Coalitions That Build
the Arts!
The newly-formed Canadian Arts Coalition, which aims
to highlight the essential role of the arts in the lives
of Canadians, is seeking an increased investment of $5 per
capita for the arts through the Canada Council for the Arts.
And they’re on the move with a “lobby day,”
scheduled for October 25!
Canada’s artists and arts organization are an economic
force at the creative heart of the $39 billion cultural
sector—bigger than agriculture, forestry, mining and
oil and gas sectors combined. Without the imagination and
creative engagement of Canada’s artists—and
people like yourself!—Canadian society would certainly
be impoverished.
The federal government’s primary vehicle for arts
support is the Canada Council for the Arts, which supports
2,100 arts organizations and a similar number of individual
professional artists. But since 1998, the Council has seen
a 50 per cent increase in the number of applications from
arts organizations and a 30 per cent increase from individual
artists, with the result that each year 12,000 eligible
arts organizations and artists are turned down for support.
This represents an enormous loss of creative potential for
Canada.
The Canadian Arts Coalition aims to highlight the essential
role of the arts in the lives of Canadians and share information
with government decision makers that demonstrates the significant,
yet undervalued, contribution that the arts make to Canada’s
cultural, social and economic life. To ensure an adequate
investment in artistic creation, research, development and
production, the Coalition is seeking an increased investment
of $5 per capita for the arts through the Canada Council
for the Arts.
According to the CAC, Heritage Minister Liza Frulla will
move forward this fall with a request to the federal Cabinet
for a greater investment in the arts in Canada through the
Canada Council for the Arts. So, it will be important for
the Minister to have strong support around the Cabinet table
and in caucus when this issue is discussed. The Canadian
Arts Coalition’s effort is focused on building this
support.
To date, the CAC has been very busy. They’ve urged
supporting organizations to prepare submissions for the
House of Commons pre-budget consultations and to carry the
message for increased support for the arts of $5.00 per
capita. In the coming weeks, these organizations will be
working to set up meetings with ministers from across Canada
and asking senior arts and cultural sector representatives
to deliver the message in these meetings. However, there
is still a need for more organizations to write and ask
for meetings with their local MPs. (If you need information
with which to do this, please contact the CAC at canadianartscoalition@magma.ca.)
Claire Hopkinson, Executive Director
Toronto Arts Council and Foundatrion
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“A substantial increase
to the arts from the federal government would help to
address a very real need in Toronto” says Claire
Hopkinson, the new Executive Director of the Toronto
Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council Foundation. “A
high proportion of Canada’s artists live and work
in Toronto; indeed there are approximately 200,000 culture
workers in this city. There is a multi-million dollar
gap between what is required to sustain creativity activity
and what is available - whether it be earned, private
fundraising or government revenue. Our City itself does
not have enough revenue to meet all its needs and fall
far short of the amount required to seriously address
the funding gap to the arts. I am confident that a major
increase to the Canada Council will have a correlating
positive impact on our arts community. I am delighted
that Toronto City Council has recently passed a motion
to support the initiative of the Canadian Arts Coalition
by encouraging the federal government to increase funding
to the Canada Council by $5 per capita. Now we all need
to do what we can to help this important campaign to
succeed.” |
The Coalition will also be organizing a “lobby day”
on Parliament Hill on October 25, 2005. The lobby day will
include a large number of meetings with ministers, MPs and
senior officials, a press conference and, it is hoped, a
reception. In addition to arts organizations, prominent
artists, community leaders, business leaders and other organizations
will be asked to participate in the lobby day. The CAC will
deliver their message to many politicians in a single day,
making the arts the centre of attention on the Hill.
Toronto Arts Coalition suggests that you inform your membership,
your Board, or the people who shape your arts world, of
this initiative. The CAC is looking for articulate, passionate
spokespersons who can represent your community; people with
name recognition; and leaders in the local community. While
association executive directors and staff will be involved,
it is important to engage artists and management directly
involved in delivering the arts to the public.
Even if you cannot help out at the Hill, you can easily
get in touch with your MP. It’s as simple as clicking
on this link: http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/SenatorsMembers_House.asp?Language=E&Parl=38&Ses=1&Sect=hoccur
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