We asked six Arts questions to Richmond’s provincial election candidates.
Please read their answers below, listed in the order they were received, and keep those responses in mind when you are at the polling station.
Has not yet responded:
Glynnis Hoi Sum Chan (Independent)
Tamás Revóczi (BC Green Party)
Teresa Wat (BC Conservative Party)
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1. Since 2019, BC’s cultural economy has outshone every other province in Canada. It is estimated that the cultural sector adds $8.6 billion to the BC economy, more than the forestry or hotel industries. Do you feel that the arts contribute to our local and provincial economies? How or how not? How could this contribution be increased?
Charlie Smith (Independent)
As a cultural worker and former editor of the Georgia Straight, I know firsthand how important arts and culture are to the B.C. economy. I edit two media websites promoting artists from diverse backgrounds. Venues like Gateway Theatre and the Richmond Art Gallery not only promote tourism, but they create a focal point for a downtown Richmond that benefits local businesses. Festivals also benefit local businesses. Arts is labour intensive, so there’s a high multiplier effect on public and private investments. Visit https://hillstrategies.com/ to learn more about the impact of arts on the Canadian economy.
Linda Li (BC NDP)
David Eby and the BC NDP are bringing people together to celebrate their communities and love of local arts and culture by providing stable, year-over-year funding for fairs, festivals and events. We will work with artists, communities and artist-led organizations like the BC Coalition for Arts, Culture, and Heritage, to tackle ongoing challenges the sector faces, such as reduced revenue and sponsorships and the rising costs of equipment and services.
A strong arts and culture sector contributes to a sustainable economy by encouraging creativity and innovation across sectors and in our workforce: the sector attracts business investment, increases exports, and directly impacts employment and tourism.
Rustad’s Conservatives don’t believe in the importance arts and culture play in building an inclusive and diverse community. We do, and we will continue to invest tens of millions of dollars to local, regional and Indigenous organizations across the province – many of those connected to the BC Coalition for Arts, Culture, and Heritage – through programs like the Community Grants Fund and the BC Fairs, Festivals and Events fund.
2. If elected, how do you and your party plan to support local artists and cultural organizations?
Charlie Smith (Independent)
I would call publicly for organizations in Richmond to receive a larger share of funding from the B.C. Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and private funders commensurate with Richmond’s population and its importance as an urban centre. I would advocate for arts organizations, regardless of their preferred language or national origin. I co-created one arts website that is multilingual because there is systemic discrimination in arts funding. If we’re going to survive in the 21st century, we need to take MAJOR steps in transforming our economy from mass consumption of goods to the enjoyment of experiences.
Linda Li (BC NDP)
We will continue to support the heart of communities by investing in the arts and culture activities people here – and visiting here – love most, including helping local community and cultural organizations, by continuing our historic level of support to ensure organizations and associations remain able to deliver programming and events.
We are bringing people together to celebrate their communities and love of local arts and culture by providing stable, year-over-year funding for fairs, festivals and events. We will work with artists, communities and artist-led organizations like the BC Coalition for Arts, Culture, and Heritage, to tackle ongoing challenges the sector faces, such as reduced revenue and sponsorships and the rising costs of equipment and services.
Rustad’s Conservatives don’t believe in the importance arts and culture play in building an inclusive and diverse community. We do, and we will continue to invest tens of millions of dollars to local, regional and Indigenous organizations across the province – many of those connected to the BC Coalition for Arts, Culture, and Heritage – through programs like the Community Grants Fund and the BC Fairs, Festivals and Events fund.
3. Sustainable support to the arts, culture, and heritage sector contributes to a community’s health and well-being. The Province, through the BC Arts Council (BCAC), nurtures and supports arts and cultural activity in communities across BC. In supporting community arts, individual artists, professional performing arts companies, Indigenous artists and cultural organizations, arts galleries, local museums, and festivals, BCAC funding is critical to the sustainability of the cultural sector.
Do you and your party support increasing the annual budget for the BC Arts Council?
Charlie Smith (Independent)
The B.C. Arts Council base budget was $36.1 million in 2023-24. It should be $200 million—at a minimum. Hills Strategies documented the incredible multiplier effect of arts investments. This sector benefits tourism and small business, while enriching communities and helping youths appreciate their culture. Arts also promote democratic discourse and serve as a bulwark against bigotry by building empathy for our neighbours. I appreciate that the BC NDP boosted BC Arts Council funding, but I don’t believe that the vast majority of sitting politicians recognize how critical arts and culture are to our collective future.
Linda Li (BC NDP)
Funding and support for arts and culture has never been as strong or as extensive in BC history. From arts and literature to festivals and museums, we will continue to build a thriving arts and culture sector that keeps our communities vibrant and healthy. We support individuals, artists, volunteers, and organizations who are bringing people together to celebrate their communities, cultures and love of local arts by providing stable, year-over-year funding for fairs, festivals and events.
Rustad’s Conservatives do not share the belief that fully funded programs and institutions benefit communities. Whether it be connecting children and youth with skills and supports to create well rounded students or providing volunteer opportunities for senior citizens to share their rich local heritage, we know that John Rustad and his team will slash budgets and cancel projects. When it comes to giving further tax breaks to their wealthy friends, arts funding will be the first item on the chopping block to stoke that fire.
