20 avril 2022 | PARTAGER :        

Par Thomas BOUGET - Agent de communication

In the past few weeks, the provincial and federal governments have presented their respective budgets for the year 2022-2023. There have also been some political meetings, notably with the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec (CALQ) and the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA).

 
Provincial level

At a press conference on April 10, 2022, Nathalie Roy, the Minister of Culture and Communications presented her recovery plan « Plan pour consolider, faire briller et propulser le milieu culturel ». This plan is spread over 3 years (2022-2025) and includes funding of $225.8 million. Here are some of the details that concern our sector in particular :
 

• $32.5 M to SODEC and CALQ for an extension of support measures for the dissemination of Quebec shows until March 31, 2023. The measures were revised as of April 1, 2022, in order to support all artistic disciplines more effectively. It now provides a safety net to stabilize the sector, but it also aims to encourage presenters to make room for newcomers, challenging work and larger-scale productions in their programming.

• A $2 million increase to the Emergency Fund for Performing Artists and Cultural Workers, managed by the Fondation des artistes, is also planned. Its objective is to provide direct, fast and adapted assistance to artists who are experiencing exceptional difficulties.

• CALQ's mission support programs and specific programming support will be significantly increased to recognize various factors, including labour scarcity. This translates into an additional investment of $29 million over three years, including $22 million in the first year.

• The CALQ's artist grant program will see its annual budget increase from $12 million to $22 million over the next three years. This additional $30 million will make it possible to support a greater number of projects by emerging artists, first-time grant recipients and graduates of art schools. An annual target of at least 20% for emerging artists has been set. These increases will also allow it to respond better to the needs of artist-entrepreneurs.
   
• The CALQ is also providing $7 million over three years for increased support for projects that present emerging artists, immigrants, Indigenous artists and artists with disabilities, in order to give them more visibility.
   
• The CALQ is also adding $3 million over three years to its annual budget of $2.2 million in order to promote the circulation of works throughout Quebec and to allow for creations in atypical or alternative venues. Another $4 million over three years will be dedicated to citizen access to art, particularly to strengthen the presentation of works in public spaces and reach new audiences.

These recent announcements combine many advocacy activities and many of the concerns expressed by the CQT to government authorities were considered in the structuring of support measures. Additionally, information sessions will be organized in the near future with the CALQ in order to clarify how to find out about and access these programs.



Federal level

On the federal government side, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland presented the 2022-2023 budget on April 7. We had the opportunity to read it but note that it offers few new concrete measures for arts and culture. As a result, we hope that the National Summit on the Future of Arts, Culture and Heritage, being held in Ottawa from May 2 to 4, 2022, will be an opportunity to put together a structural recovery plan for several years.

On April 8, the CQT attended a meeting organized by the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pablo Rodriguez. It was an opportunity to express a variety of concerns and to make recommendations regarding the sustainable recovery of our sector. The meeting addressed key issues such as employment insurance reform, labour shortages, arts presentation programs, and the mental health of artists and cultural workers.

Then, on April 13, we met with Simon Brault, Director and CEO of the CCA, as well as some members of senior management. We were informed that, during the Summit, they also intend to insist on the importance of improving the socio-economic conditions of artists and that they wish to make the government aware of the fact that the pandemic is not over for the live performing arts sector.

We would like to remind you that the CQT is always available to discuss concerns with individuals from the greater theatre community. It is also possible to make an appointment with the Executive Director, Catherine Voyer-Léger. The next appointments will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.