December 5, 2008
Tim has found a car and it is under a crisp and sunny day that we take the scenic route to Fredericton, where the last Regional Forum for 2008 will take place at the Fredericton Arts Centre.
Some 26 people have gathered in the room, with a handful saying at the outset that they will unfortunately not be able to stay to the end. Here again, I take some liberties with the general order of the day and the set up favouring sustained exchanges, my introductory presentation is punctuated by questions and comments, which makes for a livelier atmosphere... I guess I have gained some skills at moderating a session over the past two months!
The conversation here focuses mostly on strategies to develop in order to position the cultural sector’s issues on the public agenda. In order to address the image problem, participants suggest that we really must focus on the vocabulary we use – this theme was also developed in yesterday’s forum in Charlottetown. We must use a language which is as inclusive as possible, but we must be concrete in our examples. We must clearly demonstrate how artists, creators and cultural workers are involved in various structures of society, whether it be the economy, the education system, the health sector, the various volunteer groups, etc. and point to the fact that they are citizens like others even if they make a special contribution to our collective identity and quality of life. This may help eliminate the perception that we all are outsiders, a classy type of panhandlers.
It is also recommended that in our repositioning strategy, we deal with federal politicians in Ottawa last of all. The sector must advocate and build its image at the municipal and provincial levels first, deal locally MPs and MPPs, so that this grass root work can eventually percolate to the highest levels of national government. This is the long term strategy which calls for coordination at all levels, but of course in the short term, people expect the various National Art Service Organizations and the CCA to continue their current advocacy or lobby representations, which are more needed than ever in the current economic and political environment.
On the issue of building solidarity within the cultural sector at large around common interest, one participant insists on the crucial role of communication amongst parties and on the need for give and take. These are skills which obviously need to be developed between us!
Finally, there are some good suggestions made as to how the CCA can broaden its legitimacy base – and eventually increase its revenue, suggestions which I will take to our Membership Committee.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Charlottetown Forum
December 4, 2008
Thanks to the generosity of Tim Borlase, one of CCA Board members, who has offered to drive me to Prince Edward Island for today’s meeting, I get to finally cross the famous bridge! All along the road, we follow on the radio the historical shenanigans going on in Ottawa and we get to Charlottetown just as the Prime Minister emerges from Rideau Hall to announce that Parliament has been shut down.
Well, that will not prevent us from holding our own parliament in the coach house adjacent to the sumptuous Beaconsfield House, facing the sea. We have 23 people in the room, including the largest number of visual artists in any forum so far, and while the conversations are lively and people have often diverging views, this parliament remains so civilized and disciplined that Speaker Milliken would envy my role as moderator.
The plenary starts with an animated discussion around the issue of the appropriate focus for the CCA: high brow art of enduring quality or commercially successful art forms and popular culture? One participant gets the ball rolling with a defense of what may be described as an elitist view of arts and a rejection of the concept of cultural industries. This is debated from different angles, some people arguing that there is a continuum between these concepts and that we should not create such division amongst cultural workers. Another participant insists on the fact that if we want to convince others, including politicians, of the importance of the arts in our society, we should use their own language and not try to convert them to our own language. Overall, there is a consensus about the strategic wisdom of using the most inclusive language possible.
Another intervener with a long and distinguished career in the arts and in cultural advocacy underlines the cyclical nature of crises afflicting the cultural sector, which support the impression that we never make real progress. He stresses the fact that we concentrate our efforts on politicians, these cycles will go on forever as we have from scratch each time there is a turnover in political elites. The only road to permanent gains is working on our children through a sensitization to arts in our school system, on our neighbours, on our communities. We have to accept that this a long term enterprise.
As for expectations concerning the CCA, one participant says that our most crucial role in his opinion in the coming years is to keep a watchful eye on what is going on in Ottawa and keep the sector informed in a timely fashion about all developments that may affect if.
As we leave Beaconsfield House, literally thousands of crows have invaded the sky. They form sinister garlands in the denuded trees and cover the roof of the magnificent residence of the Lieutenant Governor: it’s like nightmare before Christmas…the noise is deafening!
It must have been an omen: as we approach Moncton, the warning lights on the dashboard light up one after another and we are happy to make it to an exit in time to call CAA! Tim will have to find another vehicle to go to Fredericton tomorrow!
Thanks to the generosity of Tim Borlase, one of CCA Board members, who has offered to drive me to Prince Edward Island for today’s meeting, I get to finally cross the famous bridge! All along the road, we follow on the radio the historical shenanigans going on in Ottawa and we get to Charlottetown just as the Prime Minister emerges from Rideau Hall to announce that Parliament has been shut down.
Well, that will not prevent us from holding our own parliament in the coach house adjacent to the sumptuous Beaconsfield House, facing the sea. We have 23 people in the room, including the largest number of visual artists in any forum so far, and while the conversations are lively and people have often diverging views, this parliament remains so civilized and disciplined that Speaker Milliken would envy my role as moderator.
The plenary starts with an animated discussion around the issue of the appropriate focus for the CCA: high brow art of enduring quality or commercially successful art forms and popular culture? One participant gets the ball rolling with a defense of what may be described as an elitist view of arts and a rejection of the concept of cultural industries. This is debated from different angles, some people arguing that there is a continuum between these concepts and that we should not create such division amongst cultural workers. Another participant insists on the fact that if we want to convince others, including politicians, of the importance of the arts in our society, we should use their own language and not try to convert them to our own language. Overall, there is a consensus about the strategic wisdom of using the most inclusive language possible.
Another intervener with a long and distinguished career in the arts and in cultural advocacy underlines the cyclical nature of crises afflicting the cultural sector, which support the impression that we never make real progress. He stresses the fact that we concentrate our efforts on politicians, these cycles will go on forever as we have from scratch each time there is a turnover in political elites. The only road to permanent gains is working on our children through a sensitization to arts in our school system, on our neighbours, on our communities. We have to accept that this a long term enterprise.
As for expectations concerning the CCA, one participant says that our most crucial role in his opinion in the coming years is to keep a watchful eye on what is going on in Ottawa and keep the sector informed in a timely fashion about all developments that may affect if.
As we leave Beaconsfield House, literally thousands of crows have invaded the sky. They form sinister garlands in the denuded trees and cover the roof of the magnificent residence of the Lieutenant Governor: it’s like nightmare before Christmas…the noise is deafening!
It must have been an omen: as we approach Moncton, the warning lights on the dashboard light up one after another and we are happy to make it to an exit in time to call CAA! Tim will have to find another vehicle to go to Fredericton tomorrow!
