May 2012
Leonard Cohen donates $50K from Glenn Gould Prize
Singer-songwriter gives cash to Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Leonard Cohen donates $50,000 prize to Canada Council
Leonard Cohen donated his $50,000 Glenn Gould Prize to the Canada Council for the Arts at a star-studded concert in his honour at Toronto’s Massey Hall. more >
April 2012
Is art essential to daily life? Join the debate at National Gallery
Here’s a provocative, persistent and perfunctory question that was posted on the internet: “Should government, in times when fiscal restraint is essential, make arts funding a priority? Shouldn’t health-care or education or jobs (sic) creation come first?” more >
CCA President’s Blog – All together now!
After months of silence, we finally know where we stand: the federal government has confirmed officially it will put an end to 46 years of funding to the Canadian Conference of the Arts by March 31, 2013. more >
How Canadian should the Canadian Opera Company be?
Wanted: an opera lover with a keen interest in new music, deep pockets and a big Canadian heart. Assignment: donate $1-million to help the Canadian Opera Company live up to its name by producing a new Canadian opera. more >
March 2012
Drastic Cuts to Cultural Programs will Hurt Canadian Audiences and Economy
The Writers Guild of Canada is deeply concerned about the substantial cuts to culture outlined in the Federal budget, in particular the cumulative effect of cuts to the audiovisual sector, including CBC, Telefilm Canada and the National Film Board. more >
National museums, Canada Council spared cuts
The Canada Council for the Arts, an organization that provides both operating funding and special grants to arts groups, saw its funding maintained. more >
Canada Council speaks on federal budget
"The Canada Council for the Arts is enormously heartened by the positive message sent by the 2012 budget and the support of the government in recognizing the Council's leadership role," said Canada Council Board Chair Joseph L. Rotman. more >
Le Conseil des arts parle du budget fédéral
« Le Conseil des arts est très encouragé par le message positif transmis par le budget 2012 et le soutien du gouvernement qui reconnaît le rôle de leadership du Conseil », a déclaré Joseph L. Rotman, président du Conseil des arts du Canada. more >
Winners of the John Hobday Awards in Arts Management explore how digital technology can engage music audiences
The 2012 winners of the John Hobday Awards in Arts Management will find new ways to bring music to Canadian audiences by learning from world leaders in the industry, the Canada Council for the Arts announced today. more >
Federal Heritage minister hints at good budget news for the arts
Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore is hinting at some “good news” for the Canada Council for the Arts in next week’s federal budget – despite the budgetary belt-tightening that is expected to deal with an estimated $31-billion deficit. more >
February 2012
Canadians’ Arts, Culture and Heritage Activities in 2010
The report summarizes data on participation in arts, culture and heritage activities during the 12 months prior to the survey, including information about the frequency of participation. more >
No culture, no future, author says
If arts groups want to flourish they’ve got to innovate. That’s the message from Simon Brault, vice-chair of the Canada Council of the Arts and CEO of the National Theatre School. more >
December 2011
Province Supports Arts Sector with New Legislation to establish Arts Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia recognizes the role that arts and culture play in making Nova Scotia communities vibrant. Legislation introduced today, Dec. 1, will establish Arts Nova Scotia and formalize the structure and mandate of the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council. more >
November 2011
New educational initiative aims to ignite social action by connecting Canadian students, authors and books
This initiative will bring Canadian students together with authors and books to encourage them to share their opinions and to use literature and video to become socially involved. more >
Canadian Public Arts Funders (CPAF) meet to discuss future directions in public arts funding
Representatives of arts councils and equivalent public arts funders from across Canada met in Whitehorse, Yukon, November 16-18, 2011, on the occasion of the Canadian Public Arts Funders (CPAF) Annual General Meeting. more >
Les organismes publics de soutien aux arts du Canada (OPSAC) discutent des futures orientations en matière de financement public des arts
Des représentants de conseils des arts et d'autres organismes publics de nature similaire de partout au Canada se sont réunis à Whitehorse (Yukon), du 16 au 18 novembre 2011, à l'occasion de la rencontre annuelle du réseau des Organismes publics de soutien aux arts du Canada (OPSAC). more >
New educational initiative aims to ignite social action by connecting Canadian students, authors and books
Through its Imagineaction program, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) is partnering with the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCU), the Public Lending Right Commission (PLRC) and Indigo Books and Music to launch a project called Listen, I read. more >
Nouveau projet éducatif visant à susciter l’action sociale par la rencontre d’élèves avec des auteurs canadiens
Par le biais de son programme Imagineaction, la Fédération canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants (FCE), en partenariat avec le Conseil des Arts du Canada, la Commission canadienne pour l’UNESCO (CCU), la Commission du droit de prêt public (CDPP), et Indigo, Livres & Musique, lance « Écoute, je lis ». more >
Robert Sirman keeps it analog
"The GGLA winners will be announced on Nov. 15 and I am doing my best to dip into as many of the short-listed books as possible " more >
October 2011
Ontario Arts Council Board Appoints New Director and CEO
Martha Durdin, Chair of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) today announced the appointment of Peter Caldwell as Director and CEO of the Ontario Arts Council. He succeeds John Brotman who is retiring after ten years at the council's helm. more >
Canada Council rolls out Canada’s first Inuktitut app
The Canada Council for the Arts has launched what is believed to be the country’s first Inuktitut-language app for iPads, iPhones, iPod touches and Google Android devices by creating a tool the agency hopes will help attract more Inuit artists to its grant programs. more >
Deaf and Disability Arts, Access and Equality
Deaf and disability arts are very important sectors in the arts community. The Canada Council for the Arts is demonstrating its commitment through research, funding and a broad strategy. more >
September 2011
Copyright changes: how they'll affect users of digital content
Canada has been trying to reform its copyright legislation, which was last updated in 1997, for several years now. There have been four attempts to date to pass amendments that would bring the Copyright Act in line with the digital age — one by the Liberals in 2005 and three by the Conservatives, in 2008, 2010 and, now, in 2011. more >
Celebrate 75 years of GGreat books with the Canada Council for the Arts
Share your love of Canadian literature as part of the 75th anniversary of the Governor General’s Literary Awards, administered by the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Spare arts grants from the cleaver
Canadian cities are taking necessary steps to clean up their balance sheets, with the City of Toronto’s attempt to close a $774-million fiscal gap being the showcase example. But policy-makers should take special pause before undertaking an across-the-board approach that cuts arts grants. more >
August 2011
What's your most inspiring cultural experience?
In a contest leading up to the cross-country celebration of the arts held on Sept. 30-Oct. 2, Culture Days is asking Canadians to submit stories about how their lives have been enriched by arts and culture. more >
Here, There: Canadian arts funding a buttress against southern neighbors
Canada’s population is concentrated along the border with the United States, which remains its dominant cultural influence. In the 1950s, Canada worried its southern neighbor was overshadowing national culture. To strengthen a unified Canadian identity, it developed a sophisticated system of government support for the arts. more >
The Value of Presenting – website and online forum
Take part in an online conversation about presenting in Canada. Explore the role of presenters in the creative chain, in communities and society. Find out about the national study The Value of Presenting: A Study of Arts Presentation in Canada. more >
June 2011
Potential loss of annual funding is attack on the arts
Canadian Actors' Equity Association condemns Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's recent statements warning arts institutions to "stay on their toes" on the assumption that grants to cultural institutions and festivals will not be automatically continued. more >
Don't count on grants, Flaherty warns arts groups
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has a warning for cultural institutions that have come to rely on regular government funding: don't count on it. more >
Canada Council for the Arts improves access to music programs
The Canada Council for the Arts announced today changes to its music production and touring programs that contribute to the visibility of Canadian professional music artists in Canada and internationally. more >
Government of Canada Returns Its Largest Ever Seizure of Cultural Property to the Republic of Bulgaria
The Government of Canada today returned to the Republic of Bulgaria 21,000 coins, pieces of jewellery, and other objects that were illegally imported to Canada and seized by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. more >
Brault captures spotlight
A biography of Simon Brault, who is vice-chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts, was recently launched. Simon Brault: Prendre fait et cause pour la culture, by Aurélie Dubois-Prud'homme, Laurence Prud'homme and Laurent Lapierre. more >
The author as entrepreneur, and the dangers this poses
The British company Unbound offers a fundraising platform for authors who want to get started on their next book. It is basically a subscription model for the creation of art – something that was popular in previous centuries. more >
May 2011
Culture Days returns for second year
On Monday, the cultural community was all smiles amid the performance art, live painting and drumming at the announcement launching Canada’s second annual Culture Days. more >
Government Expenditures on Culture: Data Tables 2008/2009
Statistics Canada recently released a brief overview and data regarding government spending on culture in 2008-09. The data includes direct government support for culture through operating expenditures, capital expenditures and grants. Excluded are indirect support instruments, such as tax credits. Hill Strategies has analyzed this data for this issue of the Arts Research Monitor. more >
April 2011
NCC and Canada Council Art Bank highlight provinces and territories through public art partnership
The National Capital Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Canada Council Art Bank, unveiled today the 2011 Provincial and Territorial Confederation Boulevard Banners. more >
Harper government, enemy of the arts?
Liberal, NDP and Green Party representatives were there. Even Communist and Marijuana candidates made it to Ottawa's Cube Gallery last week for an all-party debate on arts policy. But there was no Conservative representation — and should we be surprised? more >
Federal Election 2011: Public Cultural Investments under Canada’s 40th Parliament
In 2008, the CCA published a bulletin analyzing the investments made under Canada’s 39th Parliament in the arts, culture and heritage sector. In order to give you a broad perspective, we used several years’ worth of budget analyses to explain funding to the sector. more >
March 2011
New Director of Arts Disciplines Division and New Head of Dance
Anne Valois, the former head of the Canada Council for the Arts' Dance Section, has been appointed the Director of Arts Disciplines Division. Replacing her as the Head of the Dance Section is Caroline Lussier, currently the administrative director of Festival TransAmériques. more >
Snobbery serves no one in arts debate
Tear down the wall between 'high arts' and mainstream culture, Canada Council vice-chair says. more >
December 2010
U40 International Forum in Istanbul: Publication of "Network in Action"
The Canadian Coalition for Cultural Diversity has released its Network in action, which sums up the discussions and recommendations from the International Forum of U40 Fellows, in Istanbul, October 21 to 24. more >
November 2010
Bottom line on arts spending promising
Consumer Spending on Culture in Canada, the Provinces and 12 Metropolitan Areas is based on an annual survey of household spending conducted by Statistics Canada. The bottom line looks promising: Canadians spent $27.4 billion on cultural goods and services in 2008, a 28 per cent increase over 1997. more >
Arts: Dance for your dinner
"Government funding might go up, gross, but it's not going up as a percentage of your total budget," Melanson says. "Government funding at best as a percentage of total budget is going to stay the same, and at worst it's probably going to diminish. So the other two categories — earned revenue and fundraising — have got to grow. more >
My City’s Still Breathing: A symposium exploring the arts, artists and the city
This exciting symposium will gather international experts to deliberate and debate the current and future relationships of art and design to city-making. The documentation of this symposium will be published as a Cultural Capitals legacy event - an important contribution to urban development in Canada. more >
Arts groups re-think the 'creative economy'
Arts advocates from across Canada gathered in Ottawa on Tuesday to re-think their role in the "creative economy," a concept that has served them well over the past decade but is struggling as the national economy slumps.
more >
Universal high-speed internet essential: Liberals
The federal government should provide funding to ensure high-speed internet access is available for all Canadians to subscribe to, says the Liberal technology critic.
more >
New arts minister Stephanie Cadieux says she wants to establish "respectful dialogue"
On October 25, Gordon Campbell shuffled his cabinet, handing the arts portfolio to newly appointed Minister for Community, Sport and Cultural Development Stephanie Cadieux, a rookie MLA. more >
Ottawa pushes ahead with copyright bill amid opposition
The federal government is pushing ahead with a bill to update Canada’s copyright laws, while opposition to the proposed legislation is gathering steam among creators and cultural groups. The artists say the bill gives consumers new rights and big producers new laws, but doesn’t compensate individual creators for new uses of their work. more >
October 2010
Nordicity wins bid to assess the impact of digital technology on Canada’s cultural sector
The Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) has commissioned Nordicity to undertake a pan - Canadian study on the Impact of Digital Technology on the Cultural Sector. The study was launched in Montréal on October 26th at the first meeting of the CHRC’s Steering Committee for the project. more >
Canada Council for the Arts releases five year strategic plan
The Canada Council for the Arts outlined today its priorities for the next five years with the release of Strengthening Connections: Strategic Plan 2011-16. more >
September 2010
Cultural deep thinkers have their say
The Star asked several leading figures in the country’s arts scene what was the one thing they would change about Canada’s cultural policies. more >
Haitian artists reach out in weekend program
Nestled inside this weekend's three-day Journees de la culture event is an initiative called Culture pour tous, designed to stimulate intercultural dialogue.
more >
Memorial held for Shirley Thomson
Several hundred people gathered in the National Gallery's great hall Thursday to celebrate the life of Shirley Thomson who died Aug. 10 at the age of 80. Thomson spent a decade at the helm of the gallery - from 1987 to 1997-- and also led the Canada Council for the Arts from 1998 to 2002.
more >
B.C. art attack: Interview with Alliance for Arts and Culture's Amir Ali Alibhai
The B.C. government this past week restored some funding to the arts after heavy advocacy by supporters of the arts. To what degree will this make up for the cuts that happened? more >
Who should fund the arts: Consumers, state, rich patrons?
