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In early January the BC Touring Council received word from Canadian Heritage program staff  that our multi-year funding application ($140,000) to the Canada Arts Presentation Fund was not approved.  BCTC has received funding from Canadian Heritage since 1991 and there was nothing during the application process that indicated that this year would be any different.  This $70,000 per year represents approximately 25% of BCTC's budget and this funding supports our annual booking conference Pacific Contact and year-round services such as block booking and professional development.

The BC Touring Council is the only provincial presenting/touring arts service organization in the country to have its Canadian Heritage funding withdrawn.  With provincial arts funding already one of the lowest in the country, this cut will further impact the ability of the BC Touring Council to support presenting in the communities throughout the province.  The loss of funding in BC also weakens the entire Canadian touring and presenting sector.

The BC Touring Council has written to Minister James Moore asking that he reconsider our application and to restore Canadian Heritage funding to the BC Touring Council so that we can continue to support the work of presenters in communities in British Columbia.  To date we have not heard from the Minister and so we are launching an Open Letter Petition asking you to bring your voice to this urgent matter.

Please click here to read the letter and add your name to the petition 

Joanna Maratta, Executive Director
Margo Gram, Chair
BC Touring Council