The Moncton Forum
December 3, 2008
The room generously provided by the Capitol Theatre in Moncton is filled to capacity : 46 participants, almost exclusively Acadians, have come to meet with the CCA National Director, hear about the organization and discuss how we can better work together to position arts and culture on the public agenda. One thing is clear from the outset : the CCA is not well known, its mandate is not clear to most and the work it does not widely acknowledged. If this is the case in a milieu as dynamic and structured as the Acadian cultural sector, we have got our work cut out. The message in this respect is very clear : raise your profile, work on networking and personal relationships and target your communications!
The vitality of the Acadian artistic community is once again manifest in the interest given to the challenges facing the whole sector in these difficult times. There has been here, over the past four years, a unique and extremely well orchestrated campaign of mobilization of all sectors interested one way or another in culture (artistic, education, business, the three levels of government and other elements of civil society). This has led to the development of a socio-economic strategy largely centered on creativity in all aspects. The whole venture makes one wonder if such a coordinated movement will ever be possible at the national level! After all, this initiative is based on a collective identity developed over centuries, a sentiment of community with little equivalent and a leadership who is politically savvy and has been very successful against all odds.
I’ll report only on the discussion concerning priorities. The first one identified by all participants concerns the reaffirmation of Ottawa’s role in supporting arts and culture. As long as this country wants to remain a distinct entitiy in the international community, the federal government must acknowledge that it has a crucial role to play, in coordination with the provinces, the municipalities and the private sector, in ensuring the vitality of our arts and culture sector.
Other priorities identified : the promotion of the creative economy, the improvement of the socio-economic status of artists and creators and the democratization of access to culture. But it is made clear to me that the immediate priority for the CCA as an organization is to develop and sustain its networking with other organizations across the country : only thus can it hope to fulfill the unique role it has to help identify common objectives and harmonized strategies to achieve them. Sustained consultation and dialogue must be at the top of the agenda : only thus will the CCA be able to engage its constituencies in the pursuit of the common good and only thus will it be able to increase the resources at its disposal.
I leave the meeting convinced of at least one thing : if we pursue those priorities, the CCA can count of the active support of the Acadian community. Can one ask for more!
The room generously provided by the Capitol Theatre in Moncton is filled to capacity : 46 participants, almost exclusively Acadians, have come to meet with the CCA National Director, hear about the organization and discuss how we can better work together to position arts and culture on the public agenda. One thing is clear from the outset : the CCA is not well known, its mandate is not clear to most and the work it does not widely acknowledged. If this is the case in a milieu as dynamic and structured as the Acadian cultural sector, we have got our work cut out. The message in this respect is very clear : raise your profile, work on networking and personal relationships and target your communications!
The vitality of the Acadian artistic community is once again manifest in the interest given to the challenges facing the whole sector in these difficult times. There has been here, over the past four years, a unique and extremely well orchestrated campaign of mobilization of all sectors interested one way or another in culture (artistic, education, business, the three levels of government and other elements of civil society). This has led to the development of a socio-economic strategy largely centered on creativity in all aspects. The whole venture makes one wonder if such a coordinated movement will ever be possible at the national level! After all, this initiative is based on a collective identity developed over centuries, a sentiment of community with little equivalent and a leadership who is politically savvy and has been very successful against all odds.
I’ll report only on the discussion concerning priorities. The first one identified by all participants concerns the reaffirmation of Ottawa’s role in supporting arts and culture. As long as this country wants to remain a distinct entitiy in the international community, the federal government must acknowledge that it has a crucial role to play, in coordination with the provinces, the municipalities and the private sector, in ensuring the vitality of our arts and culture sector.
Other priorities identified : the promotion of the creative economy, the improvement of the socio-economic status of artists and creators and the democratization of access to culture. But it is made clear to me that the immediate priority for the CCA as an organization is to develop and sustain its networking with other organizations across the country : only thus can it hope to fulfill the unique role it has to help identify common objectives and harmonized strategies to achieve them. Sustained consultation and dialogue must be at the top of the agenda : only thus will the CCA be able to engage its constituencies in the pursuit of the common good and only thus will it be able to increase the resources at its disposal.
I leave the meeting convinced of at least one thing : if we pursue those priorities, the CCA can count of the active support of the Acadian community. Can one ask for more!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The St. John's Forum
December 2, 2008
So, what do St. John’s and Winnipeg have in common? Certainly not the weather, for it is a record 17o Celsius when I get to St. John’s! No, it is the number of participants to the forum: eight. However, this does not prevent this meeting form being one of the most animated discussion of all forums so far. It must have been the atmosphere, the beautiful location (The Rooms, overlooking the Narrows - for the uninitiated, this is the most recent arts venue overlooking the entrance to St. John’s harbour) and, of course, the quality and energy of those who showed up.
Given the more intimate nature of the meeting, we could all gather around the same table and have a continuous exchange on the issues at hand. As everywhere else in Canada these days, the conversation started with the current political uncertainty at the federal level and with speculation about the outcome of a situation worthy of the worst commedia dell’arte.
But we did get on with business and as in other forums, there was a broad consensus about the positive and negative aspects of the part played by arts and culture in the last election, the image problem of the sector and the challenges facing all of us in determining and pursuing common objectives for the greater good of all. Here again, the strategic importance of using the internet as a mobilizing tool to promote the sector’s issues was mentioned.
A good part of the discussion was dedicated to the CCA itself and the role it currently plays and could play if it was properly resourced. A participant referred to the very name of the organization, “conference”, to point at its most important role of community building. This can be achieved through a variety of means, from the more expensive to the relatively cheap, from touring the country to holding more conference calls with key organizations. The main challenge facing the CCA is reconnecting with its constituencies in a meaningful way and engaging people in its perspectives, challenges and activities. There was agreement that the CCA should explore ways to reconnect with the provincial level and have some formal link with whatever appropriate organization or group of organizations with which it may establish a sustained relationship. Someone wondered what role the CCA Board members played in this respect and why they were not heard of more in each region.
Another participant mentioned that it was important to keep the notion that individual members are welcome within the CCA but deplored the fact that the current membership fees are quite steep: shouldn’t the CCA seek validation, strength and resources in numbers rather than in higher fees, at least for individuals? It was suggested membership and revenue could be increased via adding a small amount to the membership fees of existing member organizations, thus turning all individual members of those organizations into supporting members.
Tomorrow, heading to Moncton for the next forum.
So, what do St. John’s and Winnipeg have in common? Certainly not the weather, for it is a record 17o Celsius when I get to St. John’s! No, it is the number of participants to the forum: eight. However, this does not prevent this meeting form being one of the most animated discussion of all forums so far. It must have been the atmosphere, the beautiful location (The Rooms, overlooking the Narrows - for the uninitiated, this is the most recent arts venue overlooking the entrance to St. John’s harbour) and, of course, the quality and energy of those who showed up.