Which funding approach produces the most creative, meaningful, influential, relevant and transformative art, the kind which best contributes to a healthy society? more >
The separation of ART and STATE
The B.C. Arts Council is caught between the arts community and the government that funds it.
more >
August 2010
2011 Federal Budget The creative sector: not yet recovered
Pre-budget submission by the Canadian Conference of the Arts to the Standing Committee on Finance. more >
Art for All… Or Else
An interview with Simon Brault, author of No Culture, No Future. more >
Shirley Thomson, a passionate advocate for the arts
The Canada Council for the Arts is deeply saddened by the death of Shirley Thomson. more >
July 2010
Book publishers to benefit from improved Canada Council for the Arts translation program
Over the next three years, more money than ever before will be available for official language translations by professional publishers through the National Translation Program for Book Publishing. more >
June 2010
Montreal Meeting of U40 The Americas
The U40 meeting brought together 30 young professionals (cultural policy experts, cultural practitioners, communication experts, legal experts, emerging scholars from 11 North, Central and South American countries), each active members of civil society, government or the private sector. more >
Phantom space an incubator for artistic reality
There's an upside to the economic slowdown: the rise of pop-up art. That's when unconventional space -- an abandoned warehouse perhaps -- is used in creative ways by emerging artists. more >
Government of Canada Introduces Proposals to Modernize the Copyright Act
This legislation is a key pillar in the Government's commitment from the Speech from the Throne to position Canada as a leader in the global digital economy. more >
May 2010
Simon Brault: Cultural crusader
Simon Brault has fought on the side of arts and culture for over three decades. He continues the good fight in his new book, No Culture, No Future, an impassioned manifesto that argues for the importance of the arts in society.
more >
Ottawa to revamp Canada Prizes
The Canada Council for the Arts will administer the hotly debated prizes as well as the $25-million endowment the government has pledged to form them. more >
April 2010
Canada Council welcomes reappointment of Robert Sirman as Director and CEO
Joseph L. Rotman, Chair, today welcomed the reappointment of Robert Sirman as Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Knelman: Culture’s weekend in the sun
In late September, for one weekend, Canadians across the country will get a chance to take part in the first of an annual event called Culture Days. It’s an imaginative and ambitious undertaking designed to inspire millions of ordinary citizens to savour the arts by becoming directly engaged in the creative process. more >
The Canada Council on trial
At the heart of the Canada Council's funding decisions is a peer jury, and it is this select group of individuals that determines who gets the money. The question is: Is it fair? more >
Canada Strengthens Ties with Colombia to Foster Mutually Beneficial Cultural Exchanges
The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and the Honourable Paula Marcela Moreno Zapata, Colombia's Minister of Culture, today concluded a working session by signing a memorandum of understanding to increase cultural cooperation and exchanges between Canada and Colombia. more >
Culture Days unveils first-ever Canada-wide
Plans for Culture Days, a free annual event that invites people to celebrate and explore arts and culture in every province and territory in Canada, were unveiled today at events in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Prince Edward Island. The Canada-wide celebration represents the largest-ever collective public participation campaign undertaken by the arts and cultural community in this country. more >
March 2010
Arts agencies launch services directory for culturally diverse artists
Quebec artists from culturally diverse communities have a new tool to help them develop their careers. The Canada Council for the Arts and Diversité artistique Montréal (DAM) today launched a new resource directory which lists organizations that offer direct services to culturally diverse artists. more >
Artists benefit from Olympic and Paralympic spotlight
The Cultural Olympiad put Canadian artists in the national and international spotlight, but government cuts to funding for the arts may make it difficult for them to benefit from the attention. more >
Program primes businesses for arts support
Business for the Arts -- also known as BftA -- unveiled its artsVest program, a matching grant initiative for local organizations. more >
Federal budget approach to arts funding contrasts provincial plan
Blog by Janet Smith. Two governments faced with hard times. Two very different approaches to arts funding during a recession. more >
Flaherty keeps status quo for arts and culture
No new cash, but no cuts either, drawing a mixed reaction from Canadian artists. more >
February 2010
The cultural legacy of the 2010 Winter Olympics
Sport wasn’t the only winning act of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Music, art, performances and programs riveted hundreds of thousands of onlookers who gathered in official venues and on city streets to enjoy Olympic-inspired culture. more >
January 2010
Games' cultural legacy will disappear if arts funding cuts continue
It's good news Bramwell Tovey will stay another five years conducting the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Similarly positive is the success of the Cultural Olympiad, the dozens of cultural events surrounding the 2010 Olympics. It's all planting the seeds for a cultural legacy. But will it all evaporate after the Games leave town? more >
$20-million, 190 performances, 8 weeks
But will eight weeks of extreme culture have any lasting impact? Does $20-million buy any sort of legacy? The unsurprising answer from the Olympiad's director Robert Kerr is “absolutely”. more >
How new technologies secure a place for the arts
The fact is that the arts are doing better than ever, as new technologies secure them a place at the heart of everyday life. more >
December 2009
Talkin' about the dip
There are less art grant requests coming in, but that’s not necessarily a good sign, North Vancouver’s cultural development officer John Rice says. more >
The art of turning cultural policy on its head
Simon Brault's participation theory has top minds lining up to hear more. The head of the National Theatre School and vice-chair of the Canada Council for the Arts has stirred quite a few top cultural minds, both in Canada and abroad, to re-think the direction of cultural policy with his recent book, Le facteur C: L'avenir passe par la culture. more >
Say no to cuts to BC arts funding!
Prominent British Columbians and Canadians speak out against the cuts. To learn more about the cuts,
and why we publicly fund culture in this country to ensure access to culture for all, click here.
more >
Simon Brault's got the cultural community all abuzz
The head of the National Theatre School has spurred debate on the direction of arts policy with his new book. more >
Fringe director wary of Expo 2017
The head of Edmonton's Fringe Theatre festival says he's worried the proposed Expo 2017 could hurt the city's established arts events. more >
Critics worried Olympic artists will be censored
Only weeks after Victoria was touting the 2010 Winter Games Cultural Olympiad as a showcase for the province's artistic community in the wake of arts funding cuts, civil liberties groups are asking Olympic organizers (VANOC) to remove what they're calling propaganda clauses from artists contracts. more >
November 2009
Vancouver's 2010 Olympic Legacy is beginning already
The Olympic legacy is being felt even before the 2010 Winter Olympics have begun. Cuts in the Arts and the closure of popular tourist attractions shows how tight money is. The funding the British Columbia Arts Council receives from the Provincial Government is being slashed by 82%. more >
Heritage minister says arts groups shouldn't rely on one source for funding
Arts groups need to diversify their sources of funding to ensure they remain financially viable, Heritage Minister James Moore said Friday. more >
Heritage minister says arts groups shouldn't rely on one source for funding
Arts groups need to diversify their sources of funding to ensure they remain financially viable, said Heritage Minister James Moore . more >
Private sector patron of the arts?
The Jazz Fest, the Cirque du soleil, and other big name events get the big name recognition - as well as the sponsorships and funding that often go along with it. But what about smaller events and people like authors and dancers who often get left out in the cold? more >
B.C. Arts Council can't write cheques to arts groups
Has the B.C. Liberal government diluted arm’s-length funding of culture by taking away the B.C. Arts Council’s ability to write the cheques to arts organizations? Under the Arts Council Act, the B.C. Arts Council must “allocate the money appropriated annually for the Council by the Legislature”. more >
B.C. should restore arts funding, committee says
The British Columbia government should reverse its controversial cuts to arts funding in its next budget, says the province's all-party finance committee. more >
ArtStarts in Schools showcase sidelined
The dismal economic climate continues to rain down on local arts groups. ArtStarts in Schools has announced it’s cancelling next year’s spring showcase as a result of uncertainty regarding provincial arts funding. more >
Toronto unveils billboard tax for art
The City of Toronto has released a draft bylaw regulating outdoor advertising and introducing a new tax on billboards for art. The bylaw will be voted on at the PGM Committee on Nov. 4th at 1:30pm. Aiming to beautify and increase freedom of expression in public spaces, Beautifulcity.ca has advocated for this city building idea since 2002. more >
October 2009
National arts initiative launched
A new, national initiative is under way to heighten Canadians' awareness of the arts, their accessibility to art and artists, and their “participation in and engagement with” the activities of the cultural sector. more >
Artists to stand in silence to protest funding cuts
Dressed in grey and standing in formation, artists and their supporters will be staging public interventions around downtown Vancouver today. more >
Campbell commits cultural genocide
"What the government is doing is cultural barbarism and vandalism of the highest order.” Scott Watson, curator of UBC’s Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, isn’t the only outraged member of the BC arts community. Social groups, students and the general public are speaking out against drastic arts funding cuts outlined by Premier Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberal Government. more >
Space-directed show has a universal message
Guy Laliberté's Poetic Social Mission into space was transmitted live to the world last night, with help from an international star-studded cast preaching the value of one of our planet's most precious resources. The two-hour show, titled Moving Stars and Earth for Water, was broadcast on TV and the Internet via Laliberté's charity foundation, Onedrop.org. more >
'Devastating' cuts to B.C. literary groups
British Columbia's publishing industry is reeling after what are being described as “massive” cuts to the province's literary organizations. more >
Cirque du Soleil founder leads out of this world broadcast for water
Canadian space tourist Guy Laliberte’s “Poetic Social Mission” into space was transmitted live to the world Friday night, with help from an international, star-studded cast preaching the value of one of our planet’s most precious resources — water. more >
September 2009
Music grant is a lifeline for musicians
Heritage minister James Moore is making a big mistake cancelling the Canada Council's Specialized Music Recording Grant. more >
Independent artists angry over lost grants
Federal Heritage Minister says the policy reforms ‘have long been called for by people in the music industry'. more >
Kim Cattrall takes shot at B.C. arts funding cuts
Kim Cattrall — the Courtenay-raised actor who played sexy Samantha on the HBO series and subsequent film Sex and the City — certainly sent a message to the B.C. government during her acceptance speech at the Canadian Walk of Fame gala in Toronto this past weekend. more >
Government of Canada Supports Arts and Culture in Minority Official-Language Communities
Funding fhas been announced for arts and culture in minority official-language communities. more >
If you like the arts, then pay for them yourself
Many citizens are more concerned that the state provide health care when they need it, guard their security and see that their children have schools to go to. They have less concern for what goes on or is displayed in temples of the arts. more >
Musicians mourn loss of diversity fund
The elimination of the Canadian Musical Diversity fund will marginalize artists working in jazz, folk, traditional and contemporary classical music that do not have a large commercial following, musicians say. more >
Small record labels concerned over federal funding change
The federal government’s elimination of the Canadian Musical Diversity element of its Canada Music Fund has owners of small, non-mainstream record labels wondering if their days are numbered. more >
Curtain falls on arts funding
Alberta's culture minister says arts and non-profit groups funded through gaming and government grants can expect up to a 20 per cent cut in money. more >
Government of Canada supports Aboriginal Arts training
Over the next three years, the En'owkin Centre will receive a total of $720,000 for its National Aboriginal Professional Arts Training Program. more >
August 2009
International Festival of Authors gets Scottish funds
Toronto's International Festival of Authors (IFOA) has received a monetary gift through a new partnership with the Edinburgh International Book Festival to the tune of £50,000 ($90,000 Cdn) to promote Scottish writers. more >
Cultural institutions stagger out of recession
Now that "recovery" has replaced "recession" as the favourite R-word of financial prophets, it's time to ask whether Toronto's cherished but vulnerable cultural institutions can manage to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start all over again after a year of living dangerously. more >
Mo' money, same problems for Canadian hip-hop artists
The Canada Council for the Arts wants to support more hip hop, but the artists are still stinging from past rejections. more >
July 2009
Moore restructuring Canada Music Fund
Heritage Minister James Moore has announced an increase in the Canada Music Fund, the federal government's main fund to support the music industry, but changes are coming in the way the fund distributes its money. more >
New rules for translation funding
After almost a year of deliberations, the Department of Canadian Heritage has finally come up with a plan for disbursing $5-million in funds for French-English translations - through the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
June 2009
Millions of dollars renewed in arts funding
Cultural community relieved as Heritage Minister unveils $500-million over five years for key programs. more >
Why Richard Florida's honeymoon is over
The urban guru arrived two years ago as the toast of the town. Today, his critics argue he is a glib salesman and elitist. How did such a sweet marriage go wrong? more >
Heritage minister pledges 5 years of stable arts funding
Saying the cultural sector needs "stability," Heritage Minister James Moore has announced a five-year funding package for the arts. more >
Canada Council welcomes $25 million funding renewal
Canada Council for the Arts welcomes today’s announcement that the Government of Canada has renewed for five more years the $25 million in annual funding scheduled to sunset at the end of the current fiscal year. more >
Arts organizations improve compensation levels yet still lag behind other sectors
Arts organizations have shown progress in improving compensation levels for their employees but are still facing challenges in providing compensation and benefits in line with the general not-for-profit sector. more >
Ignatieff woos Quebec with arts vow
Little by little, Michael Ignatieff is unveiling his strategy to win in Quebec, and last night he said he will restore arts funding that all but sunk the Conservatives here last fall. more >
May 2009
Funding issues for English filmmakers in Canada
In Quebec, we are privileged to have a strong film industry that caters to both languages. However, the English language film scene is lost amidst the larger francophone productions that are released every year. It is no surprise that most of the funding and allocation of money is granted to Le Cinema Quebecois. more >
Delay in proposed Tory arts funding sparks criticism.
