The 2008 federal budget contained an allowance of $680,000,000 over 2 years to prepare for the Vancouver Olympics. We wonder if the government would be committed to spending an equivalent amount on Canadian artists. According to the
Canadian Conference of the Arts, "the 2010 Budget includes stable funding to arts and culture with no cuts, but also yields no new investments into the creative economy."
The arts have been one of the principle ways by which Canadians have defined our identity. Since the 1980s, however, arts in Canada have been at the 'cutting edge' of cuts to federal government spending. Making such sacrifices, with one of the most important indicators of who we are as a nation, is a risky endeavour.
Our national identity is also linked to our economy, especially regarding how we are to compete economically in a globalized world. Our economy must also start on the home front, by providing incentives for the growth and nurture of talent. This has been done for the world of technology, and Canadian innovators have risen to the top of the international scene, providing a wealth of jobs in the process. The Canadian Arts Coalition notes that, %u201CThere is a growing consensus among leaders in all economic sectors that arts investment is a cost effective catalyst for high economic returns and we hope to see the Government lever this tremendous opportunity through new and increased investment in the arts going forward.%u201D [The Canadian Arts Coaltion. %u201CArts Sector Key to Canada%u2019s Economic and Social Prosperity%u201D.
http://www.canadianartscoalition.ca/en/news/newsdetail.cfm?id=175 Internet, Retrieved March 12, 2010.]
We thus petition the federal government to reverse the last three decades of cuts to spending on arts and culture in Canada. Each of the organizations below has specific benchmarks for the restoration of funding, and so we merely add our own voice to the movement.
Our new slogan is based on imagining what it would be like to have an Arts Olympics as a unique and independent event.
$680,000,000 spent on owning the podium didn't quite work out, so let's Own the Stage
instead!!Dear Keith Ashfield,
We the undersigned believe that Canadian artists are strongly underfunded and need strong federal support in this area. We are aware that in the 2008 budget $680,000,000 was allowed over a 2 year period for the Vancouver Olympics. We would like to know if your party is willing to commit to a similar level of funding for Canadian artists.
Since the 1980s arts funding has become a victim to cuts by the federal government, thus hurting Canada greatly. Canadians, in part, define their identity through the arts. However, with these cuts Canadian identity is in danger.
Our national identity is also linked to the economy. In order to compete economically on a global scale, artists must recieve support at home. Nuturing Canadian artists can help to make them become world best, thus providing jobs and fame in the international scene. This was done with Canadian techology and innovators in that field and it worked quite well.
In conclusion we would like to thank you for taking the time to become aware of our concerns.
