Vancouver – from www.vancouversun.com – A proposal for a body painting conference has been turned down by the Vancouver Island Conference Centre because it is deemed erotic entertainment by the province’s liquor regulator.

Topless models are considered inappropriate for minors, who are allowed to attend events at the conference centre because of its food-primary licence, according to staff at the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch. Promoter Malvern Makuyana of English Entertainment intended to promote body painting by bringing the conference to Nanaimo, but he was turned down this week after months of discussions with management.

The province’s liquor regulator has said body painting is “erotic entertainment” and is not appropriate for the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

The event has already garnered early support and could be as successful as those held in Calgary or Montreal, Makuyana explained.

Some staff at the conference centre supported the project, but Makuyana said the LCLB would not allow it.

“Minors are allowed in establishments with a food-primary licence so entertainment considered unsuitable for minors is not allowed,” according to an email from LCLB. “Body painting, even as an artistic expression, is considered nudity and not suitable for minors.”

Makuyana said the event is designed to be child-friendly, similar to those held all over North America. He also said he would make sure the models had enough clothing to get government approval, but he did not get an answer to his inquiry. The Nanaimo Daily News asked the same question, but did not get a response.

“Nobody will give us a clarification about what is considered adult entertainment,” he said.