Five months after the Harper government created a $25- million fund that it said would put Canada on the map as a ``cultural capital'' of the world, critics are frustrated that there are still no new details or federal support to better enable Canadian artists to perform on the international stage. more >
April 2009
Ontario is expanding its support of an innovative economy
Ontario is continuing to support the growth of an innovative economy by renewing the Entertainment and Creative Cluster Partnerships Fund with a $12 million investment over the next four years. The announcement was made by the Hon. Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture, in a speech before the Economic Club of Canada. more >
A 12-stop tour of France and Europe to invigorate the dialogue on cultural policies
The Observatory of Cultural Policy will hold a series of meetings with a number of partners across France and Europe on the theme “Vers un nouveau contrat pour les politiques culturelles territoriales?” (Towards a new contract for territorial cultural policies). more >
A matter of joining forces
The Canadian Artists' Representation/le Front des artistes canadiens was established in 1968 to protect artists' right to be paid fairly. more >
Art Bank acquires works by culturally diverse Canadians
The Canada Council Art Bank is acquiring 55 contemporary works by Canadian artists of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and mixed racial heritage. more >
Culture can drive the economic and social growth
Something remarkable has happened in Toronto: extraordinary building projects for major Ontario cultural institutions have been completed. Programs have been renewed and revitalized. Accessibility and inclusiveness have become standards, increasingly reflecting the changing face of Toronto and Canada. more >
Québec makes culture a cornerstone of sustainable development
In order to promote the integration of culture into sustainable development and meet its commitment under the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the Quebec Ministry of Culture, Communications, and the Status of Women will be working on developing an Agenda 21 on culture until 2013. more >
March 2009
Implementation of the Cultural Development Fund
The new Cultural Development Fund aims to contribute to the cultural and artistic development and visibility of Francophone and Anglophone minority communities. more >
Quebec plugs holes left by federal arts cuts
Folks in the province's cultural milieu are pleased to see the Quebec government is set to replace some of the arts funding cut by Ottawa last year. more >
Implementation of New National Translation Program for Book Publishing
Starting April 1, 2009, the Government will invest $5 million over four years in this program, which will help publishers in Canada translate Canadian-authored books into English and French. more >
February 2009
A really new deal would stimulate the economy of the future, not the past
The facts are that the locus of economic growth has shifted dramatically and a stimulus that focuses on traditional infrastructure cannot succeed. What drives the economy today is not the old mix of highways and single-family homes but new, idea-driven industries. more >
Matthew Jocelyn named artistic and general director of Canadian Stage Company
Matthew Jocelyn, an internationally acclaimed theatre director and arts administrator, has been named Artistic and General Director of The Canadian Stage Company, the Board of Directors announced today. more >
Making the literary life a little less precarious
Even famed Canadian writers can end up impoverished. A new benefits program seeks to change that. more >
Heritage minister defends arts funding plan
Canada's culture minister got a rough ride Monday over arts spending in an appearance before the parliamentary heritage committee. more >
January 2009
Simon Brault re-appointed Vice-Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts
Simon Brault, Vice-Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts since March 31, 2004, has been re-appointed by the Governor in Council for an additional five years to March 31, 2014. more >
Canadian government to boost arts funding
The conservative government of Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper, which angered arts leaders last year with $45 million in cuts to arts funding, is trying to repair its relationship with cultural institutions, the Star (Toronto) reports. more >
Arts industry wishes for new media, mentorship funds in federal budget
New media and mentorship programs for young people should benefit from new arts and cultural funding expected in federal budget to be delivered on Tuesday, said an industry group. more >
Arts network for children and youth asks for email support for proposals to government
The Arts Network for Children and Youth has submitted “proposals” to the Federal Government for the “Stimulus Package” and the Province of Ontario’s “Standing Committee of Finance”. more >
Seven ways to support artists
Artists are more highly trained and educated than the population at large, but their incomes lag far – nearly 40 per cent – behind the average living wage. more >
Arts funding is safe, Heritage Minister says
Two weeks before a hotly anticipated federal budget, Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore is preaching sustained cultural funding, saying the CBC's budget is safe and the Conservatives intend to deliver on their election promises despite the financial downturn. more >
December 2008
Heritage minister: Arts will be part of economic stimulus package
Can Canadians expect a boost for arts and culture in a Conservative economic stimulus package? more >
Charest announces Quebec's new cabinet
Quebec's Premier Jean Charest unveiled his cabinet at the National Assembly in Quebec City Dec. 18, 2008. Former journalist Christine St-Pierre retains her job as minister of culture and communications and retains responsibility for language. more >
Arm's length arts council in the works for Vancouver
Vancouver could have a proposal for an arm's-length arts council by springtime, according to Vision councillor Heather Deal. more >
No cuts to arts funding or festivals in the 2009 city budget!
Looks like efforts from the arts community actually made a difference! A group of councillors from the City of Ottawa brought and passed a package motion that results in a 4.9-per-cent property tax increase and avoids serious program cuts. more >
Three Calgarians named to new Alberta Arts Council
The CEO of Theatre Calgary, a financial manager for the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association and a three-time Olympic athlete have been named as Calgary representatives of the newly formed Premier's Council on Arts and Culture. more >
New Premier's council puts spotlight on Alberta's arts and culture
Eleven inspiring Albertans have been selected to champion and strengthen our province’s cultural identity as members of the new Premier’s Council on Arts and Culture. more >
Hundreds protest arts and culture cuts
About 200 citizens protested proposed cuts to the arts and social services Monday at a demonstration outside City Hall. more >
November 2008
Ottawa literary scene faces funding cuts
Several literary events in Ottawa are facing financial shortfalls next year, due to 2009 budget cuts that have been proposed by senior City of Ottawa staff. more >
Art gallery could be saved - Culture minister says cost will be the determining factor
The Grande Prairie Art Gallery could be saved, says the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. In March 2007, the roof collapsed on the gallery and numerous pieces of art were removed and given no permanent home. more >
Canada's new heritage minister not about to reverse arts cuts
Those who hoped to persuade Canada's new heritage minister to reverse the government's proposed cuts to arts and culture programs are going to be disappointed. more >
New heritage minister not about to reverse arts cuts
Those who hoped to persuade Canada's new heritage minister to reverse the government's proposed cuts to arts and culture programs are going to be disappointed. more >
Canada Council for the Arts 2007-08 Annual Report highlights support to the arts and new directions
The Canada Council for the Arts reported an increased level of support to Canadian professional artists and arts organizations as well as the charting of new strategic directions in its 2007-08 Annual Report released today. more >
October 2008
Cultural Olympiad 2009: Where the world comes to play
Gravity defying dance, rousing music and a new spin on graffiti art today gave a taste of the more than 400 free and ticketed performances and exhibitions audiences will enjoy as part of the Cultural Olympiad 2009 program. more >
Ghanaian musician denied Canadian visa
Ghanaian musician Francis Kofi Akotuah was recently denied a Canadian visa, delaying his cultural workshop tour with drummer Larry Graves for at least a week. more >
Canadian unions protest funding cuts
Canadian film and TV unions staged nationwide protests over federal arts funding cuts on Wednesday, six days before the country goes to the polls. more >
The Other Side of the Arts Funding Issue
When we see or hear protests against the funding cuts, it is not ordinary Canadians protesting, but rather those who have made a career of living off government grants. more >
Artists mobilize against funding cuts
Artists across Canada united in protest against cuts to arts funding on Monday. more >
September 2008
Tapardjuk appointed Minister of Language
Minister of Culture, Languages, Elders and Youth Louis Tapardjuk was given a new portfolio shortly before the Legislative Assembly dissolved on Sept. 19. The new ministerial position is intended to aid in the implementation of the Inuit Language Protection Act which was passed Sept. 18. more >
When it comes to culture, Canadians don’t speak the same language
This rather amusing sketch about the issue is a serious warning about the future of Canadian culture, which according to the clip, faces near-extinction. more >
European programs mix arts with the economy
Alternatives to Canada PM's feud with artists found in Europe. more >
Layton and Duceppe protest culture cuts in Montreal
NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe joined the audience at a Tuesday night concert in Montreal organized by artists protesting $45 million in cuts to culture funding announced by the Conservative government last August. more >
Why public funding of arts matters to all of us
An article by Jan Ghomeshi in the National Post makes the case for the arts. Despite the best attempts by the PM and others to suggest that Canadian art is for a small elite, it's not, and he goes on to explain why. more >
Make the case for culture to ordinary Canadians, artists told
Artists should stop assuming they are entitled to government money and start making the case for the arts to ordinary Canadians, a panel of artists told CBC News. more >
Give us the plan on culture, federal leaders urged
A coalition of Toronto arts groups gathered a who's who of the cultural community at Canada's largest film festival Wednesday to launch a campaign to make the arts an issue in the federal election. more >
Heritage department takes aim at religious radicals
The federal culture department wants to fight religious radicalization in Canada. more >
August 2008
Culture policy contradicted
A Conference Board of Canada report concludes, among other things, that "an important challenge for governments is to ensure communities have the means necessary to support creativity and diversity." more >
Protesters decry arts cuts
A protest yesterday in Montreal drew 2,500 people and some of the strongest condemnations yet of almost $45-million in planned cuts to arts-and-culture funding. more >
No arts subsidies equals no fun for anyone
Few if any individual artists get grants that completely support them for more than a short time, and no artist or cultural organization is awarded this grant without a vigorous process that includes professional vetting of the application and a peer jury that makes recommendations for awards. more >
Harper defends cuts to federal arts programs
Prime Minister Stephen Harper defended $44.8-million in planned cuts to arts-and-culture programs. more >
Cultural sector helps drive economy: report
The most comprehensive study ever made of Canada's cultural sector, commissioned with money from the federal Heritage Department, indicates that arts and culture make up 7.4 per cent of Canada's GDP. more >
Hey, where's my grant? I can be creative
If you cannot make a living in the arts through sales of your work, or voluntary grants from private organizations, you are probably in the wrong trade. more >
Quebec, Ontario culture ministers blast Tory arts cuts
The culture ministers of Quebec and Ontario have written an open letter to the federal government questioning its decision to cut arts and culture programs. more >
Ottawa to shift arts funds to Olympic programs
More than $40-million freed up by controversial cuts will be redirected to athletics, bilingualism plan. more >
So what exactly are the arts good for?
But because we North Americans are a practical, materialist bunch, we must always think of reasons to support the arts. Support must have a purpose. The arts can't be just, well, wonderful, heartening, beautiful. They must be useful. more >
Want a 'culture of innovation'? Fund our artists
If the federal government believes the artistic community has a role to play in society and the global economy, it needs to reinvest heavily in Canadian artists and stop using the phrase 'culture of innovation' exclusively in the sense of corporate practices. more >
Ottawa to axe five more arts and culture programs
The Department of Canadian Heritage has decided to cut five more arts and culture programs over the next two years, even as a chorus of complaints from the arts community and opposition MPs rains down on the federal government over cuts announced last week. more >
Compendium of Research Papers: The International Forum on the Creative Economy
A Compendium of Research Papers presents the detailed findings from the International Forum on the Creative Economy, which delved into various facets of the creative economy in many countries around the globe. more >
Without the arts, our image grows dim abroad
Last week the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade announced it was cutting all ties to culture by axing its PromArt program, a $4.7 million annual fund that sent artists into the world to speak for Canada. more >
Ottawa axes second arts subsidy in two weeks
The government has decided to terminate another cultural subsidy initiative, Trade Routes, which helps cultural groups export and sell products abroad. more >
The arts belong in foreign policy
Cultural exchange is an aspect of diplomacy. It helps spread good feelings about Canada, and is good for business, trade, tourism and immigration. more >
Statement by Joseph L. Rotman, Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts
I was delighted to learn this week that the Government of Canada has appointed me to a five-year term as Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, effective July 30, 2008. more >
Toronto businessman Joseph Rotman to chair Canada Council
Canadian business mogul Joseph L. Rotman is set to take on the Canadian arts world after being named the new chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Sask. gov't to develop arts, culture and heritage strategy
The Government of Saskatchewan is launching a consultation process as its first step in building a long-term plan and policy framework for the province's arts, culture and heritage sector. more >
Appointment to the Canada Council for the Arts
The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and Minister for La Francophonie, today announced the appointment of Joseph L. Rotman as Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Arts funders moving forward on integrated reporting
An integrated financial and statistical online database called CADAC (Canadian Arts Data/ Données sur les arts au Canada) is being developed for launch in late 2008. more >
Convocatoria para participar en ¡Ignite las Américas!
El gobierno de Canadá, en coordinación con la Comisión Interamericana de Cultura (CIC) de la Organización de Estados Americanos, llevará a cabo un foro de jóvenes sobre políticas de las artes llamado ¡Ignite las Américas! que tendrá lugar en Toronto, Canadá del 15 al 21 de septiembre de 2008. more >
Invitation to Participate in ¡Ignite las Américas!
The Government of Canada in collaboration with the Inter-American Committee on Culture (CIC) of the Organization of American States is organizing a youth arts policy forum called "Ignite the Americas", which will take place in Toronto, Canada on September 15 – 21, 2008. more >
July 2008
Connections and Creativity - Ontario Arts Council's New Strategic Plan Now Online
The plan will provide a framework to guide the Arts Council's priorities in the coming years. more >
Canada Council for the Arts releases Auditor General’s Special Examination Report
In its first special examination of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada reports the Council is doing a good job of managing its affairs, announced the Board of the Council today. more >
Youth Prepare to ‘Ignite the Americas’ in Canada
Dozens of young people from across the western hemisphere will converge in the city of Toronto, Canada this September for Ignite the Americas, a youth arts policy forum. more >
Public art policies promote civic creativity
This is the first article in a series of four that will examine arts policy and art in public places. The Sudbury Arts Council asked the city last year what guidelines are in place regarding art in public spaces, and guidelines regarding a general arts policy. more >
June 2008
The Canada Council for Arts aids our artists in continuing to create
When travelling abroad, I'm often struck by the number of foreign artists who comment on how wonderful it must be to work as an artist in Canada. My American friends, in particular, seem to be especially envious of the cultural climate here. more >
Earnings, education linked to evenings out: Statistics Canada
The more money you make and the more education you have, the more likely you are to go to movies, plays or concerts, says a Statistics Canada study released Thursday. more >
State of the arts checks out funding in Canada
Artistic freedom, the fair adjudication processes, and the access to arts funding are both necessities and luxuries that many Canadians overlook or take for granted. more >
Government of Canada Proposes Update to Copyright Law: Balanced Approach to Truly Benefit Canadians
The Government of Canada introduced long-overdue and much-needed amendments to the Copyright Act that will bring it in line with advances in technology and current international standards. more >
Simon Brault: The Art of Cultural Action
As General Director of the National Theatre School and the Vice-President of the Canada Council, Simon Brault is one of Canada’s top movers and shakers in culture.
more >
May 2008
Culture an economic driver, says chairman of arts group
A new report will identify successful cultural development models from around the world, explore effective cultural investment targets and propose policies to facilitate the production of creative work. more >
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
An announcement from the Minister of Canadian Heritage in celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. more >
Why fund the arts?