Given the more intimate nature of the meeting, we could all gather around the same table and have a continuous exchange on the issues at hand. As everywhere else in Canada these days, the conversation started with the current political uncertainty at the federal level and with speculation about the outcome of a situation worthy of the worst commedia dell’arte.
But we did get on with business and as in other forums, there was a broad consensus about the positive and negative aspects of the part played by arts and culture in the last election, the image problem of the sector and the challenges facing all of us in determining and pursuing common objectives for the greater good of all. Here again, the strategic importance of using the internet as a mobilizing tool to promote the sector’s issues was mentioned.
A good part of the discussion was dedicated to the CCA itself and the role it currently plays and could play if it was properly resourced. A participant referred to the very name of the organization, “conference”, to point at its most important role of community building. This can be achieved through a variety of means, from the more expensive to the relatively cheap, from touring the country to holding more conference calls with key organizations. The main challenge facing the CCA is reconnecting with its constituencies in a meaningful way and engaging people in its perspectives, challenges and activities. There was agreement that the CCA should explore ways to reconnect with the provincial level and have some formal link with whatever appropriate organization or group of organizations with which it may establish a sustained relationship. Someone wondered what role the CCA Board members played in this respect and why they were not heard of more in each region.
Another participant mentioned that it was important to keep the notion that individual members are welcome within the CCA but deplored the fact that the current membership fees are quite steep: shouldn’t the CCA seek validation, strength and resources in numbers rather than in higher fees, at least for individuals? It was suggested membership and revenue could be increased via adding a small amount to the membership fees of existing member organizations, thus turning all individual members of those organizations into supporting members.
Tomorrow, heading to Moncton for the next forum.
The Halifax Forum
December 1, 2008
Well, Air Canada cannot blame the weather for this one, but thanks to their usual service standards, I made it to Halifax four hours late, thankfully, just in time for the meeting which was taking place at the Dalhousie University Arts Centre. Nice attendance: forty people, covering most disciplines and with representatives from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. I am told by those in the know that I could not have hoped for a more representative group!
I can believe it. The exchanges are lively, the perspectives diverse, but the general views on issues fairly consensual. One participant deplores the fact that, judging from my blogs, it’s pretty much “same old, same old”: the arts community has been making the same evaluation and pushing the same ideas for many years without much progress accomplished to address the challenges facing it.
I must confess I am still relative new to this environment and may have the wrong take on things, but it seems to me that our evaluation of the current situation should be more positive. During these forums across the country, I have sensed a strong conviction that we must overcome the fragmentation and the purely self-interested perspective and create consensus and common action around a small number of common objectives. Surely, if there is such a will, we should be able to find a way, no?
On another front, some people express serious concerns about devolution by Ottawa of cultural responsibility to the provinces. Could the federal government take pretext of the role played by the arts in the recent election and of the demands of the Quebec government, to disengage as much as possible from spending in arts and culture and devolving this responsibility as much as possible to the provinces? After all, except for copyright and broadcasting, which are of exclusive federal jurisdiction, the Constitution is silent on who is responsible for arts and culture!
As in other cities, participants here strongly stress the importance of using an inclusive definition of arts and culture and of establishing strong relationships with other sectors in society which have a stake in arts. Including arts training and appreciation into school curriculums, from primary through to high school, is deemed particularly important if we ever want to change the perception that culture is a luxury in our lives, reserved for the elite. Arts and culture permeates our lives in ways we are often not aware of and any positioning of this sector in our society must start there.
Well, Air Canada cannot blame the weather for this one, but thanks to their usual service standards, I made it to Halifax four hours late, thankfully, just in time for the meeting which was taking place at the Dalhousie University Arts Centre. Nice attendance: forty people, covering most disciplines and with representatives from the federal, provincial and municipal governments. I am told by those in the know that I could not have hoped for a more representative group!
I can believe it. The exchanges are lively, the perspectives diverse, but the general views on issues fairly consensual. One participant deplores the fact that, judging from my blogs, it’s pretty much “same old, same old”: the arts community has been making the same evaluation and pushing the same ideas for many years without much progress accomplished to address the challenges facing it.
I must confess I am still relative new to this environment and may have the wrong take on things, but it seems to me that our evaluation of the current situation should be more positive. During these forums across the country, I have sensed a strong conviction that we must overcome the fragmentation and the purely self-interested perspective and create consensus and common action around a small number of common objectives. Surely, if there is such a will, we should be able to find a way, no?
On another front, some people express serious concerns about devolution by Ottawa of cultural responsibility to the provinces. Could the federal government take pretext of the role played by the arts in the recent election and of the demands of the Quebec government, to disengage as much as possible from spending in arts and culture and devolving this responsibility as much as possible to the provinces? After all, except for copyright and broadcasting, which are of exclusive federal jurisdiction, the Constitution is silent on who is responsible for arts and culture!
As in other cities, participants here strongly stress the importance of using an inclusive definition of arts and culture and of establishing strong relationships with other sectors in society which have a stake in arts. Including arts training and appreciation into school curriculums, from primary through to high school, is deemed particularly important if we ever want to change the perception that culture is a luxury in our lives, reserved for the elite. Arts and culture permeates our lives in ways we are often not aware of and any positioning of this sector in our society must start there.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
The Saskatoon Forum
November 27, 2008
It’s a cold day in Saskatoon, but the sun is shining so brightly that I opt for the 30 minute walk that will take me to the Mendel Art Gallery, beautifully located on the bank of the South Saskatchewan River, where today’s Forum is held.
The turn out is good, some twenty-two people from various sectors of the arts, culture and education community having come to share views on the best way to position the sector's issues in public debate. We cover some of the same ground covered in other consultations, but there are some interesting and original points that are raised.
The first one is a suggestion that one of the reasons that arts and culture have a problem in getting support in a part of the population may be related to the long-held view by Protestant churches that hard work and sports activities are appropriate for a good Christian, but that the arts, while they may not carry the sinful stigma they once suffered from, are still considered a rather frivolous activity, not worthy of public support. It is suggested that maybe the United Church of Canada should be included in any awareness campaign about the importance of culture in our lives!
Here as in Toronto, it is pointed out that another reason for the lack of support may stem from the perception that arts and culture are akin to entertainment and as such, should not need or deserve public money.
On the issue the proper language to use in positioning the sector, someone comments that there is a world of difference for an advocacy group to be called “The Canadian Conference of the Arts” and “Sport Matters”, the former sounding rather elitist while the latter is much more inclusive. I must say that this comment has merit, although I am not quite sure we should rush to forego half a century of brand recognition without having weighed carefully the pros and cons of a name change… but eh, this may well be something to consider as we look at different scenarios on how to organize our common action!
