Canada PoliticsCanCon’s evolution: Ottawa seeks public’s input on future of arts and culture funding
[Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly is seeking the public’s input on the future of Canada’s arts and culture funding in the digital age. REUTERS/Chris Wattie]
The days of protecting Canada’s tender culture from the great American machine are long gone and it’s time to adapt to the brave new digital world when it comes to this country’s arts.
But how to do that in the great global scheme of things?
The government of Canada is looking for ideas.
Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly launched the second phase Tuesday in her plan to rewrite Ottawa’s approach to arts and culture, with the release of a consultation report that marks the start of virtual and cross-country consultations on “Canadian Content in a Digital World.”
Technological advances and changing consumer behaviour brings challenges and opportunities, Joly says in a statement.
“This project is driven by our belief that the time is ripe to review the role of the federal government in helping Canada’s creative sector navigate this transformation and chart a course to ensure that we are poised to position ourselves as global leaders.“
The current policies were developed well before the Internet, “when our bookshelves, record stores and airwaves were filled with content originating from the United States, France, the U.K. and elsewhere,” says the paper.
Designed to ensure the presence of Canadian television, film, music, newspapers, magazines and books, the toolkit needs updating, it suggests.
“The goal must shift from protecting Canadian culture to promoting it; from the domestic market to the global stage,” it says.
It’s an overhaul that’s probably long overdue, says Kate Cornell, co-chair of the Canadian Arts Coalition.
The current policy is still largely based on a 1951 report from the Massey Commission, Cornell tells Yahoo Canada News.
“It’s antiquated,” she says. “That document was incredibly protectionist because it had to be in an era where Canadians were concerned about the overwhelming influence of American culture. In today’s digital world, we’re not as worried about the looming presence of American culture. We haven’t been swallowed up by American culture as the Massey Commission worried.”
Canadian artists are creating amazing work but being noticed — and getting paid for it — are global challenges, Cornell says.
“In terms of monetizing content, that’s the million-dollar question. It’s not just a Canadian problem. It’s a global question and I don’t know that anyone necessarily has the answer right now,” she says.
But at least arts and culture are a topic of conversation, she adds.
“It is a big shift and I’ve been so pleased going to town halls hearing culture being mentioned where it was never mentioned before,” Cornell says.
The heritage ministry says the cultural sector — which now includes such diverse areas as software, virtual reality technology and video games — accounts for three per cent of Canada’s GDP or $54.6 billion in economic activity. It provides 630,000 jobs across the country.
The federal government announced a five-year, $1.9-billion investment in arts and culture in this year’s budget and culture even forms part of the mandate of several ministers, she points out.
“The concerns have definitely evolved so we need to move to a different perspective of promoting and supporting the artists doing that work,” Cornell says.
“Their voices will be heard. It’s just a question of how loud the voice is.”
