190403/documents/pspc4.pdf

Image Caption:
Map of Vancouver-based PAARC membership.