Fundraisers and wine event organizers are relieved that Arts Umbrella is virtually sold out for a $55 wine tasting tonight featuring Sonoma Valley wines.
Some organizers have told Business in Vancouver they are concerned the HST and stricter penalties for those caught driving with more than 0.05% blood alcohol content will make it much harder for them to sell tickets.
“We’ve seen no evidence that the HST is impacting us negatively,” Arts Umbrella CEO Lucille Pacey told BIV on Friday.
Hopwever, that came minutes after Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival director Harry Hertscheg told BIV he is worried the HST and new liquor restrictions would make it much harder for him to sell tickets to his March 28-April 3, 2011 festival.
“We’re in a post-Olympics recessionary era of increased taxes and more liquor laws. It’s hard to completely see the impact of that,” he said. “My prices are going up 7% because of the HST and it’s in the same year that people are struck with fear for having any alcohol touch their lips before they drive.”
Another bugbear is provincial government cuts to gaming grants to arts organizations, he added.
Last week, the B.C. Association for Charitable Gaming (BCACG), which represents more than 1,000 charities, called on Vancouver city council to refuse to hear the application for a new casino near BC Place until the provincial government boosts the amount of money it gives arts organizations.
BCACG representatives told media that Victoria failed to live up to an agreement it made in 1999 to provide 33% of gaming revenues to arts organizations. Last year, charitable groups only received 10% of those revenue, according to BCACG figures.