The recent controversy surrounding bill C-10 rekindled the old debate about arts subsidies. Why do we need them? more >
Culturescope.ca website ends
The website of the Canadian Cultural Observatory has been discontinued as at April 1st 2008. more >
April 2008
Canada's Young People Celebrate Diversity Through Mathieu Da Costa Challenge
Young people from across Canada have taken up the challenge to put their creative talents to work to demonstrate the contributions that Canadians of different backgrounds have made to the building of Canada. more >
Arts groups fear bill will `chill' free expression
A federal bill that would revoke tax credits for films deemed inappropriate by the government will open a 'Pandora's Box of censorship' that could see controversial ideas snuffed out across the arts. more >
Smothered With Money
The arts are important. But that doesn't mean taxpayers should have to subsidize them. more >
National Ballet of Canada goes West
Ballet company makes a rare yet successful jaunt to a foreign stage in San Francisco. more >
Sift through enough dirt and you find gold
The recent controversy surrounding bill C-10 -- designed to let the Heritage minister's bureaucrats refuse tax-credits to Canadian-made movies they don't like -- rekindled the old debate about arts subsidies. Why do we need them? more >
Hip hop gets bad rap from federal funders
Despite its obvious growth and popularity, documents obtained under the Access to Information Act from the CCA indicate that the genre might still not be accepted by the federal agency committed to encouraging the arts. more >
Redford, Legend ask legislators to better fund the arts
Actor, Robert Redford, singer John Legend and actress Kerry Washington, joined arts supporters from across the United States for Arts Advocacy Day in Congress. They urged legislators to restore funds for the National Endowment for the Arts to the high of $176 million received in 1992. more >
March 2008
Karen Kain announces she is stepping down as Canada Council Chair
Karen Kain, Chair of the Canada Council since September 2004, announced she is stepping down on March 31 to dedicate herself completely to her full-time job as Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada. more >
Commissioner Calls on Canadian Heritage Minister for a New Vision for Arts and Culture
The Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, is calling on the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Josee Verner, to outline a long-term vision of the government's plans for the development of the arts and culture in official language minority communities. more >
Government of Canada Supports 67 Arts Organizations
These groups will share $11 million, which supplement private-sector donations to endowment funds. Public charitable foundations will hold the Government funding for these arts organizations. more >
A Heritage minister on the hot seat
Josée Verner is making a habit of snubbing the arts community. It's not such a great habit for the country's Heritage minister, who was appointed only last August, and has no serious background in the arts. more >
February 2008
Almost nothing offered for arts and culture
Arts and culture have never been a priority for the Harper government but with yesterday's federal budget the sector seems to have achieved a new level of non-recognition. more >
Canadian authors get over $9 million for library lending of their books
The more libraries in which an author's eligible titles are found, the larger the payment, to a maximum of $2,681. more >
Canada Council releases Action Plan for 2008-11
The Canada Council for the Arts today released its Action Plan for the next three years, including plans for the distribution of $31.5 million in new funding in 2008-09. more >
Arts, culture not an elitist pursuit: report
Many Canadians who read as a hobby are the same people attending concerts, visiting art galleries, watching the latest flicks and participating in cultural activities in general, according to a new report. more >
A $22-billion problem
The price tag of IP theft is extraordinarily high for Canadian businesses. Conservative estimates put its annual cost in the $22-billion range. more >
January 2008
Alberta Announces Cultural Policy
Premier Ed Stelmach is putting Alberta culture in the spotlight with a new policy that focuses on ensuring that all Albertans have access to culture in their communities, and that our artists and cultural industries can thrive. more >
Portrait gallery plans a national embarrassment, expert says
Shirley Thomson, one of Canada's leading cultural experts, calls the Harper government's plan for the Portrait Gallery of Canada "a national embarrassment that makes us look like peasants on the international scene." more >
Government of Canada launches podcast website
The Government of Canada has released an online directory of Canadian cultural podcasts. more >
Arts study a culture shock
Forget class versus trash, the elite versus the masses. Divide culture consumers into four new groups, says an international study Oxford University researchers released late last month that will have far-reaching results for arts support everywhere. more >
December 2007
The Government of Canada Announces Contribution to New International Fund for Cultural Diversity
Minister Verner made the announcement of a $500,000 contribution for 2008-09 during the inaugural session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. more >
November 2007
Measuring cultural diversity
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics has released a report on its expert group meeting on measuring cultural diversity held in September in Montreal, Canada. more >
Public arts funders celebrate growth in support for public arts funding
Arts councils from across Canada celebrated the growth in support for public arts funding at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Public Arts Funders. more >
A source of creative energy we're fools not to tap
Richard Florida bemoans that the most overlooked, but most important, element of his theory and of the creative economy is that every human being is creative. more >
Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage
A new program that aims to increase opportunities, through festivals or other events and activities, for local artists and artisans to be involved in their community and for local groups to commemorate local history and heritage. more >
Arts ire for canadian taxpayers federation
Members of B.C.'s arts community are reacting with incredulity to a public commentary released by the B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). more >
Opposition lashes out at gallery plan
The federal opposition parties are scathing in their response to the government's new scheme for a national portrait gallery, calling it impractical, divisive and potentially much more expensive than the renovated Ottawa building it replaces. more >
Social networking Web site launched for artists
A Canadian publisher and philanthropist has launched a new social networking site for artists, underlining the growing influence of the Internet in showcasing and selling art. more >
October 2007
The Canada Council’s next 50 years: Challenges, opportunities cited in 2006-07 Annual Report
The Canada Council for the Arts is entering its second half-century optimistic about the future despite the challenges that continue to face Canadian artists and arts funders. more >
Canada Council plan sets directions for the future
The Canada Council for the Arts, Canada’s national arts funding agency, has released its new strategic plan, a statement of values and directions which will guide the Council’s activities over the next three to five years. more >
September 2007
Funding festivals preserves culture
All three levels of Canadian government think festivals are worth supporting. more >
Creating our future strategic plan consultation
An update on the Canada Council Canada Council for the Arts' consulation as it develops its 2008-2011 Strategic Plan. more >
August 2007
New heritage minister a mystery
Who is Josée Verner? more >
Urban aboriginal youth culture camps supported
An organization that helps urban aboriginal people access cultural activities received some much-needed funding on Tuesday from the federal government. more >
So Rocket Man wants us to shut down the Internet
Bemoaning the Internet's negative effect on culture, Elton John's musing about what sort of art would be produced if the Internet were to be shut down for five years has brought condescension in the blog world. Andrew Potter offers a partial defence of Sir Elton. more >
The art of political commentary
Artist says his piece creatively conveys facts that should be readily accessible to voters. more >
Visual Artists' Legal Clinic
CARFAC Ontario has a legal service for members: the Visual Artists' Legal Clinic of Ontario (VALCO). more >
A low profile despite years of political experience
Josée Verner, Canada's newest Heritage minister, is an attractive, bilingual political veteran. more >
Oda 'messed up'
Bev Oda was demoted yesterday because "she really messed up" in her post as heritage minister. more >
Josee Verner new heritage minister
Quebec MP Josée Verner will replace Bev Oda as federal heritage minister. more >
July 2007
Culture easy to define
In reaction to a threatened widening of the definition of culture by the Albertan government caused by a 'stakeholder' consultation, Todd Babiak argues why Sports and Recreation aren't the same as Arts and Heritage. more >
Arts Partners in Creative Development
Eight organizations will share $1 million in the first round of funding from Arts Partners in Creative Development. more >
Oda announces permanent $30M increase for Canada Council
Heritage Minister Bev Oda has announced a permanent $30-million increase in annual funding for the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Canada Council welcomes extension of budget increase
The Canada Council for the Arts has described as “wonderful news†the federal government’s announcement that a $30 million funding increase for 2007-08 will now be ongoing. more >
Ministry supports grants artistic training of indigenous youth
The Minister for Culture, Communication and Women’s Rights has announced that $50,000 will be provided to the Wapikoni Mobile Corporation to help train indigenous youth in remote areas. more >
UNESCO chair in arts and learning inaugurated
On April 24, 2007 the inauguration of the UNESCO Chair in Arts and Learning was celebrated at Queen’s University, Canada. more >
Our cultural policy is offline for internet
The emergence of new media is rendering many Canadian content regulations irrelevant. more >
June 2007
LONDON 2012 UNVEILS PLANS FOR CULTURAL OLYMPIAD
The Cultural Olympiad will start in 2008. London 2012, the body responsible for organising the 2012 Olympics, has outlined the framework for a wide-ranging ‘Cultural Olympiad’. more >
50 for 50 website launched
The Canada Council’s 50 for 50 Arts Challenge has gone high tech. more >
Quebec, Ontario team up for new arts residency program
Arts councils in Ontario and Quebec are hoping to spark cross-border arts exchanges with a new joint artistic residency program, announced in Montreal Monday. more >
Newspapers Trimming Classical Critics
Classical music criticism, a high-minded endeavor that has been around at least as long as newspapers and reached an English-language peak with George Bernard Shaw, has taken a series of hits in recent months. more >
Canada Council Awards Molson Prizes
Composer, conductor and music educator Alex Pauk and University of Waterloo philosophy professor Paul Thagard are the winners of this year’s Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prizes. more >
What's our role on the world's culture stage?
