Funding

In total, all three levels of government spent just over $6.3 billion in 2000/01 on everything from operating government departments related to culture, to financial assistance to artists and organizations in the culture sector. This was an increase of 6% over the previous year, a much faster pace of growth compared with 2.4% in 1999/00 and 2.7% in 1998/99. Before 1998/99, spending had declined for three consecutive years.

From 1999/00 to 2000/01, spending on cultural activities and institutions grew fastest among Canada's municipalities. During the 1990s, the municipalities' share of total government spending on culture increased while the federal share declined.

In 1990/91, federal spending accounted for 49% of the total, provincial and territorial spending accounted for 30% and municipal spending, accounted for 21%. Ten years later, the proportion of federal spending had decreased for 44% of total expenditures, compared with 31% for the provinces and territories and 25% for municipalities

The Canadian Television Fund (CTF) is a private–public funding initiative that plays an important role in financing drama, performing arts and children's programming for television. In 1999/00, the CTF funded 583 productions that created 2,822 hours of programming, the highest since the CTF’s founding. Other organizations, such as the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Film Board, have been set up by successive governments to support the Canadian artistic community.

The Canada Council for the Arts was able to start the new century with a commitment of an additional $25 million a year from 1997 until 2002. It had received a 7% cut in government funding in 1996/97; however, in 2002/03, the Council received an increase of $1.9 million over the preceding year.

The National Film Board (NFB) received $61.2 million in funding from the federal government in 2001. While this was an increase for recent years it was still only three-quarters of the $80 million the NFB received in 1994/95. Despite economic ups and downs, since its creation in 1939, the NFB, its people and its films have garnered more than 4,000 awards.

If a decline in arts funding by government is a sign of the times, the flip side of that sign shows a rise in private-sector contribution. Performing arts organizations for 2000/01 saw 21% of their earned revenues come from private donations. Although there is little data on the subject, it is believed that corporate sponsorships are compensating for the lack of government funding for many sports organizations as well. These funds are mostly used for coaching and travel.