<div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-9d2c0650-7fff-d078-eeb9-007101a477cf"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">On February 22, the Province of BC announced its 2022 budget. The BCMA encourages members to visit the </span><a href="https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2022/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Budget 2022 web portal</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> to learn more about the overarching vision, goals and priority actions for the Province of British Columbia. </span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We have also read through the announcement and budget documents to highlight key elements that impact BC’s arts, culture, and heritage sector.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Budget Highlights:</span></p><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport budget is increasing from $171 million in 2021/22 to $173 million in 2022/23.</span></p></li></ul><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In the </span><a href="https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2022/pdf/2022_Backgrounder_3_Economic.pdf" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">pandemic recovery section</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, support for arts and culture organizations is alluded to with the statement, “</span><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Additional funding is also being provided this year to support non-profit organizations affected by the pandemic; the recovery of the arts, culture and music sectors through the Arts Impacts and Amplify BC programs; and additional tourism supports including funding to support the safe restart of fairs, festivals and events.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">”</span></p></li></ul><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The </span><a href="https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2022/pdf/2022_Budget_and_Fiscal_Plan.pdf" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">budget references</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> new funding for repatriation on page 8, “</span><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Funding is provided in 2021/22 to support Indigenous communities and First Nations to repatriate cultural belongings from museums and institutions, both in B.C. and globally.” </span><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">No details about this funding have been announced, but the BCMA will share updates with members as they become known. </span></p></li></ul><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The </span><a href="https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2022/pdf/2022_Estimates.pdf" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">budget</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> maintains the Province’s funding commitment for the Royal BC Museum’s new Collections and Research Building, stating that construction will begin in 2022 with an anticipated completion date in 2025. Operating funding for the Royal BC Museum in 2022/23 is being maintained at 2021/22 levels.</span></p></li></ul><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Overall, the 2022 budget largely maintains the status quo for the arts, culture, and heritage sector in BC. The BCMA is keenly aware that the status quo isn’t sustainable. We believe in the transformational power of museums, and we will continue to work with sectoral partners to advocate for our collective social, educational, and economic impact. </span></p></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Ryan Hunt</b></font><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Executive Director</font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">Pronouns: He/him </font><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:x-small">To learn why pronouns are important, click </span><a href="https://equity.ubc.ca/resources/gender-diversity/pronouns/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:x-small" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)">The BC Museums Association office is located on the traditional, unceded lands of the <a href="https://vimeo.com/275788251" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">Lekwungen</a> peoples (Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations). We respect past, present, and future Indigenous stewards and recognize that we are uninvited guests on this territory.<br></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><p style="color:rgb(0,0,0);margin:0in 0in 1pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif">BC Museums Association || 675 Belleville Street  || Victoria, BC || V8W 9W2</span></p><p style="color:rgb(136,136,136);margin:0in 0in 1pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Direct: 250-884-0499</span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> || </span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Office: 250-356-5700</span><span style="color:rgb(237,125,49);font-family:Arial,sans-serif">  || <a href="http://www.museum.bc.ca" target="_blank">www.museum.bc.ca</a></span></p><p style="color:rgb(136,136,136);margin:0in 0in 1pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1oh4plhu2CZl76JCTQZ0p_EdG52Ud23QA&export=download" width="96" height="54" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:rgb(32,33,36)"></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 1pt"><font color="#888888" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><i>Roundup</i> submissions are now open online! We now offer compensation to contributors and are looking for articles about how you and your institution are maintaining momentum! Find more details on <a href="https://museum.bc.ca/roundup-magazine-submissions/" target="_blank">our website</a>.</font><br></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>