The Saskatoon Forum concludes the tour of central and western Canada. Next week, five more forums in the eastern provinces will complete the series of regional consultations. Given the whirlwind nature of my travels in this last leg of the national tour, I can only hope that the weather cooperates and that I don’t get stranded in some snowed over or fogged in airport!
It’s a cold day in Saskatoon, but the sun is shining so brightly that I opt for the 30 minute walk that will take me to the Mendel Art Gallery, beautifully located on the bank of the South Saskatchewan River, where today’s Forum is held.
The turn out is good, some twenty-two people from various sectors of the arts, culture and education community having come to share views on the best way to position the sector's issues in public debate. We cover some of the same ground covered in other consultations, but there are some interesting and original points that are raised.
The first one is a suggestion that one of the reasons that arts and culture have a problem in getting support in a part of the population may be related to the long-held view by Protestant churches that hard work and sports activities are appropriate for a good Christian, but that the arts, while they may not carry the sinful stigma they once suffered from, are still considered a rather frivolous activity, not worthy of public support. It is suggested that maybe the United Church of Canada should be included in any awareness campaign about the importance of culture in our lives!
Here as in Toronto, it is pointed out that another reason for the lack of support may stem from the perception that arts and culture are akin to entertainment and as such, should not need or deserve public money.
On the issue the proper language to use in positioning the sector, someone comments that there is a world of difference for an advocacy group to be called “The Canadian Conference of the Arts” and “Sport Matters”, the former sounding rather elitist while the latter is much more inclusive. I must say that this comment has merit, although I am not quite sure we should rush to forego half a century of brand recognition without having weighed carefully the pros and cons of a name change… but eh, this may well be something to consider as we look at different scenarios on how to organize our common action!
The Saskatoon Forum concludes the tour of central and western Canada. Next week, five more forums in the eastern provinces will complete the series of regional consultations. Given the whirlwind nature of my travels in this last leg of the national tour, I can only hope that the weather cooperates and that I don’t get stranded in some snowed over or fogged in airport!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The Winnipeg Forum
November 26, 2008
For some reason, either e-invite got lost in cyberspace or I have come to Manitoba on a particularly busy day for the arts and culture sector (I refuse to consider it’s for lack of interest in the topic!) but the meeting at the Cinémathèque on Arthur Street is a very intimate affair! All in all, eight people have gathered in the nice little auditorium…
But I must say that what we lack in numbers is more than made up in interest and insightful comments. As in other cities, I find here mixed feelings about the outcome of having seen the arts and culture play a prominent role in the last federal election. The main upside seems to be that it was an occasion for the sector in Winnipeg to come together (I am told there was here a very well attended all-candidates meeting during the campaign).
I don’t think it was to make up for the low turnout or to console me, but I must say I was particularly touched by the testimonies of appreciation I received for the work of the CCA in general and for the tools provided during the campaign in particular.
The format of the Forum was adjusted to the size of the group and allowed for more of a dialogue than usual. We covered pretty much the same ground as in other forums, about the necessity to remedy the fragmentation of the sector, the need for forging alliance with others, the importance of the medias in recasting the perception people have of arts and culture, the usefulness of the internet to activate networks and share information. The need for statistics and research to support our representations to the public at large and to decision-makers in particular was highlighted. People clearly indicated that the CCA could play a crucial role in this respect but also acknowledged that it would need to be better resourced.
We spent some time discussing the importance of adopting an inclusive definition of the sector to include other elements of culture beyond "the arts", without however falling into an overextended quasi-anthropological definition of culture.
We talked about the possibility of creating a link between provincial organizations and the CCA, without having to create yet another anemic structure. The idea of extending to the whole country the operation “Journées de la culture”, so successful in Québec, drew a lot of interest.
Half the group then went to a pub to continue the discussion in a more relaxed atmosphere and explore further how the CCA could be better connected to the Manitoban arts community. All in all, a very positive and pleasant encounter!
For some reason, either e-invite got lost in cyberspace or I have come to Manitoba on a particularly busy day for the arts and culture sector (I refuse to consider it’s for lack of interest in the topic!) but the meeting at the Cinémathèque on Arthur Street is a very intimate affair! All in all, eight people have gathered in the nice little auditorium…
But I must say that what we lack in numbers is more than made up in interest and insightful comments. As in other cities, I find here mixed feelings about the outcome of having seen the arts and culture play a prominent role in the last federal election. The main upside seems to be that it was an occasion for the sector in Winnipeg to come together (I am told there was here a very well attended all-candidates meeting during the campaign).
I don’t think it was to make up for the low turnout or to console me, but I must say I was particularly touched by the testimonies of appreciation I received for the work of the CCA in general and for the tools provided during the campaign in particular.
The format of the Forum was adjusted to the size of the group and allowed for more of a dialogue than usual. We covered pretty much the same ground as in other forums, about the necessity to remedy the fragmentation of the sector, the need for forging alliance with others, the importance of the medias in recasting the perception people have of arts and culture, the usefulness of the internet to activate networks and share information. The need for statistics and research to support our representations to the public at large and to decision-makers in particular was highlighted. People clearly indicated that the CCA could play a crucial role in this respect but also acknowledged that it would need to be better resourced.
We spent some time discussing the importance of adopting an inclusive definition of the sector to include other elements of culture beyond "the arts", without however falling into an overextended quasi-anthropological definition of culture.
We talked about the possibility of creating a link between provincial organizations and the CCA, without having to create yet another anemic structure. The idea of extending to the whole country the operation “Journées de la culture”, so successful in Québec, drew a lot of interest.
Half the group then went to a pub to continue the discussion in a more relaxed atmosphere and explore further how the CCA could be better connected to the Manitoban arts community. All in all, a very positive and pleasant encounter!
Toronto Forum
November 24, 2008
The room at the Royal Ontario Museum is so full that we have to open up the sliding door to the next room. We are surrounded by copies of Egyptian artifacts and while the venue is a bit crammed, it does not stifle a lively conversation amongst participants.
As in other forums, we start with a review of the last electoral campaign and of the divisive nature of the debate about arts and culture. Someone quotes a journalist who, in a recent panel, said that it was precisely the debate’s polarization which guaranteed the continued interest of the press, always on the look out for adversarial, black and white issues. However, what pleases journalists is not necessarily good for the sector and there are many who would argue that the arts and culture community has come out of the election worse off within public opinion and no doubt, with a government which may blame it for having failed to achieve the majority it was seeking.
We had a series of exchanges about the issue of defining culture and about the fact that many people don’t even realize how arts and culture are pervasive in their lives. For them, as for many a politician, culture is either an elitist concept or is synonym with entertainment, in either case not qualifying for public financial support.