Toronto isn't the only city that likes to think of itself as "creative." more >
May 2007
Canada Council Extends Partnerships
The Canada Council for the Arts has announced a number of new arts funding partnerships with funders at other levels of government. more >
Ottawa eyes new copyright, museums policies
The federal Department of Canadian Heritage is planning a new museums policy and revamping the nation's copyright law. more >
Canada Council seeks input on future directions
The Canada Council will consult widely over the next two months, as it develops its strategic plan for 2008-2011, and has invited interested individuals and organizations to provide their input through its web site. more >
April 2007
Cash for cultural festivals at centre of funding flap
Federal Tories are denying a "boondoggle" over a summer sponsorship program for local arts and culture festivals announced in the March budget. more >
$33-million spent – and no one's happy
Organizations are critical about how Canada Council distributed special funds. more >
Canada Council to Sponsor Aboriginal Curator
The Canada Council has teamed up with the National Gallery to provide an exciting professional development opportunity for a mid-career Aboriginal curator. more >
Canada Council Announces Supplementary Operating Funds Initiative
The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the results of the Supplementary Operating Funds Initiative, a one-time-only program created as a result of the federal government’s $50 million funding boost over the next two fiscal years. more >
Canada Council Appoint New Head of Media Arts
The Canada Council has appointed Youssef El Jaï to head up its Media Arts Section, from May 14. more >
March 2007
Oda defends museum policy
Conservative government is standing by its policy that the nation's museums need to stop expecting public money to be available whenever they need it. more >
Canadian artists celebrate Canada Council birthday
Some of the country's best known artists are in Ottawa paying tribute to the Canada Council for the Arts on its 50th anniversary and sharing stories about how the agency helped them get to where they are today. more >
Arts purse strings loosened ahead of federal budget
Canada's Heritage Minister Bev Oda has made a flurry of arts funding announcements in the past week, ahead of Monday's federal budget. more >
B.C. arts groups to get $6.5M for new works
A public-private partnership called Arts Partners in Creative Development will give British Columbia arts organizations $6.5 million in new funding over the next three years. more >
February 2007
Canada Council Celebrates Birthday with New Website
The Canada Council for the Arts is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the launch of a new web site. more >
Art Bank, The Book
A new book celebrating the Canada Council’s world famous art rental scheme, Art Bank, has been unveiled. more >
INCD MEMBERSHIPS DRIVE
The International Network for Cultural Diversity (INCD) has issued an urgent call for members. more >
Just pay the piano player
It's Use It or Lose It time for the artists of Canada. more >
January 2007
Canada Council to increase funding for artistic projects
The Canada Council is increasing funding to arts organizations undertaking artistic production projects for the second consecutive year. more >
Ontario report urges help for artists
The median income of arts workers in Ontario is $10,000 a year. Can the new Report on the Socio-Economic Status of the Artist in Ontario, written for the Ministry of Culture under the aegis of arts lawyer Aaron Milrad, change that? more >
December 2006
Coming to a town near you: national museums
What's happening is nothing less than a revolution in federal museum policy. more >
An Arts Challenge for Canadians
The Canada Council for the Arts will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year with the “50 for 50” Arts Challenge. It has called on Canadians to participate in at least 50 arts events throughout 2006. more >
An Arts Challenge for Canadians
The Canada Council for the Arts will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year with the “50 for 50†Arts Challenge. It has called on Canadians to participate in at least 50 arts events throughout 2006. more >
'WE DON'T WANT BORING' CANADA COUNCIL DIRECTOR SAYS
The new director of the Canada Council for the Arts is taking the pulse of Canada's arts communities in a cross-country tour. more >
November 2006
Canada Council Releases Annual Report
The Canada Council for the Arts released its annual report this week. more >
Canada Council Releases Annual Report
The Canada Council for the Arts released its annual report this week. more >
Canada Commits to Cultural Cooperation
"Canada's new Government is committed to inter-American cooperation and intends to continue to work with its partners from the Americas to raise awareness around issues of common interest in the area of culture," the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Michael Fortier said this week. more >
Canada Commits to Cultural Cooperation
"Canada's new Government is committed to inter-American cooperation and intends to continue to work with its partners from the Americas to raise awareness around issues of common interest in the area of culture," the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Michael Fortier said this week. more >
Canada Council to increase funding
The Canada Council for the Arts has outlined its plans for distributing the $50 million in funding received in the May federal budget. more >
October 2006
Canadian Culture Ministers Meet
Canada's Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Culture gathered for their annual meeting in Toronto late last month. more >
Cuts reduce role abroad
Canadian arts groups could be staying home after the Conservatives slashed funding which supports cultural exchanges. more >
September 2006
Thinking about Canadian cultural policy, art and technology
The Canadian government is still trying to figure out what a policy shift from cultural or creative "content" to cultural or creative "industries" might mean. more >
July 2006
Creativity seen as economic key
If Toronto invests time, money and energy to turn itself into a creative city, the economic and social benefits could be huge, especially for at-risk youth in need of good-paying jobs. more >
Performing Arts Survey
Public support for Canada's performing arts remained strong in 2004, both at the box office and in the form of grants, subsidies and donations from various government and private sector sources. more >
June 2006
New director for Canada Council
Robert Sirman has been appointed Director of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Canadians' entertainment spending on the rise
Canadian spending on entertainment outside the home is increasing faster than other household spending, according to a study by Statistics Canada. more >
Canadians spending more on cultural imports
Canadians are increasing the amount they spend on foreign cultural goods such as books, music and films, but exporting fewer goods to foreign markets, according to Statistics Canada. more >
CANADA COUNCIL'S CHAIR AIRS THOUGHTS ON CANADIAN ARTS FUNDING
In a recent speech, Canada Council Chair Karen Kain commented on trends in Canadian arts funding and the Council's strategic imperatives. more >
May 2006
International study on the governance of diversity
Queen's University, the Université du Québec à Montréal and the University of Toronto that will explore ethnic politics and the complexities of democracy in multi-ethnic and divided states. The researchers will build on Canada's experience in accommodating linguistic and cultural diversity to find solutions for governance of multi-ethnic states around the world. more >
Our Own Creative Land
Professor Michael Geist's 2006 Hart House Lecture, Our Own Creative Land: Cultural Monopoly and the Trouble With Copyright, was delivered at the University of Toronto on March 30. more >
Canada supports Aboriginal artists
The Canada Council for the Arts is introducing a new artistic program which will allow Aboriginal elders to share their artistic knowledge with their youth. more >
Canada Council budget increases by $20 million
The Canada Council for the Arts has received a $20 million increase in the Canadian federal budget. This brings the council's total budget to $170 million this year, and $180 million next year. more >
Ballet school director to move to Canada Council
Heritage Minister Bev Oda has chosen Robert Sirman, who has guided the National Ballet School of Canada since 1991, as her recommendation for the next director of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
April 2006
Launch of A New Voice: The Canadian Music Creators Coalition
Canadian musicians, songwriters and producers unite to provide a new voice in Canadian copyright and cultural policy. Canada's leading artists to speak for themselves. more >
P.E.I. artifacts turn up on eBay
Prince Edward Island's cultural affairs minister is planning to introduce legislation to make it harder to sell Island artifacts, after learning that they have been turning up on an online auction site. more >
March 2006
Six cultural institutions get millions in Ontario budget
The Art Gallery of Ontario and several other major cultural projects got a $49-million boost from the Ontario government in its annual budget. more >
Heritage minister demands answers on FilmFest failure
Both the Quebec and federal governments are probing what led to the failure of the New Montreal FilmFest last fall. The first and only FilmFest launched last October with the help of $2 million in federal, provincial and municipal funds but fizzled out, leaving a $1-million deficit. The festival’s organizer, L'Équipe Spectra, declared FilmFest dead in February. more >
Tax ruling says dancers are independent contractors
A federal tax ruling handed down last week could have implications for arts groups across Canada and their performers. more >
February 2006
Indigenous Knowledge
The Department of Canadian Heritage entered into the exploration of Indigenous Knowledge and policy development with 2005’s National Gatherings on Indigenous Knowledge. more >
Minister offers compensation
The Minister of Culture and Communication and minister in charge of the Montreal region, Mrs. Line Beauchamp, announced today that a sum of $2.5M will be reserved for assistance to the artistic and cultural organisations which underwent losses because of the boycott of cultural activities last autumn. more >
Report reveals most artistic small community
In a new report funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, it has been revealed that the area of Cape Dorset is the most 'artistic' municipality of Canada's rural regions. more >
Ontario's Bev Oda named new heritage minister
Beverley Oda, the first Japanese Canadian elected to the House of Commons, has been named the new Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women. more >
January 2006
Who will helm Heritage?
The last time it looked as if a Stephen Harper government would take office, in June, 2004, Canada's cultural industries were in panic mode. more >
Arts groups challenge leaders to put culture on the election agenda
Those searching for mention of arts and culture issues in this election have had to dig deep. References to the sector are either buried in parties’ election platforms, or, in the case of the Tories, were not released until the end of last week. In the recent leaders’ debates in Montreal, the candidates were silent on the subject. more >
December 2005
Canada first in protecting cultural diversity
Canada has become the first State to ratify the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which was adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference last October. more >
November 2005
$77,710 to indigenous broadcasting in Canada
The Minister for Culture and Communication and minister responsible for the region of Montreal, Line Beauchamp, and the minister of state for Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Geoffrey Kelley, announced financial assistance of $77,710 to support the management of Indigenous Peoples Community radios on the territory of Nord-du-Québec. more >
Canada Council “thrilled” by funding announcement
The Canada Council has welcomed a "thrilling" $306.5 million funding boost to their budget. more >
New culture program in Canada
A launching of the Cultural Investment Program recently aims to encourage private individuals, companies and foundations to donate more liberally to organisations belonging to the domain of culture and communication. more >
New centre for cultural expertise
A three-year initiative has begun in Vancouver, Canada, with the creation of a Centre of Expertise on Culture and Communities. The Centre, located at Simon Fraser University, will provide research opportunities, outreach and networking, and the ability for participants to exchange in knowledge and ideas. more >
Quebec launches cultural investment program
Quebec has launched a new program entitled 'Investing in Culture', designed to support the growth of private investments in the culture and communication sector. more >
October 2005
INCD applauds cultural diversity vote
The International Network for Cultural Diversity has issued a congratulatory statement in the wake of UNESCO's formal vote for cultural diversity, urging for renewed global commitment to the cause. more >
Cultural diversity policy voted in
Despite intense pressure from the United States not to, over 150 countries voted yesterday to create an international convention on cultural diversity. more >
Canada leads fight for culture rights
Backed by unusual unanimity from the provinces and Canada's artistic community, Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla heads to Paris to push for a successful vote on the UNESCO convention on cultural diversity. more >
New triennial partnership will to restore heritage infrastructure
Quebec’s Minister of Culture and Communication, Mrs. Line Beauchamp, and the city’s mayor, Mr. Jean-Paul L’Allier, have signed a triennial agreement for cultural development worth $20.9 million. The money will go towards supporting the rapid development of Quebec’s arts, heritage and culture infrastructure. more >
September 2005
Canada Council chair calls for more funding
The new chair of the Canada Council, Karen Kain, has issued a statement calling for increased arts funding in order to sustain the impressive growth of the arts in Canada. more >
Ministry helps celebrate culture in Montreal
Montreal’s Minister of Culture and Communication, Mrs. Line Beauchamp, has helped to launch the city’s Culture Week 2005 program. more >
Canada Council supports architectural and artistic innovation
The Canada Council for the Arts has awarded the Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture to an innovative architect in pursuit of new ways to control heat and light. more >
Canada Council announces winners of Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Awards 2005
The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the seven winners of its prestigious Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Awards for 2005. more >
August 2005
StatsCan: Culture workers make less money than other Canadians
Canadian culture workers make about $2,000 a year less than the average Canadian worker, according to a Statistics Canada report released Tuesday. In 2000, when the average Canadian worker made $32,123, culture workers made an average of $30,149. more >
June 2005
Canada Council and PEN Canada to fund residency for writer in exile
The Canada Council for the Arts has united with PEN Canada to fund a residency at a Canadian university for writer in exile Genc Tirana. more >
Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communication announces new plan
The Quebec Ministry of Culture and Communication has announced it new Strategic Plan which sets out the Ministry's vision for the period 2005-2008. more >
May 2005
Canada Council unveils new visual arts grant program
After holding cross-country consultations with visual artists, the Canada Council for the Arts has revamped the way it distributes its visual arts grants. more >
Independent career development supported by new Visual Arts program
Following extensive consultations with artists across the country, the Canada Council for the Arts has approved a new program that changes the way grants are awarded to visual artists. more >
April 2005
Canada Council for the Arts contributes $100,000 to Montreal, World Book Capital
The Canada Council for the Arts has announced it will contribute $100,000 to Montreal, World Book Capital. The funds will help support activities organized for the event’s celebrations this year. more >
Canada Council for the Arts gets boost in translations
The Canada Council for the Arts has announced that the Department of Canadian Heritage will contribute an additional $500,000 in 2005-2006 for the translation of works by Canadian authors. more >
New finance measures to support Québécois arts and culture
The Minister for Culture and Communication and minister in charge of Montreal, Mrs. Line Beauchamp, has warmly welcomed the injection of an additional $10M into the economy of culture. more >
Canada Council for the Arts launches new program for emerging Aboriginal writers
The Canada Council for the Arts has launched a new program to encourage the artistic development of emerging Aboriginal writers and storytellers. more >
March 2005
Nunavut aims to repatriate Inuit artifacts
The government of Nunavut is hoping to find enough money to build a cultural centre to house thousands of Inuit artifacts dispersed around the world by explorers and anthropologists. more >
Chinese arts managers study Canadian ways
Chinese delegation is studying how Canadian performing arts centres are funded in an effort to modernise China's cultural institutions. more >
New Head of Arts for Canada Council
John Hobday, Director of the Canada Council for the Arts, has announced the appointment of André Courchesne to the role of Arts Division Director. more >
Database of native art planned
The Bill Reid Foundation is teaming up with Simon Fraser University to establish an online database of native art. more >
New cultural commission President appointed
Quebec Minister for Culture, Mrs. Line Beauchamp, has announced the appointment of Mr. Mario Dufour as President of the Commission of Cultural Assets. more >
February 2005
Budget contains boosts for the arts
The first details to emerge from Wednesday's federal budget appeared moderately encouraging for Canadian arts. more >
Canada Council ‘delighted’ with Federal arts extension
The Canada Council for the Arts has welcomed budgetary news that a major federal funding initiative for culture – including $25 million a year for the Council itself – has been extended for the next five years. more >
Beauchamp stays in charge of Quebec Culture
Quebec Prime Minister Jean Charest has renewed the appointment of Mrs. Line Beauchamp as Minister for Culture and Communication. more >
Significant' civic-culture aid planned for Toronto
Toronto's culture sector can expect "significant assistance" from the federal government in 2006 to help the city mark its Year of Creativity, Canadian Heritage Minister Liza Frulla said yesterday. more >
January 2005
Toronto to be named a cultural capital of Canada
The federal government plans to name Toronto a ''cultural capital of Canada'' and give the city $500,000 for that designation, effective this September through August, 2006. more >
December 2004
Heritage Minister: Museums crumbling, overcrowded
Canada's national treasures have languished for too long in vaults and run-down museums, says Heritage Minister Liza Frulla. more >
Clouds clear as cash comes
The sense of dread engulfing Canada's arts community is about to be lifted - for now. more >
Heritage minister announces $200M extension to arts fund
