CCA Bulletin 16/09
May 20, 2009
Provincial Initiatives to Help the Arts Weather the Recession -
An Overview
Just the Facts
As some provincial governments began announcing initiatives to support the arts, the CCA thought it timely to review what provincial governments are doing to help arts organizations and individuals in the sector weather the economic downturn. While we have not been able to collect information from all jurisdictions, here is what we have gathered so far.
British Columbia
As BC voters went to the polls on May 12, 2009 the biggest cultural issue was the 40% cut to the British Columbia Arts Council made by the Campbell government in the current fiscal year. The NDP and the Green Party had committed to reversing this cut while on the Liberal side, the then Minister of Culture, Bill Bennett, promised during the campaign to do all in his power to convince his colleagues in Cabinet to cancel the reduction, which could reach 50% of the Arts Council budget in 2010-11.
It must be said that the Liberals did invest additional money in 2009 (surplus from last fiscal) into the arts sector, to the point that some organizations have received more than they were initially set to receive before the cuts were announced! This has done a lot to soften the blow this year and, if those organizations are prudent in their spending, it should also help soften the blow for next year if the cuts are not reversed.
Now that the votes are counted, the CCA will watch with interest what the new Liberal government, elected for the third time in a row, plans to do about a long-term vision for supporting the arts in BC.
Alberta
The new motto for the government of Alberta is “Freedom to Create: Freedom to Achieve.” The government has also articulated five priorities, the fifth of which is:
“Strong Communities – Living in strong communities means feeling safe and secure; having a deep sense of belonging; and having access to a vibrant arts and culture scene.”
This said, Alberta has not developed any specific new measures for the arts in the current economic crisis. The 2009/10 provincial budget provides some $71.2 million or 23% of the budget of the Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit to the arts and culture. Cultural organizations also benefit from access to the Major Community Facilities Program which is a two year $280 million program. Among the beneficiaries announced on May 7, 2009 are La Cité Francophone, the Edmonton Space and Science Foundation, and the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts.
Arts and culture organizations can also access a program to encourage equality and reduce discrimination. The recipients announced on March 9, 2009 include the Stage Left Productions Theatre Association, L’Association multiculturelle francophone de l’Alberta, the Somali Canadian Cultural Society of Edmonton, and the United Cultures of Canada Association.
Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Arts Alliance reports that the recession is beginning to have some serious effects on arts and culture organizations. The Alliance has been pressing the province’s government to act, but so far there is no sign of movement.
Manitoba
The government of Manitoba has introduced a budget for 2009/10 based on the notion that the province is going to weather the economic downturn without the need for special blanket economic stimulus measures. Some measures are contemplated for the agriculture and mining sector and since some arts organizations are facing particularly challenging situations, the government has indicated it may intervene on a case by case basis. The Arts Branch of the Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Sport will receive $ 3,5 million for grants and another $ 4.1 million for Film and Sound. These funds are part of the larger departmental budget of $ 88.6 million.
Ontario
The recent Ontario provincial budget was good news for the arts sector. The following initiatives were part of the province’s financial plan:
"Ontario has the third-largest entertainment and creative sector in North America, and is the leading province in film and television production, book and magazine publishing and sound recording. The government is continuing to strengthen the competitiveness of Ontario's entertainment and creative industries, by proposing approximately $100 million annually in additional tax relief and investments of nearly $30 million. Proposals include:
Enhancing tax support for the creation of interactive digital media products in Ontario
Enhancing the refundable book publishing tax credit
Enhancing the refundable computer animation and special effects tax credit
Making the enhanced tax credit rates under the refundable film and television tax credits permanent, creating predictability and stability for the industry $20 million to the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, which provides support to a number of Ontario's creative industries as they compete domestically and globally $10 million for a pilot program, administered through the OMDC, which would refund a portion of the costs associated with intellectual property development to Ontario-based companies in the screen-based industries.”
Stratford Shakespearean Festival also received funding of over $ 500,000 in provincial support of tourism development efforts.
Québec
The Minister of Culture, Communications and Status of Women, Christine St-Pierre, has recently announced a new program which allows Québec organizations to have recourse to expert support for administration, artistic direction, development planning, and governance.
The $1.6 million fund will be administered by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ). Specialized presenters, artist-run centres, publishers of cultural periodicals, service organizations, alliances and producers are eligible to apply if they have received a previous grant from the CALQ.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is heading to the polls to elect a new provincial government on June 9, 2009. No action has taken place to inject new resources into the arts, but the CCA will watch the development of campaign platforms by each of the political parties to discern how this might become an election issue.
The province did award a total of $45,000 in scholarships and awards to artists. The funds were drawn from interest generated by the Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund which was created as part of the now defunct Nova Scotia Arts Council.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Always eager to help the federal government in a tight spot, the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador has stepped up to the plate and assured artists and creators of the province that he would provide the $250,000.00 they previously received from the PromArt Program of Foreign Affairs and the TradeRoutes program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Premier has said despite the cancellation of these programs by the federal government, Newfoundland and Labrador artists and creators still need to build artists and markets around the world.
Additionally, $25,000.00 has been dedicated to the creation of an Arts and Letters Award, and $115,000.00 for film production. No cuts have been made to existing arts and culture programs in the province.
Other Provinces
No information has yet been provided by New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island.
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