One participant warns about the fact that we have entered a potentially very difficult and challenging period. The current economic crisis severely diminishes revenue from foundations and may lead to a drying up of sponsorships. But even more importantly, it provides a government which does not believe that culture is a priority, or a constitutional responsibility, with a reason to inflict more cuts on those who have positioned themselves as the enemy during the election campaign. And there is the temptation to yield to the Quebec government’s calls for devolution, something which would have dire consequences for the sector, even in Quebec itself: isn’t it better to have two sources of funding rather than only one?
There is a consensus that we must find a way to unite our forces, which are far too dispersed. We have the CCA, the Canadian Arts Coalition, the Arts Summit, Canadian Business for the Arts, a multitude of arts service organizations, etc. How can we coordinate efforts, define a vision of the common interest, develop a winning strategy? Some mention the importance of establishing partnerships with other sectors of society, with education and health. Others raise the need to convince business philanthropists, who generously support the arts, to speak up and explain why culture is important to all citizens.
It would appear that there is more agreement on the questions than on the answers, but throughout the discussion, one can sense the beginning of a common awareness of what is needed and, who knows, of a common will to find a solution?
The room at the Royal Ontario Museum is so full that we have to open up the sliding door to the next room. We are surrounded by copies of Egyptian artifacts and while the venue is a bit crammed, it does not stifle a lively conversation amongst participants.
As in other forums, we start with a review of the last electoral campaign and of the divisive nature of the debate about arts and culture. Someone quotes a journalist who, in a recent panel, said that it was precisely the debate’s polarization which guaranteed the continued interest of the press, always on the look out for adversarial, black and white issues. However, what pleases journalists is not necessarily good for the sector and there are many who would argue that the arts and culture community has come out of the election worse off within public opinion and no doubt, with a government which may blame it for having failed to achieve the majority it was seeking.
We had a series of exchanges about the issue of defining culture and about the fact that many people don’t even realize how arts and culture are pervasive in their lives. For them, as for many a politician, culture is either an elitist concept or is synonym with entertainment, in either case not qualifying for public financial support.
One participant warns about the fact that we have entered a potentially very difficult and challenging period. The current economic crisis severely diminishes revenue from foundations and may lead to a drying up of sponsorships. But even more importantly, it provides a government which does not believe that culture is a priority, or a constitutional responsibility, with a reason to inflict more cuts on those who have positioned themselves as the enemy during the election campaign. And there is the temptation to yield to the Quebec government’s calls for devolution, something which would have dire consequences for the sector, even in Quebec itself: isn’t it better to have two sources of funding rather than only one?
There is a consensus that we must find a way to unite our forces, which are far too dispersed. We have the CCA, the Canadian Arts Coalition, the Arts Summit, Canadian Business for the Arts, a multitude of arts service organizations, etc. How can we coordinate efforts, define a vision of the common interest, develop a winning strategy? Some mention the importance of establishing partnerships with other sectors of society, with education and health. Others raise the need to convince business philanthropists, who generously support the arts, to speak up and explain why culture is important to all citizens.
It would appear that there is more agreement on the questions than on the answers, but throughout the discussion, one can sense the beginning of a common awareness of what is needed and, who knows, of a common will to find a solution?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Montreal Forum
November 10, 2008
The venue of the meeting had symbolic value: the “Institut national de l’image et du son (INIS)" is one of the institutions severely impacted by the federal cultural budget cuts which have surfaced during the recent months.
Its Director, Michel Beauchemin, and the President of Culture Montreal, Simon Brault, made the introductory remarks to the discussion. Both underlined the critical importance for the Canadian arts and culture sector to remain united in the current situation which, given the economic meltdown, can only spell more trouble for all of us. This is not the time for isolation or for wasting energies in fragmented efforts. The CCA was thanked for the information work it accomplished during the election and for launching the current series of regional forums across the country.
These themes were woven throughout the afternoon’s discussion. Someone regretted the fact that the electoral debate was overly focused on the impact of the cuts on artists who, for many, came out as eternal whiners, as opposed to being focused on the critical contribution arts and culture make to our society: it was suggested that this fact greatly contributed to the polarization of positions. Here as in other forums, interveners underlined the strategic importance of establishing links with stakeholders outside of the arts and culture sector and to find champions who support the multi-faceted contributions artists and cultural institutions make to all citizens.
The need for an on-going awareness campaign was once again mentioned. What arts and culture provide to the public should be the number one priority in the message to be developed. And while recognizing the importance of promoting popular cultural expressions, the question was raised as to how we can position more “high brow” art forms without falling into the trap of counter-productive elitism.
And once we have defined the proper message, it is crucial to choose carefully who the spokespeople will be, some types of interventions being more hurtful than useful, as we witnessed during the election. The objective is not to please ourselves by preaching to the choir but to be as effective as possible with a communication essentially destined to those who have not yet been sensitized to the role of arts and culture in our society. Here again, people mentioned the central role of the media and of education in pursuing the long term objective of positioning arts in public debate. In the short term, the point was made that we have to keep hammering the economic impact of the recent cuts on our artists and cultural institutions.
The venue of the meeting had symbolic value: the “Institut national de l’image et du son (INIS)" is one of the institutions severely impacted by the federal cultural budget cuts which have surfaced during the recent months.
Its Director, Michel Beauchemin, and the President of Culture Montreal, Simon Brault, made the introductory remarks to the discussion. Both underlined the critical importance for the Canadian arts and culture sector to remain united in the current situation which, given the economic meltdown, can only spell more trouble for all of us. This is not the time for isolation or for wasting energies in fragmented efforts. The CCA was thanked for the information work it accomplished during the election and for launching the current series of regional forums across the country.
These themes were woven throughout the afternoon’s discussion. Someone regretted the fact that the electoral debate was overly focused on the impact of the cuts on artists who, for many, came out as eternal whiners, as opposed to being focused on the critical contribution arts and culture make to our society: it was suggested that this fact greatly contributed to the polarization of positions. Here as in other forums, interveners underlined the strategic importance of establishing links with stakeholders outside of the arts and culture sector and to find champions who support the multi-faceted contributions artists and cultural institutions make to all citizens.
The need for an on-going awareness campaign was once again mentioned. What arts and culture provide to the public should be the number one priority in the message to be developed. And while recognizing the importance of promoting popular cultural expressions, the question was raised as to how we can position more “high brow” art forms without falling into the trap of counter-productive elitism.
