ea INQUIRING REPORTER NOTHING IN life is free, or so say the pessimists. But local rocker Bryan Adams wouldmn’t say so. He’s playing for free in Vancouver on Sept. 7, in a tribute to his home town. Plans to hold the concert at Stanley Park’s Brockton Point have kicked up quite a fuss. Scalpers are expected to make big bucks since attendance will be Is Bryan Adams’ free concert a good idea? Vickt Richer North Vancouver Definitely. Especially with the price of tickets these days. But 1 think that they should have it in Burnaby. The more the merrier. Marge Fisher West Vancouver Frankly, I think it would be great for Vancouver. Bryan Adams is a local boy who has made it re- ally big. { think it’s wonderful that he’s do- ing it for free. limited to 42,000 through the distribution of free tickets. Bruce Allen, Adams’ manager, says he wontd rather change the location than limit the crowd with tickets and fences. Opponents of a concert at Brockton Point say a rowdy crowd will pack the park, disrupt -he peace and tear up the turf. Ernest Black North Vancouver Yes, as long as_ they don’t put up a fence to limit the crowd. We've had concerts in the ’60s where 40,000 to 50,000 people went through the park. Farren Dansereau North Vancouver Yes. i think any benefit society receives from its citizens is a biessing. We've made him rich and famous. If he wants to give a little back to his neighborhood, that’s a dlessing. North Shore dance company loses tour subsidy ; Government’s cultural budget slashed by $3 million | A PROMINENT North Shore dance company may be forced to cancel a major B.C. tour next spring. North Vancouver choreographer Judith Marcuse says there is not enough money to do it anymore. “Our B.C. tour for next spring may not happen,’’ Marcuse said. “There are no-tcuring subsidies for performing companies in B.C. and we can’t afford to continue to aE. ’ NV choreographer Judith Mar- cuse...“I'd say there was a crisis in B.C. amongst al} per- forming arts organizations and Individuals working on their By Evelyn Jacob News Reporter lose money.’’ Marcuse said that performing artists are scrambling to make ends meet and that many have been reduced to welfare. She said an emergency has de- veloped in the arts and that the NDP government must act quickly to turn the situation around. “I'd say there was a crisis in B.C. amongst al! performing arts organizations and individuals working on their own.”’ it's a common plight faced by many arts groups right across the country. Conditions for B.C. ar- tists have been particularly bleak, The Social Credit government routinely slashed aris grants and froze cultural funding. But the latest round of cuts comes as a bigger blow to artists because of the NDP’s campaign promise to increase cultural fund- ing. Instead, it cut the budget by almost $3 million... “I think there’ fs a sense of be- WHISTLER RESORT AUTUMN SPECIAL $37.50 Per Person Double Includes: Deluxe Studia Accommodation & choice of one © Sightseeing trip up Whistler or Blackcomb Mountain © Lunch at Ristorante Araxi or Trattoria Di Umberto © Whistler Outdoor Summer Theatre Performance of “Little Shop of FOR RESERVATIONS CALL MOUNTAINSIDE LODGE 681-6710 September 12-13, 1992 BLACKCOMB LODGE 669-0560 8th Annual Bicycle Trek for Life & Breath Cail the B.C. Lung Association 1-800-665-LUNG or 731-4961 teayal,’’ said Marcuse. ‘‘We're at the point where all of us are worked to the bone and now we're in the marrow.”* Rick Lemaire, executive director of the Vancouver Cultural Alli- ance, agrees. “Prior to the election, the NDP seemed to be hearing the message that we in the arts were in a fund- ing crisis. They consulted widely and made firm policy commit- ments to improve the situation. They not only failed to deliver, they actually cut beck some areas. “1 think the real problem is that nobody believed it could be worse than it was under the Socreds. We depended on the NDP. They were our best chance. It’s almost like a both Marcuse and Lemaire conceded there is a basic sympathy on the part of the cul- tural ministry towards the plight of artists, they said the govern- ment may not be aware of how far-reaching the implications of the cuts will be. “Pm not sure the government is resolved ta act quickly enough to prevent some major losses,"” said Marcuse. ‘‘We're losing a genera- tion of artists with the educational cuts, aad lots of artists have been forced to leave the province. COME EARLY | Broil King Regal 2 NOW e Porcelain cast iron grids -e Ceramic briquettes e 50,000 BTUs yg -_ Dancers with seven years of train- ing and years of professional cx- ence are on welfare. It’s horri- fying,*’ she said. Michelle Poirier, a public in-. formation officer for the cultural ministry, said that while there have been cuts made to the overall cuitusal budget, funding for: cul- - tural grants has remained intact. - Marcuse, meanwhile, said. her company will survive. ‘‘We're go- ing to go on with our’ season. We're one of the more” stable organizations in the city. But I’m incredibly saddened. when I look |: fl around at the young artists strug: gling out there."’ LP Pressure Gauge & Leak Detector with each BBO purchase B- (while quantities tast)