By Angela Espinoza, Arts Editor
At a time when art houses are closing left and right, when liquor laws are making independent venues strive to survive, and when tax cuts threaten an end to original local works, itâs safe to say that BCâs artistic community is in bad shape.
In the last 13 months, we have seen the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, Station Square Cinemas, Hollywood Theatre, and Empire Granville 7 Cinemas all shut down (some torn down completely). Denman Cinemas also closed last year, but it has since been reborn as Collingwood Theatre. Had it not been for Rio Theatreâs owner, Corinne Leaâs, persistence, we would have also likely lost the Commercial Drive multi-purpose venue. And although still standing, Kitsilanoâs Ridge Theatre and Burnabyâs Dolphin Cinemas are slated to be redeveloped, the SFU-owned W2 Media Cafe is threatened to close, recent changes to BC liquor laws are making the survival of venues like the Rickshaw shaky at best, and as youâve all heard by now, the future of the Waldorf Hotel remains foggy, but we know for certain it is currently no longer a music venue to say the least.
It was also revealed last week that BCâs film industryâthriving a few short years ago and now desperately strugglingâwill receive no tax breaks from the government this year. Announced by Premier Christy Clark, who has of course been taking most of the flack for this decision, a âSave BC Filmâ petition has been making its way around the Internet in an attempt to⌠change her mind I suppose. Iâm glad people have been retaliating against the news, and I too have signed the petition, but I think Premier Clark has heard our pleas by now, and itâs safe to say this isnât so much a moral decision for our arts community as it is strictly business. The big argument has been that while BC gets enough funding to train up-and-coming filmmakers, without work being offered down here, theyâre all taking their training to âOntario and Quebecâ (quote every news source in Vancouver).
Iâd also like to note that BCâs video game industry was also part of this announcement in receiving no government-funded help, but seeing as Iâve heard absolutely no negative response, I guess we can say weâre doing fine in that regard. On that note, in terms of graphics and digital arts, BC is actually doing very well, so at least thereâs some good news in all of this.
At the end of the day though, thereâs no one solution to all the problems our artistic community is facing. Both the creators and their creative hosts are slowly being picked apart by constantly changing rules and regulations.
The liquor law change I referred to earlier in this article was a decision by the BC Liquor Control and Licensing Branch, more commonly referred to as the LCLB, that prevents BC venues with liquor licenses (the livelihood of most independent venues) from hosting all-ages events. The LCLBâs argument is that although the venue may not be serving alcohol to minors, kids will probably find ways to get drunk beforehand. The law makes as much sense as prohibiting house partiesâdinner parties, birthday parties, or otherwiseâbecause keggers are a thing.
One year ago the LCLB announced that venues with liquor licenses couldnât host film events⌠the question of âwhy?â is completely beyond me. Although everybody is happy Rio Theatreâs Lea fought back so valiantly to prevent the change, itâs unfortunate to say that she would have lost this very public war had the province not figured out how to use the change to their advantage. Thus it becomes clearer as to why Cineplex theatres all suddenly began serving alcohol in their previously announced âVIP Loungesâ last year.
My heart is breaking. I feel like I accomplish nothing by signing yet another petition, and with every announcement of another closure I cry harder than the last time. Iâm not exaggerating when I say all of this has made the prospect of leaving BC cross my mind more than once, because I feel like Iâm going insane watching everything I love about BC wither away, and in some cases, die.