The Province of BC’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services is seeking written input as part of their Budget 2027 consultation process.
The BC Alliance for Arts + Culture encourages British Columbians to contribute toward the consultation process, while expressing the value that arts, culture, and heritage offers across the province.
Closing Date: 2:00pm Pacific, Friday, June 19
Letters must be submitted through the Parliamentary Committees Consultation Portal.
This template letter is intended as a starting point for consideration. Add or update details as it aligns to your interests:
Template Letter for the 2027 BC Budget Consultations
Attention to:
Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
Parliamentary Committees Office
Room 224, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
Re: 2027 Budget Consultation Submission
[Insert Self Introduction]
- Who are you and/or your organization
- What’s your context?
- What is your artistic discipline, cultural practice, or connection with the arts, culture, and heritage sector?
- Where are you located in the province?
We recognize that our sector is among many priorities that are being balanced by the provincial government, and ask that you consider long-term strategies to build stability in the sector, and to bear in mind that strategic investments will serve as complementary investments in tourism, benefiting the economy and contributing to the quality of life for all British Columbians.
As you consider the budget for 2027, I encourage you to invest in three key areas:
1) DEVELOP A PROVINCIAL ARTS AND CULTURE ACTION PLAN
BC is the only province without an arts and culture strategy or action plan to support the strategic grown and impact of its arts, culture, and heritage sector. In times of fiscal restraint, it is particularly important to have a strategy to maximize the impact of investments, and to support the momentum that has been made over the past four years.
The sector is a significant employer and economic driver, and contributes $10.5 billion to BC’s annual GDP. The sector offers proven creative, affordable, and sustainable solutions for many of the biggest challenges facing the province, but to realize our potential impact, we need investment, policy, and cross-ministry partnerships with and within government.
An action plan will empower the sector to actively work with the Government of BC to increase its impact and develop an equitable approach to building the economic, social, and community benefits of the sector.
2) AVOID PLANNED CUTS TO THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM, ARTS, CULTURE AND SPORT, AND COMMIT TO INCREASING BC ARTS COUNCIL FUNDING TO $58M ANNUALLY
The 2026 Provincial Budget signals a concerning $3M decline in projected spending in Arts and Culture within the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport. At a time when organizations continue to face rising operational costs, workforce challenges, and growing demand, reductions to ministry spending would undermine the gains made through previous provincial investments.
The Province has helped build momentum in BC’s arts and culture sector over the past several years, and should protect that momentum rather than reverse it. We encourage the Province to avoid planned reductions to ministry spending and instead work toward a long-term vision of sustainable growth for the sector.
In 2025, the Union of BC Municipalities, and specifically the Community Economic Development Committee, endorsed a request urging the Province of BC to increase the annual operating budget of the BC Arts Council to $58 million dollars. The endorsement was in recognition of the critical impact that the arts, culture, and heritage sector has, and a key indication that our sector is meaningful, valued, and essential to urban and non-urban communities across the province.
3) SUPPORT CULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
We also encourage the Province to invest in cultural infrastructure and space retention initiatives.
Over the past decade, British Columbia has experienced the loss of numerous arts and cultural spaces due to redevelopment pressures, rising costs, and aging facilities. Strategic provincial investment can help leverage federal infrastructure programs and unlock additional philanthropic and community investment.
We encourage government to explore innovative approaches, including the Cultural Land Trust model, that support the long-term affordability, accessibility, and sustainability of cultural spaces across the province.