What Does Seventy-Eight Percent Cut Mean?

In 2009, the British Columbia government redirected provincial gambling profits away from cultural groups as well as making huge cuts to arts funding. All in all, the cuts to culture in BC are estimated at 90%. If we look at it that way, I guess one could argue that our cuts at 78% are better than the provincial average.

But what does that 78% cut mean to our audience and community? Essentially, it means that all our activities are now limited to contributing to the development of new works in any small way we can. All production has had to be cancelled or postponed. We could say that, "There is no room currently for Queer culture on stage." But instead, we put on a brave face as the arts yet again get caught up in politics.

That is the reality of being part of the culture sector and a social profit group in British Columbia in 2010 as yet another provincial government sees the stages of the province as easy pickings.

What we do have to offer our audience and community is new works development as playwrights from across Canada have once again answered our call for new Queer plays. Be part of our commitment to new playwrights by coming out to Clean Sheets 2010 or by making a donation. You'll be glad you did.

Seán Cummings - Managing Artistic Director

About the Weenie
Screaming Weenie Productions is an award-winning professional theatre company and social profit society in British Columbia since 2002.

We are committed to the development of sexual and/or gender queer artists, and are actively inclusive of all gender identities, sexualities and ethnicities. 

Our Mission
Screaming Weenie's mission is to produce and promote queer and sex positive performance, facilitating a stronger queer community by creating and encouraging the performing arts and artists. We strive to create greater positive public awareness and acceptance, through the performing arts, of individuals and groups outside of sexual and gender norms.

Queer Defined
We define Queer as "outside the perceived norm of sexual and gender roles, including (but not limited to) those individuals that self identify as BGILPPTTT2QQ - bisexual, gay, intersexed, lesbian, pansexual, polyamourous, transgendered, transexual, third-sex, two-spirited, queer or questioning."

Queer Theatre Defined
the writing and production of plays that are:
strange, curious, peculiar, innovative, unexpected, eccentric, odd, passionate, unconventional, dynamic, homosexual, inspiring, transgendered, amusing and/or comical.