The federal government gave Canadian arts groups 'a bit of a Christmas gift' Wednesday: Heritage Minister Liza Frulla announced a one-year, $192-million extension of the federal government's Tomorrow Starts Today arts funding program. more >
Canadian Government confirms arts funding
The Canadian government has decided to extend its Tomorrow Starts Today funding initiative for another year; a great benefit for the entire arts industry. more >
Artists upset over proposed changes to Canada Council grants
Canadian visual artists are worried about a proposed change to the Canada Council's grant program. Their concern focuses on the fact that not all artists create works for display in galleries. more >
Canada Council sponsors Aboriginal Conference
The Canada Council for the Arts, in collaboration with the En’owkin Centre, has sponsored a national conference on artistic creation, literacy and usage of original Aboriginal languages. more >
October 2004
Portrait of the artist as low-income Canadian
Close to one-half of Canada's artists live in just three cities - Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal. And while the number of artists across Canada has increased by almost 30 per cent in the last decade, they're earning on average 26 per cent less than other workers in the labour force, a study released yesterday shows. more >
Arts world a victim of government neglect
Canada prides itself on its willingness to pay high taxes to support a considerable social safety net, but according to some in the arts industry, the country has a long way to go to approximate the level of arts support appropriate for a developed nation. more >
Support for arts, culture creates better cities: design expert
Flying in prominent musicians, hosting major art exhibits and simply cleaning the soot off downtown buildings can all help a city become a design capital, according to one of the experts invited to speak at a Montreal symposium on how to build a creative, well-designed city. more >
Culture club dreams of an un-museum
As part of Toronto's ongoing downtown redevelopment, a new $200 million cultural centre is being planned for the waterfront, and organizers hope that it will become the go-to place for Toronto's history and heritage. But don't you dare call it a museum. more >
September 2004
Fund arts, not just buildings: Opera chief
Deriding the politically safe notion of "false egalitarianism" in arts funding, Canadian Opera Company General Director Richard Bradshaw called Monday for more and better public and private funding to create an environment in which the arts can thrive. more >
Former ballerina takes Canada Council helm
Minister of Canadian Heritage, Liza Frulla, today announced the appointment of Karen Kain as Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Karen Kain appointed new Canada Council chief
Karen Kain, one of the most celebrated ballerinas in Canadian history, will be the new chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, the federal government announced Thursday. more >
August 2004
Canadian Minister attends cultural meeting in Mexico
Canadian Culture Minister Line Beauchamp has delivered a speech to the Second Inter-American Meeting of the Cultural Officials on the topic: culture as an instrument of social cohesion and the battle against poverty. more >
Canadian Government invests $95,324 in cultural publication
The Minister of Canadian Economic Development has announced a $95,324 investment for an online cultural publication to showcase the country's Laurentian heritage. more >
Urban renewal through the arts
Engineers and urban planners were once seen as the creators of great cities. They imposed shape and order on the burgeoning population centres of the industrial age. But the cities of the knowledge era need new experts with new tools. more >
July 2004
Arts community optimistic over Liza Frulla appointment as heritage minister
Quebec MP and former broadcaster Liza Frulla says it's the 'dream of a lifetime' to be the new minister of Canadian heritage, and she's already getting top marks from the arts and entertainment community. more >
Canada Council to support Aboriginal art
The Canada Council for the Arts has launched a new program that will assist Aboriginal artists preserve and promote traditional Aboriginal visual art forms. more >
June 2004
Quebec moves on socio-economic conditions of artists
The Quebec Minister of Culture and Communication has kicked her Standing Committee for the Socio-Economic Condition of Artists into high gear, with the appointment of a president and an action plan titled 'Living Better Through Art.' more >
Arts on the table
Involved arts supporters can brush up on what may be the most conspicuously absent subject of the pending federal election by clicking on the Alliance for Arts and Culture's Web site (www.allianceforarts.com). more >
INCD announces new leadership
The International Network for Cultural Diversity held its first democratic election in May and is pleased to announce the newly elected Steering Committee for the organisation. more >
Arts groups call on politicians to speak up on culture
Two of the four major political parties have been mostly silent about their cultural platforms so far in the federal election campaign, leaving arts groups feeling frustrated and overlooked. more >
May 2004
Gaelic culture at risk of dying out, says N.S. culture group
The Gaelic language that permeates Cape Breton culture is dying, says a report about the state of Nova Scotia's Scottish Gaelic culture released Monday. more >
Keep culture in mind during election: arts groups
Canadian arts and culture groups are calling on Canadians to keep culture and heritage on the minds of politicians during the current federal election campaign. more >
‘Oceania’ exhibition celebrates Italian-Quebec cultural partnership
Cultural representatives from Italy and Montreal have opened a new exhibition entitled 'Oceania', that celebrates cultural collaboration between the two countries. more >
March 2004
Arts: It's only business as usual
The Paul Martin Liberal government's 2004-2005 budget is a steady-as-she-goes document for the Canadian culture sector. And while this may make the bean counters happy, it's making the sector itself unhappy. more >
Quebec On Course ‘To Shine Among The Best’
Prime Minister of Quebec, Mr Jean Charest has made public the governmental reference document he hopes will pave the way for a positive and productive reaffirmation of Quebecois identity. more >
Ruling Rejects Licensing Fees
A 11-year court battle over the right to make photocopies of court judgments ended in a landmark victory yesterday for libraries, researchers in all fields and those seeking inexpensive access to justice. more >
January 2004
International artist run centres to unite at 'Infest'
In acknowledgement of the influential role of artist driven organisations, the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres has announced Infest; an international event designed to strengthen the presence of artist run centres within the cultural ecology. more >
December 2003
Vancouver loses out on India's film awards
Vancouver has lost out on its bid to host the 2004 version of India's Oscars because the British Columbia government would not provide all the help the organizers required, a spokeswoman says. more >
November 2003
Exposed Roots showcases Canadian aboriginal and world music acts
From November 21 to 23, the Canada Council’s 'Exposed Roots' showcase will present 16 Canadian aboriginal and world music groups to key Canadian and international presenters, managers and agents, as well as the media and record industry. more >
CNIB launches digital library for the blind
Thanks to the Internet and some original programming by Microsoft Canada, 105,000 blind or visually impaired Canadians will be able to read thousands of books, daily newspapers and magazines. more >
October 2003
The arts deserve city funding too
For some, grants to arts organisations are bad just because they are grants. For others, it is the arts themselves that are unworthy of having taxpayers' money lavished upon them. more >
Can the arts cash in on cities' creativity buzz?
Sniffing the political breeze, the Canadian arts community has caught a whiff of the urban-renewal agenda and is hot on the scent. If anybody is negotiating a new deal for cities, the arts want to be at the table. more >
Culture seeping into premiers' offices
Taxes, jobs, health care and education... you don't expect the provincial politicians who pay your doctors and build your schools to start discussing art appreciation or heritage conservation in the midst of an election. more >
September 2003
CBC to face CAN$10 million shortfall
The CBC will have to get through the next six months without the CAN$10 million that Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps earlier said would be available to it. more >
Little ado on arts in Ontario election
'Arts and Culture Matter' is the title of a brochure from the Liberal Party of Ontario that delivers what it calls a 'plan for strong cultural industries.' But if there's one subliminal message you can get from the way this election is being conducted, it would have to be: 'Arts and culture don't matter. Let's not waste time talking about them.' more >
Copps pushes international law on culture
Sheila Copps, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and Line Beauchamp, Quebec's Minister of Culture and Communications, met with a number of Canadian arts and culture organisations in Montreal to solidify support for a proposal that would see culture protected by international law. more >
Canada Council board tours Alberta
For the first time in 12 years, the entire board of the Canada Council has made a trip through the province of Alberta. more >
Director of Canada Council tells artists to be more like businesses
The director of the Canada Council for the Arts wrapped up his tour of Alberta this week with a warning for the heads of arts organisations. more >
Banks donate to the arts
It was raining money in Toronto this week as two of the country's largest banks announced they were giving a total of almost CAN$8 million to five major cultural institutions based in the Ontario capital. more >
Canada Council Art Bank acquires 52 new artworks
The Canada Council Art Bank will acquire 52 new works of art worth a total of CAN$165,820. more >
Cantata by Canadian composer embraced as September 11 tribute
As people around the world mark the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, music by a Toronto-born composer has been embraced in Canada and the US as a tribute to the victims and their families. more >
Arts companies report healthy surpluses
Symphony orchestras struck sour notes on the balance sheet as the new millennium dawned, Statistics Canada figures show. more >
Is the Canada Council's largesse good art?
The Canada Council's government funding has increased almost 70% in the past seven years, reversing the effects of several years of deep cuts. More money, more grants; more grants, more art: art lovers should rejoice at the news, shouldn't they? more >
Performing arts have record year in 2001
Canada's not-for-profit theatre, music, dance and opera companies boasted record revenues in 2001, Statistics Canada says. more >
Canada Council asks for increased funding
The Canada Council for the Arts has asked Ottawa to increase arts funding to 'reaffirm the importance of arts and culture in Canadian society and, more broadly, in the world.' more >
August 2003
Du Maurier Arts Council's end near
The final curtain is expected to fall on the du Maurier Arts Council next week, bringing an end to Imperial Tobacco's final CAN$2 million a year in arts funding because of Ottawa's severe restrictions on tobacco advertising. more >
Musicians vie for million-dollar instruments from Canada Council
A group of Canada's best young musicians is gearing up for the Canada Council Arts Musical Instrument Bank competition next week, and some will leave with instruments worth millions. more >
Nova Scotia group releases arts report card
A Nova Scotia arts group released a cultural report card this week ranking the three major Canadian parties vying to lead the next provincial government. more >
July 2003
Tracking threatened cultures
Half of humanity's cultural legacy could soon disappear, so two men are doing something about it. more >
June 2003
Canada Council for the Arts announces Molson Prize winners
The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the two recipients of the 2003 Molson Prize. more >
May 2003
Canada Council Director aims for artistic sustainability
Issues of improved governance, audience development and better management were raised by Canada Council Director John Hobday in his recently released 'Sustaining Artistic Excellence' paper. more >
INCD celebrates World Day for Cultural Diversity
The International Network for Cultural Diversity joined with the United Nations in celebration of the first World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on May 21. more >
Canada Council announces 2003 York Wilson Endowment Award
The Canada Council for the Arts has awarded the 2003 York Wilson Endowment Award to the Edmonton Art Gallery for the purchase of Arlene Stamp's digital photography work, 'Signs of Breathing'. more >
Canada Council out of touch, Music Director charges
The Canada Council for the Arts is out of touch with art organisations across the country, the artistic head of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra said. more >
March 2003
Canada Council meets with Aboriginal artists in Quebec
Canada Council staff recently joined Quebec's Aboriginal artists for 'Recontre de reflexion,' a meeting aimed at familiarising Aboriginal artists with the council and its programs. more >
Canada Council Art Bank announces artwork purchase
The Canada Council Art Bank has announced that it will purchase 71 works by Aboriginal artists from across the country, as part of its 30th birthday celebrations and in honour of the 45th anniversary of the Canada Council. more >
Canada adds $41 million to CBC budget
Canada's heritage minister has ended confusion about state funding for special cultural programming at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp by confirming that an additional CAN$60 million will be poured into the pubcaster's budget for 2003-04. more >
Arts groups cheer policy shift
Calgary arts groups are hailing a proposed new city arts policy as a positive move toward long-term support for arts and culture in Calgary, Canada. more >
February 2003
Canada boosts film tax credits
Hollywood craft and talent unions were taken aback Wednesday by news that the Canadian government is raising production tax credits from 11% to 16% for foreign producers shooting there. more >
Canada Council supports architecture
The Canada Council for the Arts has launched a series of new initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness of Canadian architecture. more >
Recomposing the orchestra
Rather than chopping at groups haphazardly, the whole system of orchestra funding in Canada needs fixing. more >
Canadian cultural sector study released
Canada's Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) has announced the release of a new report entitled 'Face of the Future, A Study of Human Resource Issues in Canada's Cultural Sector'. more >
INCD offers update on GATS negotiations
The Canada-based International Network for Cultural Diversity (INCD) has reported in its latest newsletter that, as expected by many, the US and a number of other nations have lodged significant requests for the inclusion of audiovisual services in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). more >
Final version of INCD Convention released
The Canada-based International Network for Cultural Diversity (INCD) has made available the final version its Convention on Cultural Diversity. more >
January 2003
Can artists inspire scientists?
The National Research Council has awarded two fellowships to see if a different kind of creative process can stimulate scientific thinking. more >
Canada Council helps find homes for art
The Canada Council Art Bank Program is attempting to expose works by contemporary Canadian artists to a broader audience. And the country's art galleries and museums are feeling the benefit. more >
New director appointed at Canada Council
John Hobday has been appointed Director of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
December 2002
Minister Copps announces the appointment of the director of the Canada Council for the Arts
Minister of Canadian Heritage, Sheila Copps, has announced the appointment of John Hobday as Director of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
A tireless champion of the arts
Shirley Thomson may be leaving her job as director of the Canada Council, but her superlative track record suggests we will hear more from her. more >
Collaboration for Canada's arts
Canadian artists seeking international recognition will be assisted by a new agreement between the Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). more >
Canada Council gives birthday gifts
The Canada Council for the Arts wants to say 'thank-you' to the public. In a sign of appreciation for 45 years of public funding, the council, in collaboration with CBC/Radio-Canada, will be offering free tickets to performing arts events across the country. more >
November 2002
INCD and INCP publish reports on Cape Town meetings
Following its meeting in mid-October, the International Network on Cultural Diversity has published the Cape Town Declaration. Similarly, the International Network on Cultural Policy has published a report noting that cultural ministers agreed to discuss with UNESCO's Director-General the feasibility of UNESCO housing and implementing an International Instrument on Cultural Diversity. more >
Study finds art can teach mathematics
A three-year Canadian study has revealed students involved in a 'Learning Through The Arts' (LTTA) program scored higher in mathematics than schoolchildren engaged in traditional education. more >
International presence for Canadian artists
An agreement to promote collaborations, exchanges and exposure of Canadian artists on the international scene, and foreign artists in Canada, has been reached by the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) and the Arts and Cultural Industries Promotion Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). more >
Canada Council stocks up on Aboriginal art
The Canada Council Art Bank recently announced plans to purchase $100,000 worth of Aboriginal art to enhance its collection, and to celebrate its 30th anniversary and the 45th anniversary of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Nova Scotia artists await new council
Nova Scotia will soon have a new council to support the arts, but it won't have a fixed budget. more >
Maestro?
Symphony orchestras in both Toronto and Montreal are shopping for music directors, which offers opportunities for exciting renewal - or chaos. more >
October 2002
International Indigenous Authors Celebration
The Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) has announced that the first-ever International Indigenous Authors Celebration and Tour, featuring writers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand, will be launched in Canada on October 20. more >
Canada-Japan Literature Awards recipients
The Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) has recently announced the winners of the 2002 Canada-Japan Literary Awards. more >
September 2002
International residencies for Canadian artists
Twelve Canadian visual/media artists and curators will be participating in residencies in Paris, New York and the Port of Spain (Trinidad), thanks to a program offered by the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA). more >
Canada takes stock of contributions to Aboriginal culture
In the latest edition of the For the Arts newsletter, the Canada Council for the Arts has reflected on the present state of its second Aboriginal Arts Advisory Committee. more >
How American is Canada?