David Eby and his BC NDP team have not only helped grow arts and culture at home but kept costs down for art students, museum visitors, festival-goers and families participating in arts and culture activities in our home communities.
4. How do you view the importance of arts and music education within the public school system? How would you and your party support school initiatives for arts and music programs including making art supplies and instruments low cost or free? How about field trips or visits by arts practitioners?
Charlie Smith (Independent)
Music education is critical in developing neural pathways, which assists learning in other areas. It’s obscene when school districts cut music education because they think it’s a frill. It’s a no-brainer to provide art supplies and instruments for free for students from low-income families. I admire the nonprofit group Instruments Beyond Borders. We should promote something similar in Richmond. Arts practitioners should be visiting classrooms and students should be encouraged to participate in festivals and take field trips to the Gateway Theatre, Richmond Art Gallery, Gulf of Georgia Cannery and other sites. It’s at the core of education in France.
Linda Li (BC NDP)
Arts and music education are important aspects to a well rounded school experience for students. Schools provide an accessible environment for children and young people to learn and be exposed to musical instruments, dance and other forms of creativity that they might not otherwise have access to.
David Eby and the BC NDP are providing historic support to the education sector by more than doubling funding to school districts and empowering them to prioritize arts and music education. We will continue to fund art and music education to take place outside of the classroom as in the case of many non-profits receiving Community Gaming Grants to fuel their afterschool programs like the Arts Umbrella.
Similarly, we provided $1.4 million to support the After School Sport and Arts Initiative which provides high quality sport, and specifically arts opportunities at no cost and is designed specifically to address financial, cultural and transportation barriers.
For families who need extra help, we’re taking action to cover the costs of school supplies and class trips, as well as sports and music programs by replenishing the Student and Family Affordability Fund this year with an additional $20M. We know that arts and culture funding has never been a priority for John Rustad and will be the first thing cut to pay for the costly tax breaks that will go to his wealthy donors.
5. Richmond needs more purpose-built arts spaces. Richmond-based theatre, opera, choir, orchestra, and music non-profits often need to go into Vancouver or New Westminster to find purpose-built arts venues that are affordable and available. How will your government address this concern?
Charlie Smith (Independent)
I support density bonuses for developers who include cultural spaces in their projects. I would educate the housing minister on the importance of incorporating venues in transit-oriented developments. I would push Kwantlen University College to develop an arts venue on its Richmond campus. If elected, I would also invite Chinese-speaking and English-speaking developers to separate forums to discuss the economic and cultural benefits of venues (in their preferred languages). I would raise concerns in the legislature how Richmond is being shortchanged on venues when so much provincial money for venues is pouring into Vancouver.
Linda Li (BC NDP)
David Eby and the BC NDP believe access to new and modern arts institutions should not be restricted to those living in cities and suburbs. We know BC is home to world-renowned artists and organizations that enrich the entirety of our province. That is why we are ensuring organizations across the province, including those in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, can take advantage of our Arts Infrastructure Program to make sure their communities are able to invest and grow their burgeoning art scenes or ensure their young people can develop their creative skills. This program enables organizations to develop and enhance spaces that support the work of BC’s arts and cultural practitioners. Typically, 50% of grants are distributed to organizations from rural or remote communities or those led by or rooted in Indigenous and equity-deserving communities.
6. Richmond is a multicultural city, but many feel there are not enough cross-cultural opportunities to build understanding between communities. What role do you think the arts can play in creating bridges between cultures and what role do you think the Provincial government can play?
Charlie Smith (Independent)
I edit a multilingual arts media site to promote cross-cultural understanding. Arts and culture is an ideal bridge, even for people who don’t speak the same languages. Visual arts, dance, and music touch the heart regardless of one’s mother tongue. I’m so impressed by how Gateway Theatre has made use of surtitles and hosted other events, such as the Jade Music Festival, to advance interculturalism. We need to get out of our silos and embrace interculturalism. Not only will we become more educated and better citizens, it will also enrich our lives and offer Richmond residents a bulwark against Trumpism.
Linda Li (BC NDP)
Richmond is a beautiful reflection of BC’s diversity with the sheer number of communities who call it home. The arts and creative spaces can be effective sites of connection across communities by bringing people together over shared interests. We are promoting access to shared public resources including cultural centres which offer families, seniors, and communities low-cost entertainment and places to gather and learn. That is why we are creating a cultural, sports and recreation fund that will help deliver affordable family entertainment and cultural community gatherings and celebrations across the province at a time when families rely on these services more than ever.
We’re not just stopping there because we are also enabling community organizations to deliver cross cultural community programming via the BC Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grants. This annual program covers direct costs for projects that help reduce systemic racism and/or promote multiculturalism through education, awareness and interactions. These grants aim to build trust and understanding between diverse cultural communities in British Columbia. With these supports, David Eby is working hard to build a more welcoming and equitable BC for all.
John Rustad and his Conservative Party have demonstrated that a diverse and equitable BC has never been a priority for them and they do not shy away from choosing candidates whose views and speech are offensive and alienate others. We know that Rustad will slash community programs and services to fund the massive tax cuts for his wealthy donors and friends. The first programs on his chopping block that will then fuel those cuts will be programs that support community centres and programming which bring people closer together. Neither people nor communities can afford Rustad’s reckless cuts.
We thank the candidates for their responses.
Other Richmond Riding Responses:
Richmond Centre
Richmond-Queensborough
Richmond-Steveston