To help win the bid for Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Games, the government leveraged the province’s vibrant arts and culture scene as the “second pillar” of the Games. The Winter Games are expected to pump $800 million in travel-related spending into the Metro Vancouver economy next year, according to a Central 1 Credit Union forecast. It is predicted that $448 million of Games spending will be directed toward accommodation and food services, with $120 million to be spent on transportation services, $120 million on retail, and $112 million on miscellaneous services.

But late 2009, the BC government announced sudden and severe arts cuts, to the shock of Vancouver art organizations and Vancouver artists, particularly before the fast-approaching 2010 Olympics.

As we headed into 2010 with draconian arts cuts, volunteers will continue to be a key resource for survival in the arts, as well as building strategic alliances between two or more arts organizations to pursue common goals, while remaining independent. A strategic alliance is designed to share or merge databases, industry information, referrals and prospects, while jointly absorbing the marketing, sales and distribution costs for audience development.

An example of volunteerism and strategic alliances is ArtWalk Vancouver 2010, which has united the Vancouver art community to participate and thrive. In a time of severe arts funding cuts in BC, ArtWalk Vancouver 2010 provide opportunities for much-needed public exposure for local artists during the 2010 Winter Games.

Links below for Vancouver ArtWalk Openings during 2010 Winter Games are all part of ArtWalk Vancouver 2010, to showcase over 250 local artists and designers.

2010 Winter Market of ArtWalk Vancouver Opening Reception February 11, 2010

ArtWalk Vancouver Opening Night February 12 and Weekend Tour Showing Over 250 Artists

ArtWalk Vancouver Opening February 12 at grace-gallery Satellite Spaces for 2010 Winter Games

Join the first annual ArtWalk and support the hard work and passion of local artists and artisans who love creating and making art for the sake of art at www.artwalkvancouver.ca.

ENDNOTE:

In 2009, Artistrun (established in 2000) applied for grants for the Cultural Olympiad as a non-profit society called Artistrun Media Society.

In 2010, as BC arts faces almost 92% in arts cuts, Artistrun Media Society can no longer exist. The Artistrun blog is changing to a for-profit sole proprietorship model, managed and directed by Liza J. Lee.

Liza J. Lee is the Co-founder and Blogger for Artistrun ArtConverge.

© 2010 ArtConverge (ISSN 1918-9273‏)

Contact:

Ingrid Doerr, CANAMADE
151 West Cordova, Vancouver, BC
604.681.8844
vancouvermarket@gmail.com
www.canamade.com

© 2010 ArtConverge (ISSN 1918-9273‏)

January 18, 2010, Vancouver, Canada – In anticipation of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, there has been a resurgence of cultural awareness as the city prepares itself for the world stage. Spearheading this renaissance is the New Forms Festival (NFF) and the Cultural Olympiad Digital Edition (CODE). Through this joint partnership, this unique event combines a new generation of music, video manipulation, and interactive art. On February 6, 2010, NFF and CODE will be presenting LA Riots, The Golden Filter, Junior Boys DJ Set, Konrad Black, and an array of local musicians and artists at The Hangar in Great Northern Way Campus’ Centre for Digital Media.

The event, which is being hailed as one of the largest and most innovative affairs in the art and digital media world, will be a celebration of local and international talent. The event will feature a hybridization of musical genres meshed with multi-platform image manipulation, projected on large screens throughout The Hangar which is being entirely remodeled and recreated specifically for CODE. Robert Willis, director of the News Forms Media Society and producer behind the event, anticipates a great reception.

This night is going to be quite the eye-opener for those from around the world and for Vancouverites as well,” states Willis. “The realization of vision in these pieces of art, including the collaboration between sound, sight, and this incredible physical environment will give people a better definition of what we are really about: making new media art, music, film, technology-based installation and performance accessible to a wider audience.

The dynamic selection of music melds with the human expression of dance as audience members groove to music tinged with disco, dance-rock, techno and genres in between. Just as the music gives voice to the installations and pieces on display, the pieces speak to the caliber of talent and skill of the digital artists in Vancouver who see this Olympiad as a great opportunity to showcase their talent to the world.

The NFF at CODE night will be an exclamation mark for Canadian music, art, and multi-media,” exclaims Willis. “Nights like ours help local artists express and present their work on a platform that has international credentials as being at the forefront of emerging movements and modes. NFF is a glimpse at where music and digital art are going in the not-too-distant future.”

With this roster of talent and art being showcased on February 6, it seems the future has already arrived.

© 2010 ArtConverge (ISSN 1918-9273‏)