Several major players in the B.C. events scene have signed an open letter to the provincial government urging prompt action to keep the industry afloat.
The letter was addressed to B.C. Premier David Eby and the B.C Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture & Sport, Spencer Chandra Herbert. Signees include the likes of Bard on the Beach, Bass Coast, Italian Day on the Drive, FVDED In the Park, Honda Celebration of Light and hundreds more.
One of the main requests is the urgent renewal of the B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund (BCFFE) or a replacement to provide immediate and meaningful support to “arts, cultural, community, and events throughout the province.”
“With an increasing number of Canadians looking for homegrown travel experiences, it’s never been more important to encourage thriving, exciting fairs and festivals,” the open letter states.
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Notable event cancellations and struggles
Vancouver Folk Music Festival (Brendan McAlpine/Facebook)
The big headline is that B.C. festivals and events face a “looming crisis.”
Over the past couple of months, some organizers have had to outright cancel their events, one of the most notable being the Vancouver Mural Festival (VMF). In late January, organizers announced they were shutting down after nearly a decade of public art.
“This decision was not made lightly. Like many arts and non-profit organizations, we have faced growing financial challenges in the past years. Despite our best efforts and significant progress to stabilize the organization, it is no longer viable for us to continue,” read a statement by VMF.
We also learned in late January that a massive St. Patrick’s Day festival would be cancelled this year. Another event that has been cancelled is the Vancouver Island Music Festival.
Other festivals, like the Vancouver Folk Fest, went through some struggles before eventually surviving in the end. One of the signees of the open letter, FVDED in the Park, cancelled its 2023 event due to “difficulties” before bouncing back.
In late 2022, we published a story about the event scene. Many were hopeful that 2022 would mark a strong comeback as things were returning to normal post-COVID-19. That wasn’t the case. While some cancelled events were smaller-scaled, some were massive, like the Vancouver International Auto Show and the Formula E racing event.
That might have been three years ago, but there have been lingering issues that the open letter is addressing.
Events leaders expressing a need for funding, now
Vancouver Mural Fest 2022
“Our events are cornerstones of cultural identity, economic vitality, and social cohesion. Throughout the province, they offer a unique platform for celebrating our diverse talents and traditions — allowing us to come together in ways that reflect the fabric of B.C.,” the open letter says.
The letter says that according to the province’s own stats, the arts, culture, and heritage sector adds over $8.6 billion to the annual GDP while employing over 150,000 British Columbians, “representing 5.4 per cent of the province’s overall labour force.”
“During the NDP’s successful 2024 re-election campaign, we were elated to see your commitment to ‘Provide stable, year over year funding for fairs, festivals and events,'” the letter states. It adds that time is passing without news of what that funding might be.
The letter continues to say that the “clock is ticking” and raises the alarm about more potential event casualties if the provincial government doesn’t fulfill its commitment to providing the stable funding it said it would.
In response to our request for comment, the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport told Daily Hive several things.
“The Province has provided nearly $80 million since 2021 through the Fairs, Festivals and Events fund to support events rebuild, attract people back to B.C. communities and contribute to local economies,” it said.
However, it added that due to current economic uncertainties, “all ministries are reviewing existing programs with a focus on ensuring that public dollars are used to ensure programs remain relevant, are efficient, protect services and grow the economy.”
“We will continue to support communities throughout B.C. to host events such as festivals and events that bring visitors to our province and bring people together,” it continued.
“Our priority is to support a stronger economy, benefiting individuals, families, and businesses.”