Save the Vancouver International Children's Festival
- by: Caitlin Pencarrick Hertzman
- recipient: Minister Ida Chong, Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
Recently the Vancouver International Children's Festival learned that they had lost almost half of their gaming funding. Over the last few years the festival has lost more and more funding, even though they have consistently provided this city and province with high-quality arts and cultural events for children and their families, along with jobs, tourism dollars and more.
For a province whose premier argues that she puts families first, it's appalling that we are close to losing a decades-old festival that has proven its cultural and economic worth over and over again. For a province that intended to spend over $10 million on festivals to "bring together artists, cultural organizations and all British Columbians to celebrate the spirit of B.C. in our communities", I ask - why only in February?
I grew up going to this Festival. I worked this festival when I was fresh out of theatre school. I have taken my two children every year, going 3-4 days each year to try and catch as many of the fabulous activities, productions and learning opportunities as we could. My youngest child is only 2 this year, and it brings me to tears that if Kid's Fest is left to founder that she won't have the memories of it that I have with me today. It's heartbreaking enough that they were forced financially to leave Vanier Park, but the idea of them going under is like losing a part of BC.
I happily buy my tickets each year, but I know that I am lucky. Others are not well off enough to spend $88 dollars to bring their children into a show. The funding from the BC Government allows Kid's Fest to provide subsidized tickets to those families, and keeps site entry prices at a minimum.
This petition is requesting that Minister Ida Chong and her government not only restore VICF's gaming funding, but increase its overall funding through festival grants, gaming increases and BC Arts Council increases.
For a province whose premier argues that she puts families first, it's appalling that we are close to losing a decades-old festival that has proven its cultural and economic worth over and over again. For a province that intended to spend over $10 million on festivals to "bring together artists, cultural organizations and all British Columbians to celebrate the spirit of B.C. in our communities", I ask - why only in February?
I grew up going to this Festival. I worked this festival when I was fresh out of theatre school. I have taken my two children every year, going 3-4 days each year to try and catch as many of the fabulous activities, productions and learning opportunities as we could. My youngest child is only 2 this year, and it brings me to tears that if Kid's Fest is left to founder that she won't have the memories of it that I have with me today. It's heartbreaking enough that they were forced financially to leave Vanier Park, but the idea of them going under is like losing a part of BC.
I happily buy my tickets each year, but I know that I am lucky. Others are not well off enough to spend $88 dollars to bring their children into a show. The funding from the BC Government allows Kid's Fest to provide subsidized tickets to those families, and keeps site entry prices at a minimum.
This petition is requesting that Minister Ida Chong and her government not only restore VICF's gaming funding, but increase its overall funding through festival grants, gaming increases and BC Arts Council increases.
We the undersigned request that the Government of British Columbia restores the gaming funding of the Vancouver International Children's Festival.
Over the last few years the festival has lost more and more funding, even though they have consistently provided this city and province with high-quality arts and cultural events for children and their families, along with jobs, tourism dollars and more.
For a province who's premier argues that she puts families first, it's appalling that we are close to losing a decades-old festival that has proven its cultural and economic worth over and over again. For a province that intended to spend over $10 million on festivals to "bring together artists, cultural organizations and all British Columbians to celebrate the spirit of B.C. in our communities", I ask - why only in February?
I happily buy my tickets each year, but I know that I am lucky. Others are not well off enough to spend $88 dollars to bring their children into a show. The funding from the BC Government allows Kid's Fest to provide subsidized tickets to those families, and keeps site entry prices at a minimum.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and for saving an important part of BC.
Sign PetitionSign PetitionOver the last few years the festival has lost more and more funding, even though they have consistently provided this city and province with high-quality arts and cultural events for children and their families, along with jobs, tourism dollars and more.
For a province who's premier argues that she puts families first, it's appalling that we are close to losing a decades-old festival that has proven its cultural and economic worth over and over again. For a province that intended to spend over $10 million on festivals to "bring together artists, cultural organizations and all British Columbians to celebrate the spirit of B.C. in our communities", I ask - why only in February?
I happily buy my tickets each year, but I know that I am lucky. Others are not well off enough to spend $88 dollars to bring their children into a show. The funding from the BC Government allows Kid's Fest to provide subsidized tickets to those families, and keeps site entry prices at a minimum.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and for saving an important part of BC.
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