CCA Bulletin 21/10 - CCA urges the government to keep investing in arts and culture beyond Canada’s Economic Action Plan

Just the Facts

On Friday August 13, the Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) submitted its pre-budget brief for 2011 to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. In it, the CCA frames the manner in which the federal government should invest in arts and culture, and emphasizes the need for the government to continue its commitment of stable funding for arts and culture as we come to the end of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

The CCA outlines priorities to stabilize and enrich the economic capacity of the creative sector. The complete submission defines six recommendations for investment:

1. Audience and market development at home and abroad: The CCA asks the government to dedicate $40 million of “new money” in order to expand its capacity to support market development nationally and internationally for Canadian artists, cultural institutions and industries. 

2. Canada Council for the Arts: The CCA asks the government to increase the base budget of the Canada Council for the Arts by an additional $30 million per year beginning in 2011-12, with a view to reach $300 million by 2015.

3. Training and Internship/Mentorship Opportunities: The Department of Human Resources and Skills Development (HRSDC) should expand access to EI training support for the self-employed. Also, HRSDC should dedicate $1 million per year for five years to foster the professional development of cultural workers through internships and mentorships.

4. National Museum Policy: The CCA asks that in the context of a new National Museum Policy, the government dedicate an additional $50 million to promote Canada’s national heritage, exhibit Canadian stories and preserve our culture.

5. Cultural Statistics: The CCA requests that the government give an additional $1 million to the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH) to develop and maintain a satellite account for culture at Statistics Canada, as is done for tourism and the voluntary sector.

6. Investment Incentives: Finally, the CCA supports Imagine Canada’s suggestion to establish a “stretch” tax credit that would increase the federal charitable tax credit by an additional 10% on all new giving up to $10,000, in order to increase the flow of charitable gifts from Canadians. (more)