And once we have defined the proper message, it is crucial to choose carefully who the spokespeople will be, some types of interventions being more hurtful than useful, as we witnessed during the election. The objective is not to please ourselves by preaching to the choir but to be as effective as possible with a communication essentially destined to those who have not yet been sensitized to the role of arts and culture in our society. Here again, people mentioned the central role of the media and of education in pursuing the long term objective of positioning arts in public debate. In the short term, the point was made that we have to keep hammering the economic impact of the recent cuts on our artists and cultural institutions.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Regina Forum
November 6
A very windy day in the broad streets of Regina! I wish I had taken my gloves with me…
But the atmosphere in the room at the Globe Theatre, where some twenty-five people have gathered, more than makes up for the cold outside. The Saskatchewan arts community is well established and has a long tradition to be proud of. Did you know that this province was the very first one in Canada to give itself an Arts Council in 1948, almost ten years before we got a national one? Amongst many other distinguished artists, this is the land that gave us Joe Fafard, last year’s recipient of the CCA’s Diplôme d’honneur. I take the opportunity to invite people to submit names for this year’s CCA Awards (for more information, see http://www.ccarts.ca/en/awards/ )
As in previous Forums, the Regina participants welcome the call for a coordinated effort to better position arts and culture within Canadian society. The need to expand networks outside the cultural sector itself is underlined: it is deemed crucial to find allies in the business community, in the education sector, in the health sector, etc. and to identify the right people to carry the message for the importance the arts have in our lives and in our society.
But the need for fact-based advocacy, the need for proper statistics and the need for proper training for advocating are underlined once again and participants turn to the CCA to help provide these basic tools and the leadership required to achieve our common goals. Participants also acknowledge that we have to find ways of breaking silos and identify common objectives and strategies. As in Ottawa and Vancouver, the CCA is invited to take the lead in defining a sustained awareness campaign to raise public awareness of the value of the arts and culture in their lives. Here again, the opportunities offered by the Internet are highlighted as people point to the mobilizing effects it has had in the Canadian and American election campaigns. More strategizing must be done in this respect.
Once again, I welcome this enthusiasm but I must realistically point at the modesty and precariousness of CCA’s resources. In the ensuing discussion, the strategic importance of better connecting the CCA with its grassroot organizations and the need for some sort of provincial connection with the mother ship is highlighted. I agree that this must be explored in the coming months and undertake to do so with the Saskatchewan Arts Alliance to determine how this could be achieved in a mutually satisfying way.
All in all, I can say that the energy of the Forum and a series of positive meetings with key players in the Saskatchewan’s cultural scene have made a success of my visit to Regina. I shall be back in Saskatchewan for the Saskatoon Forum on November 27...
A very windy day in the broad streets of Regina! I wish I had taken my gloves with me…
But the atmosphere in the room at the Globe Theatre, where some twenty-five people have gathered, more than makes up for the cold outside. The Saskatchewan arts community is well established and has a long tradition to be proud of. Did you know that this province was the very first one in Canada to give itself an Arts Council in 1948, almost ten years before we got a national one? Amongst many other distinguished artists, this is the land that gave us Joe Fafard, last year’s recipient of the CCA’s Diplôme d’honneur. I take the opportunity to invite people to submit names for this year’s CCA Awards (for more information, see http://www.ccarts.ca/en/awards/ )
As in previous Forums, the Regina participants welcome the call for a coordinated effort to better position arts and culture within Canadian society. The need to expand networks outside the cultural sector itself is underlined: it is deemed crucial to find allies in the business community, in the education sector, in the health sector, etc. and to identify the right people to carry the message for the importance the arts have in our lives and in our society.
But the need for fact-based advocacy, the need for proper statistics and the need for proper training for advocating are underlined once again and participants turn to the CCA to help provide these basic tools and the leadership required to achieve our common goals. Participants also acknowledge that we have to find ways of breaking silos and identify common objectives and strategies. As in Ottawa and Vancouver, the CCA is invited to take the lead in defining a sustained awareness campaign to raise public awareness of the value of the arts and culture in their lives. Here again, the opportunities offered by the Internet are highlighted as people point to the mobilizing effects it has had in the Canadian and American election campaigns. More strategizing must be done in this respect.
Once again, I welcome this enthusiasm but I must realistically point at the modesty and precariousness of CCA’s resources. In the ensuing discussion, the strategic importance of better connecting the CCA with its grassroot organizations and the need for some sort of provincial connection with the mother ship is highlighted. I agree that this must be explored in the coming months and undertake to do so with the Saskatchewan Arts Alliance to determine how this could be achieved in a mutually satisfying way.
All in all, I can say that the energy of the Forum and a series of positive meetings with key players in the Saskatchewan’s cultural scene have made a success of my visit to Regina. I shall be back in Saskatchewan for the Saskatoon Forum on November 27...
Friday, November 7, 2008
The Calgary Forum
The group may have been smaller in the windowless room at the Glenbow Museum than it had been in the sunny lobby of the TransAlta Arts Barns in Edmonton, but the energy was the same and the conversation was just as animated and full of interesting insights.
Once again there was general acknowledgement that the election campaign had illustrated clearly that the art sector has an image problem which allowed cuts to cultural programs to be used as a wedge issue. It was suggested that while we may have communications problems with the population at large, our lack of cohesiveness and communications between us may be the first thing we have to address.
The need for more coordination, for stepping back from daily specific concerns to establish areas of common interest and develop supporting strategies was stressed by a number of interveners and expectations that the CCA should play a major role in this respect were considerable. The need for tools and training in advocacy were underlined and the CCA was complimented and thanked for the work and information it provided to its members during the recent election campaign, but more was expected from it.
While I can only agree about the need and about the fact that by its very nature and mission, the CCA is well positioned to play a key role in this respect, I had to underline the modesty of our means with regards to the breadth of our mandate.
This led one participant to state that the CCA must become financially more independent from governmental support and he offered to help find new resources from Albertan philanthropists, an offer which I welcomed and which I will certainly follow up on!
Another issue raised was the generational gap within the arts community and the impact that new technologies have on the very concept of what it is to be an artist. Where are we to draw the line between professionalism and amateurism? Should this growing phenomenon be perceived as a threat or quite the opposite, as an opportunity to expand the notion that the arts can be part of everyone’s active experience and not the fact of elites? Maybe the law of the market and time will, once again, establish what has enduring quality. But in the meantime, is there a danger that a growing schism between “highbrow” and “middle or lowbrow” art will make advocating for the arts even more difficult because it fragments the sector even more? And how can we muster these new technologies to better advocate?
Important questions to ponder indeed!
Once again there was general acknowledgement that the election campaign had illustrated clearly that the art sector has an image problem which allowed cuts to cultural programs to be used as a wedge issue. It was suggested that while we may have communications problems with the population at large, our lack of cohesiveness and communications between us may be the first thing we have to address.
The need for more coordination, for stepping back from daily specific concerns to establish areas of common interest and develop supporting strategies was stressed by a number of interveners and expectations that the CCA should play a major role in this respect were considerable. The need for tools and training in advocacy were underlined and the CCA was complimented and thanked for the work and information it provided to its members during the recent election campaign, but more was expected from it.
