TORONTO – ACTRA and the Directors Guild have both added their voices to the chorus condemning the federal government’s cuts to arts funding programs.
“These cuts are shocking and short-sighted, and they certainly aren’t business friendly,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s national executive director. “Support for arts and culture are among the most efficient investments a government can make. Government funding leverages other investments, markets Canada to the world and enriches our society here at home.”
Federal government cuts to cultural programs were announced on Friday, August 8. More cuts were discovered this week. Programs affected in the film and television industries include the Trade Routes Program ($9 million), the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust ($300,000), the Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund ($1.5 million) and the National Training Schools Program ($2.5 million).
The Directors Guild of Canada has written the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to protest the recent abolition of two international cultural promotion programs, Trade Routes and PromArt, designed to assist the arts and the cultural industries gain access to foreign markets. The relatively small investments made by these programs have generated large returns over the years, and their loss will severely limit the ability of the film, television and new media sector to explore and exploit foreign marketing possibilities.
“We are gravely concerned by these recent decisions,” said Sturla Gunnarsson, acclaimed director and president of the Guild, ”and will be seeking meetings with both Ministers to encourage their reconsideration. Given the size of our market and the current state of our industry, now is the time to strengthen, not abolish, such key programs,” he went on to say.
The $4.7 million PromArt program administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the $9.0 million Trade Routes program of the Department of Canadian Heritage have played a vital role in enabling organizations and individuals from the film, television and new media industry explore and exploit international marketing opportunities.
The federal government also announced this week the termination of the $2.5 million National Training Program in the Film and Video Sector and support to the Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund, both programs administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage. The loss of these programs is of similarly great concern to the Guild.
DGC National executive director and CEO Brian Anthony said “Now is the time for the federal government to recommit to its vitally important role in the cultural life of Canada, and reinforce its programs of direct and indirect investment. Thanks to federal partnership, we have accomplished much in recent decades,” Anthony added, “and need to work together to build on our accomplishments and forge a more vibrant and competitive future for our sector.”
“It is appalling that these cuts come during the Olympics when all eyes are focused on the world stage,” said Richard Hardacre, ACTRA national president. “You can’t compete without investment in years of training and long-term support. The arts are no different.”
“These programs are the stepping stones and the building blocks for our future artists. In an increasingly globalized world, promoting our artists and our culture internationally is essential. Canada’s cultural programs are already underfunded. These cuts will further reduce our ability to foster our vibrant cultural identity here at home and share it with the world,” said Waddell.
“Earlier this year, Bill C-10 revealed this government’s attempt to deny tax credits to film and television productions it doesn’t like. Now these cuts are a further attempt to stifle Canada’s artists,” said Waddell. “Canadians must speak out. We cannot remain silent in the face of this attack on our culture.”
