OTTAWA — Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez (above) announced today the federal government will hold a two-day national summit in Ottawa on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2022, with members of the arts, culture and heritage sectors to discuss their recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our artists and creators were hit hard by the pandemic. But they did not give up and continued to make us laugh, cry, and dream,” said Rodriguez, in a government press release.
“We’ve been there for them from the beginning and now it’s time to have a national conversation about how to rebuild our cultural sectors and all the jobs that depend on them.”
The summit, which will be held at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, “will offer a unique opportunity to strengthen ties across and inside our arts, culture and heritage communities. We’ll concentrate on the recovery from Covid and the longer-term competitiveness of these sectors. It will also be a chance for me to share my priorities, and to talk about yours,” Rodriguez said.
“During the summit, we’ll talk about long-term trends in Canada’s cultural ecosystem and discuss solutions for a sustainable recovery; how to bring back and create new audiences and visitors; the role of digital platforms; and the contribution of our cultural sectors to reconciliation, the fight against climate change, and a more just and inclusive society,” he said.
The summit will be held in a hybrid format with the in-person component depending on evolving public health guidelines, the release says. The government is finalizing logistical details and will send out invitations soon.
Leading up to the summit, in January, Rodriguez will meet with artists and creators in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax, and elsewhere across Canada virtually. Further details about these meetings will be released before the holidays, according to the press release.
Photo borrowed from Minister Rodriguez’s profile on the federal government’s website.