While I can only agree about the need and about the fact that by its very nature and mission, the CCA is well positioned to play a key role in this respect, I had to underline the modesty of our means with regards to the breadth of our mandate.
This led one participant to state that the CCA must become financially more independent from governmental support and he offered to help find new resources from Albertan philanthropists, an offer which I welcomed and which I will certainly follow up on!
Another issue raised was the generational gap within the arts community and the impact that new technologies have on the very concept of what it is to be an artist. Where are we to draw the line between professionalism and amateurism? Should this growing phenomenon be perceived as a threat or quite the opposite, as an opportunity to expand the notion that the arts can be part of everyone’s active experience and not the fact of elites? Maybe the law of the market and time will, once again, establish what has enduring quality. But in the meantime, is there a danger that a growing schism between “highbrow” and “middle or lowbrow” art will make advocating for the arts even more difficult because it fragments the sector even more? And how can we muster these new technologies to better advocate?
Important questions to ponder indeed!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Edmonton Forum
If it’s Monday, it must be Edmonton! A record fifty-five people have gathered in the beautifully bright foyer of the TransAlta Arts Barns to discuss how to take advantage of the unexpected place the arts have taken in the recent federal election. Can we keep the momentum? Can we better position the cultural sector in public debate? Has the Conservative government got the message that arts do matter to ordinary Canadians? And more fundamentally, how can we ensure that they actually do? These are all questions that dominated an animated debate.
One of the themes that took me somewhat by surprise was the insistence of many participants to the Forum that in its documentation, the CCA stop talking about “arts and culture” and refer instead only to the arts. I finally understood when told that the newly created Albertan Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit has recently published a cultural policy based on a very broad, almost anthropological definition of culture. This policy, the result of two consultations with the Albertan population, defines culture “in the broad sense, to include not only the arts, but also heritage, sport and recreation, and the natural environment. It also includes creativity and innovation, especially in business and the arts”. After a good look at the glossy government’s brochure where the new Alberta’s cultural policy is explained in details, I get the message!
This cleared out of the way (or was it?), the discussion moved on in more and less familiar territory. The importance of education in the repositioning of arts in our society was again highlighted, as was the need for a coordinated effort to define a new language to present artists and creators and the crucial role they play in our lives, whether we realize it or not. Education being a provincial issue, the CCA was asked whether it was in a position to work on this issue, given its national mandate and its limited means. The idea of creating a provincial link to the CCA was also evoked.
One of Edmonton’s favourite sons, Senator Tommy Banks, had taken the time to join the discussion. To considerable applause, he made an impassioned intervention on the importance to hit decision-makers over and over again with the message that arts matter to our lives in a variety of ways. Senator Banks also insisted on the fact that we were embarking on a long process. Here again, the CCA was identified as a natural player in this endeavour and asked to provide the tools and, if possible, the training to help turn as many people as possible into efficient advocates for the arts within their communities and with decision-makers at all levels.
The meeting concluded on an upbeat note and after a very nice Vietnamese meal with a small number of participants, I hit the sack for a few hours of welcome and much needed sleep before heading tomorrow to the rival city of Calgary.
One of the themes that took me somewhat by surprise was the insistence of many participants to the Forum that in its documentation, the CCA stop talking about “arts and culture” and refer instead only to the arts. I finally understood when told that the newly created Albertan Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit has recently published a cultural policy based on a very broad, almost anthropological definition of culture. This policy, the result of two consultations with the Albertan population, defines culture “in the broad sense, to include not only the arts, but also heritage, sport and recreation, and the natural environment. It also includes creativity and innovation, especially in business and the arts”. After a good look at the glossy government’s brochure where the new Alberta’s cultural policy is explained in details, I get the message!
This cleared out of the way (or was it?), the discussion moved on in more and less familiar territory. The importance of education in the repositioning of arts in our society was again highlighted, as was the need for a coordinated effort to define a new language to present artists and creators and the crucial role they play in our lives, whether we realize it or not. Education being a provincial issue, the CCA was asked whether it was in a position to work on this issue, given its national mandate and its limited means. The idea of creating a provincial link to the CCA was also evoked.
One of Edmonton’s favourite sons, Senator Tommy Banks, had taken the time to join the discussion. To considerable applause, he made an impassioned intervention on the importance to hit decision-makers over and over again with the message that arts matter to our lives in a variety of ways. Senator Banks also insisted on the fact that we were embarking on a long process. Here again, the CCA was identified as a natural player in this endeavour and asked to provide the tools and, if possible, the training to help turn as many people as possible into efficient advocates for the arts within their communities and with decision-makers at all levels.
The meeting concluded on an upbeat note and after a very nice Vietnamese meal with a small number of participants, I hit the sack for a few hours of welcome and much needed sleep before heading tomorrow to the rival city of Calgary.
Monday, October 27, 2008
The Vancouver Forum and meeting in Victoria
October 27, 2008
My trip to the British Columbia was a real pleasure! The weather was exceptionally beautiful, although I did not get to see much of it, busy as I was meeting with people.
It started early in the morning on Wednesday, October 22, when I was invited as guest speaker at a breakfast meeting of the Downtown Vancouver Association, thanks to the good offices of Andrew Wilhelm-Boyles, Executive Director of the Vancouver Arts Alliance. This was an opportunity for me to present the CCA to a group of about 15 people interested in arts and culture and to have an open discussion about the theme of our Regional Forums. The importance of working at the local level to position arts and culture, the relationship between arts, culture and education and the need to work on our collective image with the population at large were raised during the exchanges which followed my presentation.
The same themes were raised again during the Forum which was held during the afternoon at the Vancity Theatre, where about 35 people had gathered to discuss priorities and strategies. Education was raised again as a very important component of a long-term strategy to better position arts in our society and it stemmed from this discussion that it was necessary to develop a comprehensive strategy which would target local, provincial and federal decisions-makers. Fragmentation of the sector was also raised and it was suggested that maybe what was needed was a provincial organization modelled on the CCA, that is, an umbrella organization which would cover all disciplines and walks of life, intervene at the provincial level and work with the CCA at the national one.
People also welcomed the CCA’s objective of developing into a sort of think tank doing basic research on broad issues affecting the arts and culture sector at large. The importance of creating and maintaining a central repository of information and statistics accessible to artists, organizations, governments and the public at large was also underlined.
My next stop was Victoria, where I had the opportunity to meet with a number of members of the Professional Arts Alliance of Greater Victoria in the beautiful Belfry Theatre complex. The smaller group led to an animated exchange and raised some interesting suggestions concerning possible strategies to improve the profile of arts and culture in general and with Ottawa politicians in particular. I was particularly interested in hearing about an idea that had been discussed in previous years but has not yet come to fruition, namely the notion that national arts service organizations should look again at the possibility of coordinating Annual General Meetings so that they could take place over a period of a week in the nation’s capital and use the opportunity to hold an advocacy operation on the Hill.
