Stir Q&A: Melanie Mark on storytelling, theatres, and helping B.C.’s arts and culture community get through the pandemic
The Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport takes on a portfolio in crisis
Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak, Melanie Mark, B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, says storytelling is an important part of her background.
THE HONOURABLE MELANIE Mark, Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, stepped into the role at a time when every part of the portfolio is struggling, each sector reeling from the effects of COVID-19.
Having previously served as the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, Minister Mark, who’s Nisga’a, Gitxsan, Cree and Ojibway—and who was the first female Indigenous member of B.C.’s legislative assembly and who remains the only First Nations woman to serve in B.C.’s Cabinet—grew up in social housing in East Vancouver and represents the riding of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant.
Minister Mark granted Stir an interview via email to talk about arts and culture in her own life and how the B.C. government is responding to the current crisis the industry is facing.
How have the arts been a part of your life, going back as far as you care to share?
Storytelling has been an intricate part of my background. Hearing someone’s voice provided a sense of belonging and connection that sticks with me today.
My community of East Vancouver is definitely an arts hub. There so many amazing artists and groups working in the community. The Vancouver Mural Festival and Eastside Culture Crawl really connect and inspire everyone who takes part.
Artists are known for pushing the envelope and driving dialogue and change in our communities. Even more so right now in the pandemic, what we’re all missing is that ability to come together and be inspired, to be challenged, and to have that collective experience while staying physically distanced.
Our government is providing $21 million in targeted funding to help arts organizations keep their doors open and find new ways to share their work so that we can have shared experiences now and be ready to take in arts and culture performances when it’s safe again.
Artists are truth tellers and they capture our history—the good and the bad. From storytelling to dancing and singing, arts help provide a sense of belonging and define our identity.
The focus of my career has been on empowering youth; it’s what I’m passionate about. So I’m very excited to use my role as Minister responsible for arts and culture to support young and emerging artists, cultural workers, and creators. Whether that’s through existing programs like the After School Sports and Arts program to encourage students to make art, or supporting young artists to get more training through our new Pivot for Individuals program, or helping emerging filmmakers get their projects off the ground though our new Domestic Motion Picture Fund, I believe in supporting the next generation.
How would you describe the role that arts and culture play in people's lives and in B.C. in general?
I can tell you that our government values arts and culture, both as an important contributor to community well-being as well as providing employment opportunities. Artists are curators of our culture and reflect it back to us in their work, giving us opportunities to connect and learn with each other.
We know that investing in the arts generates economic activity in communities across the province. That’s why we’re providing record-high funding through the BC Arts Council, plus as I mentioned before, millions in targeted recovery funding for the sector.
Arts and culture is what makes our communities exciting. It’s a key part of what makes a community special. It’s part of what makes life better for people. There’s an intrinsic value there, and our government gets that.
The arts and culture sector in BC is currently in crisis because of the effects of COVID-19. I understand that some cultural leaders have requested that a task force be formed, similar to the Tourism Task Force (formed in September 2020) that involves industry and business leaders that will strategize for pandemic survival and recovery. What are your thoughts on such a task force?
Our government has been working closely with the arts and creative sectors since the start of the pandemic. The Premier invited Prem Gill from Creative BC onto his Economic Recovery Task Force, and last spring, my colleague, Parliamentary Secretary Bob D’Eith, led a consultation with the music industry to tailor Amplify BC to meet the needs of the industry.
Since the beginning my ministry has been meeting regularly with arts service organizations. In fact, it was feedback from those discussions that led to our government setting aside $21 million in Stronger BC specifically for arts and culture recovery.
We’ll continue to work with the arts sector as we chart B.C.’s economic recovery.
Looking specifically at cinemas and theatres, are you able to speak to their closures due to public-health restrictions? Many leaders of these facilities say they are able to operate in ways that are as safe as, or even safer, than malls, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and so on with respect to physical distancing and other measures. I understand they would like the opportunity to meet with government leaders even on a case-by-case basis to show their capacity to operate safely. Would you be in a position to consult with such groups?
I know how hard these necessary restrictions are on arts organization and businesses like movie theatres.
I will continue to facilitate their requests to meet with health officials, and I have met with some theatres already to date. I have let them know we are taking an evidence-based approach and following the advice of public health officials.
Our government is offering support such as the Small and Medium Sized Business Grants. We’re also offering extended tax deadlines and relief on commercial property tax and BC Hydro bills.
I know a number of organizations have pivoted their businesses model to offer things online, and we all must think of ways we can continue to offer services in a safe way. This is not forever, but we all need to continue to be disciplined and work together to limit the spread of COVID 19.
Do you have any plans or goals for BC's arts and culture sector that you can or wish to share?
Right now, I am laser-focused on helping the industry get through the next few months of the pandemic. I have a vision to help us get through so when it’s safe to do so we can dance and sing and be together again.
Beyond that, we’ll be looking to expand our new Arts Infrastructure Program to help improve arts spaces across B.C. and do some exciting work on the museum front with the Chinese Canadian Museum and the Royal BC Museum to support our province’s cultural diversity.
Is there anything else about your work that you would like to mention?
I just want to say how inspiring people in the performing arts have been throughout this pandemic. I love music because it has provided me much comfort over the last year. I know that we will all be turning to the creative minds of British Columbia to help us get through the next year ahead.
Hli Haykwhl Ẃii Xsgaak, Melanie Mark.
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