According to a recent report Canadians are still concerned about the influence of American culture. Although they are confident that the country's culture and identity are stronger now than they were five years ago, a survey has found that they are still concerned about their ability to control domestic affairs from U.S. pressure in the future. more >
August 2002
Canada Council celebrates 45 years
The Canada Council for the Arts is marking its 45th anniversary this year, and according to its 2001-2002 Annual Report, it seems that there is a great deal to celebrate. more >
Canada Council to visit the Yukon
The Board of the Canada Council for the Arts, chaired by Jean-Louis Roux, will visit the regional areas of Whitehorse and Dawson City on August 27-31, for a series of meetings and activities aimed at both the arts communities and the general public. more >
Architect receives Canada Council Award
The Canada Council for the Arts has recently announced that Calgary-born Marc Boutin is the winner of the 2002 Prix de Rome, an award which recognises the talent and work of an architect actively engaged in the field. more >
July 2002
Culture and development conference in South Africa
The International Network for Cultural Diversity has recently extended its links with South Africa, in planning to hold its third annual conference in Cape Town, and appointing a local to its secretariat. more >
Youth Audience initiatives rewarded
The Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) has recently announced the three recipients of the 2002 Theatre for Young Audience Prizes, as part of its ongoing effort to sustain and promote artistic initiatives geared towards youth. more >
Canada Council funds representation at Biennale
The Canada Council for the Arts and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) are working in partnership on the administration and funding support of Canada’s architectural representation at the 2002 Venice Biennale in Architecture, which takes place from September 8 to November 3. more >
Canada Council focuses on Indigenous art
A new article, 'Look Both Ways', is available on the Canada Council website, and details the presence of Aboriginal art within Canada and its impact on national culture. more >
June 2002
Power of Culture speech available online
'The Power of Culture in Contemporary Society', a speech delivered by the Director of the Canada Council for the Arts, Dr Shirley Thomson, in Paris on February 28, has been recently made available online. more >
Entertainment industry survey
A new survey by Pricewaterhouse Coopers says that the worldwide entertainment and media sector is at the beginning of a rally that will see spending of US$1.4 trillion by 2006. more >
May 2002
Canadian Booksellers angered at the expansion of Amazon
Booksellers are calling on Sheila Copps, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, to block the expansion of Amazon.com into the Canadian market, warning their businesses will be devastated if the U.S. online giant sets up a domestic distribution arm. more >
GATS a growing threat to cultural policy
The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), one of the agreements of the World Trade Organization (WTO), came into force in January 1995. Already, GATS places constraints on the ability of sovereign governments to implement cultural policies and programs. Proposals in a new round of liberalisation talks and the comprehensive negotiating agenda adopted by the WTO, can only bring further restrictions on governmental measures that support domestic cultural expressions and ensure cultural diversity. more >
Canada Council sponsors largest-ever delegation of Canadian writers to China
Canadian literature is making its presence felt in the world's most populous country this week, as a result of the visit of five well-known Canadian writers to China on a delegation led by the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
April 2002
Arts, science and technology links fostered
The Canada Council for the Arts and the National Research Council Canada (NRC) recently signed an agreement to promote interaction between the arts, science and technology. The signing coincided with the 550th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's birth. more >
March 2002
Canada Council appoints Aboriginal Arts Co-ordinator
The Canada Council for the Arts has announced that Louise Profeit-LeBlanc will take up the position of Aboriginal Arts Co-ordinator on 6 May this year. more >
Visual and media artists lauded
The winners of the third annual Governor General's Awards for Visual and Media Arts were announced by the Canada Council for the Arts on 12 March. more >
February 2002
Canada's Art Bank celebrates 30 years
The Canada Council's Art Bank, which rents contemporary Canadian art to government and private sector organisations nationwide, is celebrating its 30th anniversary of operation this year. more >
January 2002
Canada Council announces plans for new funding
The Canada Council for the Arts recently announced its plans for the distribution of $75 million in new funding over the next three years. more >
December 2001
First Walter Carsen prize announced in Canada
Choreographer, director and dancer Brian Macdonald has won the first CAN$50,000 Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts. more >
Performing arts organizations face attendance, financial challenges
Canada's largest theatre companies, dance companies, opera companies and symphony orchestras face major challenges in expanding their audience and generating sufficient revenues to be financially sustainable, says a new report conducted by the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
Canada Council for the Arts announces two new partnerships
The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the creation of two initiatives in the arts and sciences. more >
July 2012
Innovation, Sustainability and Culture in a Creative Economy
HEC Montréal’s Department of International Business offers a two-week Summer School Program with both an undergraduate and a graduate level. more >
June 2012
Tourist and Cultural Itineraries: From Memory to Development
The conference seeks to promote the meeting of tourism and patrimonial professionals who devote their efforts to enhancing these itineraries, circuits and attracting visitors, who likewise reach out to local or international bodies to foster the possibility of making known their interests, and involve university scholars who analyze and research the economic, social, historic or territorial impact of these memorable itineraries. more >
May 2012
National Youth Arts Week
From May 1 to 7, 2012, young people across Canada will join together to host the largest youth-led celebration of creative expression and community involvement Canada has ever seen. more >
December 2011
W/HERE: Contesting knowledge in the 21st Century
W/Here: Contesting Knowledge in the 21st Century brings together leaders from higher arts education institutions and universities across the globe for an important and timely discussion on the changing role of art education today. more >
November 2011
BALANCE-UnBaLANCe 2011
The BALANCE-UNBALANCE conference will seek to bring artists together with scientists, economists, philosophers, politicians, sociologists, engineers, management and policy experts with the intent of engendering a deeper awareness and creating lasting intellectual working partnerships in solving our global environmental crisis. more >
September 2011
Call for 4 no-fee presentations in 2011-12
As part of the Statistical Insights on the Arts series, Kelly Hill will conduct four presentations in 2011-12 for no speaking / preparation fee. more >
June 2011
Creative Rural Economy Conference: From Theory to Practice
This is a unique event! It is a multi-location conference offering participants an opportunity to experience sessions in a university setting as well as in the heart of creative rural Ontario - Prince Edward County. more >
May 2011
Creative City Summit 2011
The 2011 Creative City Summit Planning Committee would like to invite the general public and CCNC members with inspiring community cultural revitalization examples to share your experiences in London this May. more >
April 2011
Call for papers: Measures of Support for Intangible Cultural Heritage : Governments, Institutions and Municipalities
Through this conference the Conseil québécois du patrimoine vivant (CQPV) will bring together professionals and decision-makers in the field in order to encourage the exchange of international expertise. more >
Measures of Support for Intangible Cultural Heritage : Governments, Institutions and Municipalities
Call for papers. This conference will provide a way for participants to discover best practices in the field and to evaluate how the experience of certain countries or municipalities could apply elsewhere. It will also provide ways to learn from actual regional case studies in order to better reflect on the whole process of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. more >
November 2010
'My City's Still Breathing'
This symposium will gather local, national and international experts from a wide range of disciplines to deliberate and debate the current and future relationship of art and design to city-making. more >
October 2010
Representations of European Identity
Paper and/or panel proposals are invited for a 3-day multi-disciplinary international conference on representations of European identity entitled Europe in its Own Eyes / Europe in the Eyes of the Other. more >
July 2010
Summer School on Management of Creativity in an Innovation Society
This intensive program offered in English will compare creative approaches and practices from diverse fields ranging from industry and arts to science. more >
June 2010
World Heritage and Tourism: Managing for the Global and the Local
This conference to be held in Quebec City, Canada, seeks to explore a series of critical and fundamental questions being raised by the various 'owners', managers and local communities involved with World Heritage Sites in relation to tourism. more >
October 2009
Creative Places + Spaces: The Collaborative City
Creative Places + Spaces is one of the world's leading forums on creativity. Under the theme of 'The Collaborative City', this year's event will engage global perspectives on collaboration and connect them with local change makers. more >
September 2009
Creative City Network of Canada 2009 Conference
The Creative City Network of Canada holds a national conference or summit each fall in a different Canadian community, where representatives from municipalities, arts organizations, provincial and federal government agencies and others can meet to share ideas, connect, and work together to build vital infrastructure for arts and cultural development in Canada. more >
June 2009
Experience the Creative Economy 2009
Experience the Creative Economy is a unique conference which allows scholars new in their careers to experience notions of the creative economy in a small and focused setting. more >
Creative Age Symposium: Creating Creative Futures!
Held in conjunction with the Creative Age Festival, this one-day symposium showcases various initiatives and opportunities that are enhancing the depth and breadth of the field of arts and aging. more >
October 2008
2008 Creative City Summit
Dialogue sessions will be held on the topics of Community Engagement, Special Events, the Arts and Economic Development, Intercultural Communications, Cultural Infrastructure and Public Art. more >
September 2008
16th General Assembly and International Scientific Symposium of ICOMOS
The 16th General Assembly and International Scientific Symposium of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), to be held in Quebec, Canada, on 29 September - 4 October 2008 under the title The Spirit of Place Between the Intangible and the Tangible, calls for papers. more >
Fourth Art of Management and Organization Conference
The aim is the exploration and promotion of the arts (in the most inclusive sense) as a means of understanding management and organization(al) life more >
June 2008
IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society
The conference organisers are calling for full and exploratory papers, abstracts and ideas addressing the ISTAS 08 theme: Citizens, groups, communities, and information and communication technologies (ICT). more >
Convergence of Art and Science: Global Health Perspectives
The 6th Annual Global Health Research Conference looks at connections between art, creativity and health. more >
May 2008
International symposium on cultural policy trends and challenges in Western countries: Call for Papers
The objectives of this symposium are to explore the diversity of political/cultural relations and the issues and challenges in cultural policy, as they present themselves within Western societies. more >
Arts, Territories and the New Cultural Economy: Culture, a key asset in urban and regional development?
This meeting sees the convergence of recent theoretical and empirical works, from diverse social science and humanities perspectives, that question the place of the arts in new forms, or strategies, of development of territories by culture. more >
Arts and Territories: towards a new cultural economy?
Main themes include: 'articulation of public action, arts and territories' and 'arts in the cultural ecosystem of territories'. more >
April 2008
March 2008
International Forum on the Creative Economy
This International Forum will include keynote speakers, presentations, lectures, and other activities aimed at examining recent evidence on the arts and cultural sector as an important engine of economic growth. more >
December 2007
Intergovernmental Committee for Protection and Promotion of Cultural Diversity
The First Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. more >
November 2007
Symposium on the Role of Arts and Culture in Canadian Public Diplomacy
The Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) invites everyone interested in cultural diplomacy issues to its Symposium on the Role of Arts and Culture in Canadian Public Diplomacy. more >
Evolving Contexts for Provincial Cultural Policy
Presentation on a research program on Canadian provincial cultural policy, including how provincial approaches to cultural policy relate to international cultural policy approaches. more >
October 2007
Live in Public - The Art of Engagement
This three day conference looks at artists working in the public realm and engaging communities within their art practices. more >
The Ecology of a Creative Community
The Creative City Network of Canada's 6th Annual Conference will explore the key elements that contribute to a vibrant cultural community. more >
May 2007
October 2006
August 2006
June 2006
March 2006
September 2005
July 2005
June 2005
April 2005
August 2004
July 2004
May 2004
February 2004
October 2003
May 2003
October 2002
September 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
November 2000
November 2011
Young children’s participation in the arts and reading outside of school in 2008
Young children’s participation in the arts and reading outside of school in 2008, the 35th report in the Statistical Insights on the Arts series from Hill Strategies Research, provides a first look at data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth regarding the frequency with which Canadian children between three and seven years of age participate in certain arts and reading activities outside of school. more >
June 2011
Digital Transitions and the Impact of New Technology on the Arts
The objectives of the report were to provide an overview of current knowledge on the theme of digital transition and the impact of new technology on the arts in order to suggest how changes in the arts and society brought about by digital technologies affect Canadian public arts funders. more >
May 2011
Report of the Independent Expert in the field of cultural rights
In this first report to the Human Rights Council, the independent expert in the field of cultural rights develops preliminary views on the conceptual and legal framework of her mandate. more >
April 2011
The Visual Arts in Canada: A Synthesis and Critical Analysis of Recent Research
This study is the first comprehensive assessment of the state of research knowledge of the visual arts in Canada, cataloguing over 550 Canadian studies and a further 315 studies done abroad. more >
March 2011
Labour Market Information for Canada's Cultural Sector
The Labour Market Information (LMI) report is rich with the most complete set of tables and detailed statistics ever assembled on the cultural labour force. It documents the breadth and strength of the sector with its labour force of 539,000 employers and workers across the country, and its economic impact of $39 billion or 3.1% of GDP. more >
Culture and Local Governance
Culture and Local Governance (CLG) is a peer-reviewed online journal. CLG offers a space for dialogue across disciplinary boundaries, between established and emerging scholars, and between academics and practitioners. more >
نشرة الفدرالية الدولية من أجل التنوع الثقافي مارس2011
The first Arabic version of the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) newsletter is now available. more >
Politiques et pratiques de la culture (Cultural Policy and Practices)
French publisher La documentation française recently released Politiques et pratiques de la culture (Cultural Policy and Practices). more >
February 2011
Patterns in Performing Arts Spending in Canada in 2008
This report provides a detailed analysis of Canadians who spend money on live performing arts. In 2008, consumer spending on live performing arts was $1.426 billion, or an average of $108 for each of the 13.2 million households in the country. more >
January 2011
Trends and challenges of cultural policies. National case studies.