My interlocutors also raised concerns about the fact that there may a temptation for the federal government to concentrate its attention and policies only on a few large centres of excellence to the detriment of mid-size communities which also have, and must continue to have, thriving arts and culture institutions and organizations.
My next regional forums will be in Edmonton (November 3), Calgary (November 4) and Regina (November 6).
My trip to the British Columbia was a real pleasure! The weather was exceptionally beautiful, although I did not get to see much of it, busy as I was meeting with people.
It started early in the morning on Wednesday, October 22, when I was invited as guest speaker at a breakfast meeting of the Downtown Vancouver Association, thanks to the good offices of Andrew Wilhelm-Boyles, Executive Director of the Vancouver Arts Alliance. This was an opportunity for me to present the CCA to a group of about 15 people interested in arts and culture and to have an open discussion about the theme of our Regional Forums. The importance of working at the local level to position arts and culture, the relationship between arts, culture and education and the need to work on our collective image with the population at large were raised during the exchanges which followed my presentation.
The same themes were raised again during the Forum which was held during the afternoon at the Vancity Theatre, where about 35 people had gathered to discuss priorities and strategies. Education was raised again as a very important component of a long-term strategy to better position arts in our society and it stemmed from this discussion that it was necessary to develop a comprehensive strategy which would target local, provincial and federal decisions-makers. Fragmentation of the sector was also raised and it was suggested that maybe what was needed was a provincial organization modelled on the CCA, that is, an umbrella organization which would cover all disciplines and walks of life, intervene at the provincial level and work with the CCA at the national one.
People also welcomed the CCA’s objective of developing into a sort of think tank doing basic research on broad issues affecting the arts and culture sector at large. The importance of creating and maintaining a central repository of information and statistics accessible to artists, organizations, governments and the public at large was also underlined.
My next stop was Victoria, where I had the opportunity to meet with a number of members of the Professional Arts Alliance of Greater Victoria in the beautiful Belfry Theatre complex. The smaller group led to an animated exchange and raised some interesting suggestions concerning possible strategies to improve the profile of arts and culture in general and with Ottawa politicians in particular. I was particularly interested in hearing about an idea that had been discussed in previous years but has not yet come to fruition, namely the notion that national arts service organizations should look again at the possibility of coordinating Annual General Meetings so that they could take place over a period of a week in the nation’s capital and use the opportunity to hold an advocacy operation on the Hill.
My interlocutors also raised concerns about the fact that there may a temptation for the federal government to concentrate its attention and policies only on a few large centres of excellence to the detriment of mid-size communities which also have, and must continue to have, thriving arts and culture institutions and organizations.
My next regional forums will be in Edmonton (November 3), Calgary (November 4) and Regina (November 6).
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Ottawa Regional Forum
Ottawa, Friday October 17, 2008Well, the ice is broken! On Friday, we held in Ottawa the first of our Regional Forums: only 13 more to go before mid-December… I must say that if they are all as animated and stimulating as this first one, my tour of the country promises to be rewarding.
About twenty-five people gathered at Arts Court on this brisk but beautiful autumn afternoon to discuss the questions put to them by the Canadian Conference of the Arts: how can we best work together to put arts and culture permanently on the public agenda? What should be our collective priorities for the next couple of years? What strategies should we develop to ensure these priorities get the attention they deserve?
It was noted that while there were reasons to rejoice that for once, arts and culture had figured prominently during an election campaign, this was done in a way that proved divisive within Canadian society. Apart from the rhetorical excesses which sometimes characterized the debate, the most worrisome aspect of all this was that there obviously still is a large number of citizens who view arts and culture as a luxury and an elitist concern, and perceive artists as eternal whiners never satisfied with the handouts the government gives them.
It was pointed out that we are partly to blame for this perception. It is true that, as was the case during the campaign, artists and culture professionals make themselves heard mostly when they clamour for more subsidies or protest against something (e.g. Bill C-10). The sector has an image problem which must be addressed and we must find ways of re-branding it by showing not what we ask or demand from society but rather all the things we give to it.
Participants have invited the CCA to put this item on its list of priorities and be at the centre of such a reflection to help craft a message and a strategy to help Canadians understand that artists and cultural workers make an important contribution to society, beyond the economic one highlighted during the federal campaign. It was noted that while important, economic arguments are fraught with danger in that they may support the view that the only art worth having is the lucrative one. Measured by that yardstick alone, van Gogh would never have achieved the status of one of the main painters of the 19th century!
Next Forum, Vancouver on October 23rd!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Welcome to the CCA Regional Forum Blog!
Thanks to a set of circumstances which nobody could have foreseen, arts and culture have occupied with politicians and journalists a most unusual place in the course of the federal election campaign. The question is, what will happen on the day after the election?
Several months ago, the CCA had chosen the theme of its March 2009 National Policy Conference and of the series of Regional Forums which will precede it: how can we best work together to better position arts and culture in public debate? We could not have been more topical if we had tried!
During the next two months, I will travel all over the country to consult with members of the CCA and will all those who are concerned about the important place arts and culture occupy in our society and who want to raise its profile with Canadians at large and with decision-makers in particular.
During the whole process, I will keep here a diary on the highlights of each forum. I invite you to follow this series of consultations to see what is on the mind of your colleagues across the country, the common priorities they think we should adopt and the short, mid and long-term strategies we should adopt to make sure arts and culture occupy the place they deserve on the public agenda.
But even more, I invite you to write your comments and suggestions as the consultation process unfolds. And of course, I urge you to register for the forum which will take place in your province.
I look forward to reading you and, better still, of meeting you!
Alain
Several months ago, the CCA had chosen the theme of its March 2009 National Policy Conference and of the series of Regional Forums which will precede it: how can we best work together to better position arts and culture in public debate? We could not have been more topical if we had tried!
During the next two months, I will travel all over the country to consult with members of the CCA and will all those who are concerned about the important place arts and culture occupy in our society and who want to raise its profile with Canadians at large and with decision-makers in particular.
During the whole process, I will keep here a diary on the highlights of each forum. I invite you to follow this series of consultations to see what is on the mind of your colleagues across the country, the common priorities they think we should adopt and the short, mid and long-term strategies we should adopt to make sure arts and culture occupy the place they deserve on the public agenda.
But even more, I invite you to write your comments and suggestions as the consultation process unfolds. And of course, I urge you to register for the forum which will take place in your province.
I look forward to reading you and, better still, of meeting you!
Alain
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