The B.C. government cut $77 million from arts funding last summer, cuts which have affected arts and culture workers all over B.C. Now the cuts are hitting home, right down to those enrolled in UVic’s Humanities, Fine Arts and Professional Writing Co-op Program.
With the funding cuts, many museums, galleries, publishing houses, musical venues, theatres and interpretive centres are struggling to stay open, let alone hire Co-op students.
In Bowen Island, B.C., the small Museum and Archives centre has lost funding. As a result, they have laid off their only paid employee and shut their doors until further notice.
“We can only hire students if we get the grants, but there are no grants,” said Beverly Underhill, the museum’s president. “We had a wonderful summer with our two students, but now we’re struggling to keep the doors open.”
Co-op students have been a part of summer at the museum for at least 10 years. Most of the students have come from the University of B.C. (UBC), but UVic students held both positions this past summer.
Losing jobs from these small employers may mean that opportunities for Co-op students to network, develop new skills and try out careers will be reduced.
“That’s a shame, because the experiential education offered by Co-op can’t be taught in the classroom,” said Don Bailey, the Co-op co-ordinator for Humanities, Fine Arts and Professional Writing. “Consequently, these lost opportunities represent a loss to post-secondary education overall.”
When the economy is in full swing, UVic Co-op students interested in working in an arts and culture-related profession can apply to a variety of jobs posted to the Humanities, Fine Arts and Professional Writing Co-op Program, including positions for curators, interpreters, administrative assistants, photographers, content writers and actors.
But without government funding, those jobs might not be available to Co-op students this coming summer, meaning students may have to submit more applications to more competitive jobs than in previous years.
Still, the Co-op office says that students have plenty of options.
“While the quantity of jobs may be decreasing, we haven’t noticed a decrease in the quality of positions,” said Executive Director of UVic’s Co-op and Career Services Norah McRae. “If a student’s ideal employer isn’t currently hiring, that student could approach the employer about volunteer opportunities. This type of networking could pay dividends when the employer has the funds to hire again.”
UVic’s Co-op program recommends that students keep searching for job opportunities and take advantage of the support offered by the Co-op office.
“We are doing everything we can to support students during this economic period by offering job search workshops and other on-campus events,” said McRae. “Economic fluctuations are a reality and, while the types or locations of Co-op positions may change, there are still many strong job options for students.”