THE SIX NEW FUNDING PROGRAMS EXPLAINED:
Explore and Create: “This program is intended for artists, collectives and organizations focused on research, development, exploration and innovation in the creation of new work advancing their art forms.”
Engage and Sustain: “To support and develop professional artistic practices through the programming and activities of arts organizations; to encourage organizations to reflect the diversity of the communities that they participate in through their staffing, programming and public engagement responsibilities; and to foster excellence in high performing arts organizations which contribute to — and play a leadership role in — the continued development of arts practices in their community and in the arts sector at large.”
Creating, Knowing and Sharing
Aboriginal Arts: “This program supports aboriginal artistic and cultural expression and the vitality of indigenous artists, artistic practices and communities. Although it is a dedicated program for aboriginal arts, First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists are also invited to take advantage of all of the Canada Council’s other programs.
“This program will operate using a self-determined, aboriginal-centred approach. This means that it will be guided by aboriginal artists’ values and world views, administered by staff of aboriginal heritage, assessed by aboriginal arts professionals, and its impacts will be measured and reported on in an aboriginal cultural and artistic context.”
Renewing Artistic Practice: “This program will help arts professionals to share and debate current and emerging practices, tools and issues and to have access to timely expertise that helps their organizations respond to change. Its objectives are to support activities that enhance professional development in the Canadian arts sector and to support the development of innovative responses to changes within the Canadian arts sector.”
Arts Across Canada: “To support activities that will allow Canadians in all regions of the country to have better access to diverse forms of expression and artistic experiences, leading more Canadians to appreciate and engage in the arts. It will also support activities that develop networks and domestic markets and foster artistic partnerships and collaborations, and that increase access to the arts for the Canadian public.”
Arts Abroad: “The objectives of the Arts Abroad program are to support activities that enhance the profile, appreciation and presence of Canadian artists and arts professionals abroad, to support activities that contribute to the international reach and recognition of Canadian artists and arts professionals, and to support activities that encourage international exchange to stimulate the advancement of the arts in Canada.”
A friend of mine, a Montreal lawyer with first-hand involvement in the arts community in that city, wryly refers to the new plan as ‘a revolutionary advance of sanity.’