Vote for the Arts Campaign 2008

The Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton (PACE) has joined with local artists and arts supporters to form the Vote for the Arts Coalition. We have come together as we all believe that Arts, Culture and Heritage create vibrant and sustainable communities; places where people want to live and do business. We believe one of Alberta’s innate renewable resources, its creative spirit, is fostered through:

• Mandatory K – 12 Arts Education
• A stand alone Ministry for Arts, Culture and Heritage
• A Provincial Percent-for-Art Policy
• A network of well maintained and supported arts facilities, museums, historical sites and libraries
• National and international promotion of Alberta artists
• Implementation of Status of the Artist Legislation
• A consultation within Alberta’s cultural industries to determine how best to support and revitalize these industries, to be completed within six months

We invite you to join us in ensuring that our future legislators and decision makers understand the needs of the artistic community.

There are many things you can do:

• Get informed! Each of the three main parties have outlined their Arts & Culture Policies. We have put them together for you in a comparative chart at
www.pacedmonton.com/home (part of the Advocacy Toolkit).

• Show your support for this initiative by joining our Facebook Group: Vote Arts: The Alberta Coalition for the Arts 2008 at www.facebook.com. If you aren’t on Facebook yet, it is easy and free to join. Our goal is to have over 50,000 members of this group by Election Day.

• Attend your local candidates forum and ensure that at least one question relating to arts issues is presented. Need help with a question? Check out the advocacy toolkit at www.pacedmonton.com/home.

• Send this to a friend – or a whole bunch of friends!

• Get out and vote! Change only occurs with active participation!

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact PACE at 780-485-3085.

Regards,
Candace Makowichuk
PACE Coordinator