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Arts council
regains its voice
Like most other publicly funded institutions, the council suffered budget cutbacks through the 1990s. Rather than cut into the money going to artists, the council chose to slash its administration. Staff levels were cut in half from 268 to 132 and the administrative budget dropped from $22 million to $12 million between 1993 and 1997. Promotion and advocacy fell by the wayside, even though the council's mandate is "to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and production of works in the arts." In 1997, the federal government increased funding – $25 million more per year, plus a $10 million Millennium Arts Fund. New high profile Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts, a magazine and a Web site are some examples of this new public relations offensive. Seven awards, each worth $10,000, will presented on March 23, honouring lifetime achievement in video, painting and sculpture, among others. "They are very prestigious awards," says council spokesperson Donna Balkan. "They will help give a higher profile to Canadian artists." A magazine devoted to the arts returned in November 1999, after having been closed down in 1994. Its co-editor, Terry O'Grady, says the quarterly publication, For the Arts, has been well received. "We asked for feedback in the first issue," he says. "So far, the reaction is quite good. People like the look of it." There has been criticism in the arts community that the council wasn't doing a good job of telling people what it was doing. For the Arts is one response to this type of criticism, O'Grady says.
The magazine has a circulation of 4,000, O'Grady says, and is aimed at artists, provincial arts councils, galleries, government decision-makers and the media. Its goal is to explain the council's programs and to inform the arts community of new developments. "It's also to be a proponent for public funding of the arts. I think, across the spectrum, people believe the government has a role in supporting the arts." Other promotional projects include a redesigned Web site, done in September 1999. Included in the site is another initiative, Success Stories, a series about Canadian artists whose careers have been helped by council grants. Last fall, all MPs and senators received the Parliamentarian's Guide to the Canada Council for the Arts. As well, council chair Jean-Louis Roux and director Shirley Thomson met with several MPs over the winter to explain how the council operates. The MPs can serve as important links between the council, and artists and communities across the country, Balkan says. Balkan is just one example of the council's renewed focus on promotion and advocacy. The former Ottawa Citizen and CBC Radio reporter was hired several months ago to head up the revamped public relations section. Keith Kelly, former head of the Canadian Conference for the Arts, has been hired to promote public funding for the arts to politicians and the public. And the council plans to hire another PR person soon. The biggest funding increase is aimed at developing younger audiences and supporting exhibition and touring of Canadian art. The budget for these activities is $18.2 million – a 109 per cent increase since 1995. But not everyone knows about it, Balkan says, and the council has to justify and explain to Canadians how their money is being spent on the arts. "It's very, very important that young people become aware of the arts, become knowledgeable about the arts," Balkan says. "They're the next arts audience." "We're looking at art education, at creating arts aimed at young audiences." The Canada Council has been a huge supporter of young Canadian artists since it was founded in 1957, Balkan says. "I don't think there are very many artists or arts organizations in Canada that haven't received an arts council grant." For more information visit: For the Arts
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