BC Gaming cuts Major Funding to Arts Groups

September 09 2009

Major Funding Cut by the BC Gaming Commission

On Friday, August 28 we received notice that BC Gaming had denied our request for a 2009/10 community gaming grant. Our society receives a significant grant each year to enable us to operate and put on the annual Vancouver Jewish Film Festival and other events throughout the year.  Our 22nd festival will be seriously affected by this funding and may jeopardize our abilty to put on the festival and host various events in 2010.

 This withdrawal of support is part of widespread cuts that the BC Government proposes to the Direct Access program. Although this cutback will not affect our 2009 Festival, we will face a $25,000 shortfall in 2010. This shortfall is more than half the amount it costs for us to maintain our annual operations
 
While there have now been some revisions to the original cuts mainly to organizations that had a three year funding allocation, most organizations such as ourselves who are funded annually have not had any reconsiderations to their annual applications.

We need your help to make sure these drastic cuts do not stop the Vancouver Jewish Film Festival after 22 years of producing the longest running Jewish Film Festival in Canada.  We have recently completed  our annual fund raising mail out campaign and are actively soliciting memberships, donations, film and other sponsorships, for the 2009 festival. Your contribution no matter how large or small will help us to maintain this wonderful festival and continously bring the best films with Jewish subject matter from around the globe to you: our valued audience. Download the membership / donation form and mail or fax it to our office or you can make an online donation through Canada Helps on our web site. We know money is tight for everyone, so we have many options with benefits available. A single membership is only $25 per annum and entitles a member to attend the Annual General Meeting (to be held in late November) and view all of our unclassified films without paying an additional festival membership fee during the festival. We appreciate your support!