The Canada Council for the Arts welcomed the Government of Canada’s budget announcement of an unprecedented commitment to Canadian arts and culture.
This once-in-a-generation reinvestment permeates beyond the walls of the Canada Council. It is a resounding acknowledgment that arts and culture function today as a robust social infrastructure in Canada.
With 671,000 Canadians already employed by the arts and culture sector and a $47.7 billion contribution to the country’s GDP, the economic rationale of today’s announcement is indisputable. Art nurtures creativity in business, finds applications in therapeutic treatment, offers pathways towards self-determination and a shared sense of belonging – innovations that are more essential than ever before. In this light, the doubling of the Canada Council’s budget is a doubling of the possibilities to build richer lives for Canadians, strong communities and a remarkable presence for Canada on the world stage.
In order to invest these new funds responsibly, the Canada Council has, over the past months, led public consultations and research initiatives to hear, first hand, the changing needs and aspirations of artists and the population at large. Informed by these findings, our Strategic Plan 2016-2021 – soon to be released – will indicate how this this substantial re-investment in the Canada Council will be allocated to shape a new future for the arts for the benefit of millions of Canadians.
The doubling of the Canada Council’s budget is an incredible vote of confidence in the capacities of the arts to invigorate our economy and support social cohesion. The Canada Council, along with the remarkable artists and organizations we support, is ready and anxious to responsibly deliver results that will benefit millions of Canadians.
Simon Brault, Director and CEO, Canada Council
Report courtesy Canada Council for the Arts