This work edited by Diane Saint-Pierre and Claudine Audet looks at the cultural policies of various Western countries—and their sometimes convergent, sometimes divergent evolution—based on the national priorities and issues of the time. more >
November 2010
Consumer Spending on Culture in 2008
This report shows that Canadian consumers spent over $27 billion on cultural goods and services in 2008. The $27.4 billion in consumer spending on culture in Canada represents $841 for every Canadian resident. Consumer spending on culture is three times larger than the $9.2 billion spent on culture by all levels of government in 2007/08. more >
The situation and needs of Canadian senior artists
In 2006, a group of artists’ associations and individuals came together in response to the growing awareness of the serious challenges facing Canada’s professional senior artists. With the intention of developing programs and services to respond to these challenges, they launched the Senior Artists Research Project (SARP) in 2009 to investigate the circumstances, situation, needs and interests of senior artists. more >
A Delicate Balance: Music Education in Canadian Schools
While there has been extensive international research on the benefits of music education for young people, there has been only limited research on the state of music education in Canada. more >
October 2010
Creative neighbourhoods and their social and economic benefits
Four reports and presentations that examine artistic neighbourhoods, spaces and districts, including the intersection of culture, economy and place. more >
Revolution or Renaissance: Making the Transition from an Economic Age to a Cultural Age
In Revolution or Renaissance: Making the Transition from an Economic Age to a Cultural Age, D. Paul Schafer subjects two of the most powerful forces in the world – economics and culture – to a detailed and historically sensitive analysis. more >
September 2010
Canada Council for the Arts Annual Report 2009-10
Ottawa, September 29, 2010 – The Canada Council for the Arts awarded over $158 million in grants, payments, fellowships and prizes last year, it announced today in its 2009-10 Annual Report. The funds supported the creation, production and dissemination of art that instills a sense of identity and inspiration for Canadians. more >
Status of the Artist in Canada, an Update on the 30th Anniversary of the UNESCO Recommendation Concerning the Status of the Artist
Status of the Artist was first used in a process launched by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization that culminated in 1980 in Belgrade, when the General Conference adopted the Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist. The 2010 Update was written by Garry Neil and published by the Canadian Conference of the Arts. more >
August 2010
Contemporary Inuit Art in Canada
This 12-page fact sheet highlights some key statistical findings from a combination of research reports and statistical information. more >
June 2010
Public Art Toolkit
The Public Art Toolkit is intended as a guide when planning a public art program or evaluating an existing one, and contains resources for the management of public art projects. more >
April 2010
Cultural Planning Toolkit
The Cultural Planning Toolkit is a guide for the process of cultural planning in a community. It includes an adaptable model and practical checklists for navigating and charting progress. more >
December 2009
The Art of Export Marketing of Cultural Products and Services
Intended as a guide for artists and cultural workers in developing and managing international marketing of cultural goods and services, this site gathers resources, tips and pitfalls in reaching international buyers and audiences. more >
November 2009
Culture in Montréal: Economic Impacts and Private Funding
This study draws on concrete data to illustrate the cultural sector's power as a lever of economic development for Montréal and synthesizes this data to define how the private sector contributes to culture. more >
D'Art report: Multidisciplinary Arts: Approaches to Funding
The report notes that definitions of multidisciplinary arts are broad and inclusive, with an emphasis on the presence of more than one discipline, which may extend beyond the arts. more >
October 2009
2008/09 Annual Report
In 2008/09, over $158 million was awarded to more than 4,400 artists and arts organizations in 689 communities across Canada. more >
September 2009
Situation and Needs of Canadian Senior Artists
If you are an artist and 60 or over, please participate in this action-oriented research project about artists in all disciplines. more >
July 2009
Contemporary Inuit Arts in Canada (Fact Sheet)
Published by the Canada Council for the Arts, this brief fact sheet notes that there is a rich tradition of creativity and artistic ability in Inuit communities, with many artists blending “traditional knowledge with modern-day techniques”. more >
April 2009
Marketing planning for culture and the arts
Marketing Planning for Culture and the Arts approaches marketing planning not just in terms of the local market, but also in terms of the international market. more >
Developing and Revitalizing Rural Communities Through Arts and Creativity
A comprehensive review of existing and original research and identifies 'best practices' in rural communities and includes information from Canada and around the world. more >
The campaign for cultural diversity: why it matters to you
A brochure retracing the history of the campaign for cultural diversity and presenting the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The publication relates the milestones of the last decade, describes the major issues and provides concrete illustrations on the importance of cultural diversity. more >
March 2009
Youth Participation in Arts, Heritage, Culture and Community - A National Conversation
In March 2009, the Department of Canadian Heritage held discussions on youth engagement with 100 organizations and 40 youth participants from the Encounters with Canada program. more >
Developing and Revitalizing Rural Communities Through Arts and Culture
Arts, culture, and heritage are viewed not only as amenities to improve the quality of life, but as a foundation upon which the future of these rural/small communities rests. more >
February 2009
A Statistical Profile of Artists in Canada
This report shows that there are 140,000 artists in Canada who spent more time at their art than at any other occupation in May 2006. The number of artists is slightly larger than the number of Canadians directly employed in the automotive industry (135,000). more >
November 2008
Funding Arts and Culture under Canada's 39th Parliament
Despite several warnings about the difficulties of making an accurate analysis of Canadian Heritage's cultural funding over time, this report does shed some light on recent trends in Canadian Heritage's cultural funding. more >
October 2008
Making a single case for the arts: an international perspective
This research report aims at investigating how other countries have addressed the issue, and succeeded in developing a collaborative modus operandi among arts organizations each articulating cultural policies in order to make a single case for the arts. more >
July 2008
Valuing Culture: Measuring and Understanding Canada’s Creative Economy
Prepared for the International Forum on the Creative Economy, this report highlights the substantial social, cultural, and economic contributions of Canada’s culture sector and assesses its economic footprint. more >
Creative Construct: Building for Culture and Creativity
Proceedings from this international symposium held in April 2008 are now available online. more >
Social Effects of Culture: Detailed Statistical Models
Provides strong evidence of the social effects of culture through detailed statistical models of six social indicators. more >
May 2008
Revolution or Renaissance: Making the Transition from an Economic Age to a Cultural Age
Making the transition from an economic age to a cultural age is imperative if global harmony, environmental sustainability, economic viability, and human well-being are to be achieved. more >
March 2008
Federal Government Support for the Arts and Culture in Official Language Minority Communities
Assesses the support provided to official language minority community artists and organizations by federal government arts and culture institutions. more >
Visual Arts Summit
Arts Research Monitor, March, Volume 6, no 10 is a special issue summarising issues explored at a visual arts summit held in Ottawa, Canada, in November 2007. more >
The State of Cultural Infrastructure: Policy and Issues Dialogue
A series of background research papers to be used for a series of regional roundtables on cultural infrastructure’s vital role in creative cities and sustainable communities. more >
Social Effects of Culture
Examines the relationship between four cultural activities (reading books, attending live performances, visiting art galleries and attending movie theatres) and social phenomena. more >
From Economy to Ecology: A Policy Framework for Creative Labour
An examination of the concept of the creative economy and of how the current labour policy framework should adapt to the realities creative professionals in Canada and internationally. more >
The Status of the Artist legislative approach and Rethinking of Status of the Artist approach?
Examines the Canadian approach to the status of the artist question and offers some new thinking about how best to deal with the unique characteristics of workers in the creative economy. more >
First Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Cultural Diversity
A number of documents have been published following the first Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. more >
February 2008
International Journal of Arts Management Vol. 10 no. 2
Abstracts for the latest edition of the International Journal of Arts Management can be viewed online in English and French. more >
January 2008
The Spirit of Alberta
The Government of Alberta has developed the 'Spirit of Alberta' - a cultural policy for the Canadian province of Alberta. more >
December 2007
Sustainable Development Strategy 2007-2009
Focuses on ensuring that the environmental impacts of Canadian Heritage’s decisions are understood, weighed and appropriately addressed. more >
D'Art report: Policies and Programs of Support for Older Artists
The D'Art report outlines a selection of policies and programs that provide support to senior artists who are experiencing financial difficulty or are no longer able to work. more >
November 2007
Final Report: Expert Group Meeting on the Statistical measurement of the diversity of cultural expressions
Report on the UIS and UNESCO Culture Sector meeting on the measurement of the diversity of cultural expressions involving 12 experts from around the world. more >
Focus on Youth: Canadian Youth Arts Programming and Policy
Youth arts is a distinctive type of artistic practice that does more than include youth in existing artistic frameworks; it positions the needs of specific, localized youth communities at the very centre of the artistic practice. more >
Road to Rinks: Government Spending on Infrastructure in Canada, 1961 to 2005
Examines spending on cultural infrastructure across Canada. more >
Cultural Infrastructure: Working Bibliography
A working bibliography focussing on resources about planning for cultural facilities on a regional, city-wide, district, and neighbourhood basis. more >
October 2007
Canada Council Strategic Plan 2008-11
The Canada Council’s Strategic Plan 2008-11 sets out the values and directions that will guide the Council over the next three to five years. more >
Trade in Culture Services: A Handbook of Concepts and Methods
A research report that looks at the methods and reliability of data on international trade in cultural services. more >
September 2007
UNESCO Chair in Arts and Learning - Newsletter
A quarterly newsletter on Arts and Learning. more >
World Culture Project
A project designed to develop the holistic concept of culture in broad, general terms, and apply it to a complex set of global issues and problems. more >
August 2007
Cultural indicators initiatives
Canada's Centre of Expertise on Culture and Communities has a number of indicators resources. more >
Making the Case for Culture
Six papers that detail the “how and why” culture is key to our betterment. more >
Musical Instrument Bank
A scheme to acquire quality stringed instruments to be loaned to established or gifted young musicians. more >
Status of the Artist Saskatchewan
The Government of Saskatchewan has produced a number of resources on status of the artist. more >
Culture employment in a North American context
A comparison of employment in culture occupations in Canada and the USA from 1981 to 2001. more >
Community Arts in Rural Settings
Adaption of a presentation by Ontario Arts Council Executive Director John Brotman at a workshop on 'Arts and Heritage in Rural Communities.' more >
The Artists Legal Outreach
The Artists Legal Outreach is a pilot project of the Alliance for Arts and Culture. It provides artists in all disciplines with access to summary legal advice and hold dialogues on arts-related issues. more >
July 2007
Choreographing Community Sustainability: The Importance of Cultural Planning to Community Viability
This research project examined how cultural planning can be more fully integrated into planning processes of municipalities to evolve healthier, sustainable communities. more >
Opening up Space: Toward an Expansive Vision for Multidisciplinary Arts in Canada
A research report by Rachael Van Fossen commissioned prepared for the Multidisciplinary Workgroup of the Canada Council for the Arts.more >
June 2007
Planning for Cultural Infrastructure on a Municipal or Regional Scale: Key Frameworks and Issues from the Literature
Explores the contributions of academic research and professional planning literature to understanding various approaches to, and issues involved in, planning for cultural infrastructure on a municipal or regional scale. more >
Framing Infrastructure in a Cultural Context: A National and International Policy Scan
Through a scan of online policy and program information, this paper explores uses of the term cultural infrastructure in Canadian federal policy and in policies and programs internationally. more >
April 2007
March 2007
Trends in the arts and arts funding: National and international perspectives
Current trends in the arts and arts funding from a national and international perspective. more >
January 2007
Assessing the Intrinsic Impacts of a Live Performance
Attempts to define and measure how audiences are transformed by a live performance. more >
CARFAC Copyright Fee Schedule
CARFAC's schedules of recommended minimum artist fees. more >
Opening up Space: Toward an Expansive Vision for Multidisciplinary Arts in Canada
A research report by Rachael Van Fossen prepared for the Multidisciplinary Workgroup of the Canada Council for the Arts. more >
December 2006
Guidelines for measuring cultural participation
An international analysis of arts participation survey methodologies and frameworks, with a particular focus on the Eurobarometer survey. more >
November 2006
October 2006
Status of the Artist Legislation
CARFAC Ontario advocates for Status of the Artist Legislation that will improve the socio-economic position of all visual and media artists. more >
September 2006
July 2006
March 2006
December 2005
October 2005
July 2005
MAO-Model of Audience Development: Some Theoretical Elaborations and Practical Consequences
Examines how arts organizations can better understand and use 'motivation', 'ability' and 'opportunity' in their audience development work. more >
June 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
Peer assessment: a guide
Every year, the Council receives over 800 applications and awards over 500 grants. To ensure that its limited financial resources are used wisely and that decisions are made fairly and objectively, Council uses peer assessment as a cornerstone of the granting process. more >
Working With a Non-Profit Board: Tips and Tools for Cultural Managers
Free online resource that has been developed to support the efforts of managers in cultural non-profits to work effectively with their Boards. more >
October 2004
June 2004
March 2004
January 2004
November 2003
October 2003
July 2003
May 2003
Creative Management in the Arts and Heritage: Sustaining and Renewing Professional Management For the 21st Century: A Proposed Action Plan for Creating Winning Conditions
The purpose of the project was to identify the challenges facing professional management personnel in Canada’s not-for-profit arts and heritage organizations and develop practical recommendations to meet these challenges. more >
December 2002
Performing Arts Venues Study - Managing Our Performance Spaces
Aims to give organizations that manage performing arts facilities in Canada guidance and tools that will help them assess the impact on their operations of any construction or renovation work or even of just simply managing such premises (for creation, production and/or performance). more >
October 2002
Informing Cultural Policy - Data, Statistics and Meaning
Paper delivered by Mark Schuster at the UNESCO cultural statistics meeting in Montreal that touches on issues of inter-country comparisons of expenditure data. more >
September 2002
City Support for Festivals and Celebrations - Policy Review & Recommendations
Vancouver city's review of festivals, which and sets out a framework, number of policy objectives, definitions etc. more >
July 2002
June 2002
March 2002
January 2002
The Art of Export Marketing of Cultural Products and Services
Information to assist artists in understanding and managing issues related to Export Marketing of Cultural Products and Services. more >
January 2000
January 1996
Taxes and Charities: An International Comparison
This paper examines how other countries have adjusted their definition of charitable status, highlights the best mechanisms being used by other countries to ensure that qualified charitable organizations have access to the tax system for fundraising and other purposes, and evaluates the comparative costs and benefits of alternative approaches to restructuring the tax system. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >