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.
We have received responses from: Keenan Yang (CWP)
Still to respond: Bruce Kong (BC NDP), Barry Wosk (CentreBC), Gordon Zhang (Conservative Party)
Dropped out of the election: Robert Evans (Independent)
****
1. If elected, how do you and your party plan to support local artists and cultural organizations?
Keenan Yang (CWP)
If elected, our party will push for stable ongoing funding for local artists and cultural groups, reduce administrative barriers, and support affordable community arts spaces across Richmond. We will sustain funding for local artists and cultural nonprofits, and expand affordable venues to grow Richmond’s arts community.
2. 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. A 2026 Needs Assessment by the City of Richmond confirms this unmet community need. How will your government address this concern?
Keenan Yang (CWP)
We will advocate for provincial capital funding to build dedicated arts facilities in Richmond and create affordable booking terms so local performing arts groups can rehearse and host performances close to home. Our party will push for provincial investment in Richmond’s dedicated arts spaces to end the need for local performing groups to travel outside the city for affordable venues.
3. The BC Arts Council supports community arts, individual artists, professional performing arts companies, Indigenous artists and cultural organizations, arts galleries, local museums, and festivals. This funding is critical to the sustainability of the cultural sector, which contributes to a community’s health and well-being. Do you and your party support increasing the annual budget for the BC Arts Council?
Keenan Yang (CWP)
Yes, our party supports increasing the BC Arts Council’s annual budget to sustain local artists, museums and cultural groups, which enrich community wellbeing across BC. We support raising funding for the BC Arts Council, as stable arts funding strengthens community health and cultural vitality throughout British Columbia.
4. Do you feel that the arts contribute to our local and provincial economies? How or how not? How could this contribution be increased?
Keenan Yang (CWP)
Yes, arts drive tourism, create jobs and support small local businesses; we will boost this economic impact by expanding arts funding and building more local performance venues in Richmond. Arts are a valuable economic engine, and we will grow its benefits by investing in venues and funding for local cultural activities.
5. 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?
Keenan Yang (CWP)
Arts and music education are essential for student growth; our party will protect dedicated classroom time and funding for these programs and support teachers to deliver rich creative learning in public schools. Arts and music build well-rounded students, and we will defend their funding and space within BC public schools.
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?
Keenan Yang (CWP)
Arts build empathy and cross-cultural connections, and the province can fund multicultural artistic events and collaborative projects to help Richmond’s diverse communities connect with one another. Arts bridge cultural divides, and provincial funding for multicultural arts programs helps Richmond’s diverse residents understand each other better.
*****
We thank the candidates for their responses.
Other Richmond Riding Responses:
Richmond-Bridgeport
Richmond Centre
Richmond-Queensborough