Decimating the Arts in Canada: 10/25/09

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

El Sistema - a film by Paul Smaczny & Maria Stodtmeier

Trailer from the film about this year's winner of the Glenn Gould Prize, Antonio Abreu, founder of EL SISTEMA. We need this kind of inspiration in Canada, not only to give a prize, but to implement this kind of dedication to culture. Let's not let this moment pass. There is an obvious contradiction between C...anada giving a Canadian Prize for such an initiative for obvious social and cultural good while our government continues to cut at the root of the tree that Mr. Abreu has built. Thanks to the Glenn Gould Foundation for making this clear statement about the essential value of art and music!

Farmers say Restore Arts Funding!

Farmers say Restore Arts Funding!

EXCERPT:

Boal says the government ought to be ashamed of devoting the lowest percentage of all provinces of its operating budget to culture in spite of having the largest percentage of its labour force in arts occupations. “We’re investing less than half the national average,” he says. “Québec invests nearly four times what we do. We need to narrow this gap, not make it worse.”

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Gustavo Dudamel and his friends are in complete harmony - The Globe and Mail

Gustavo Dudamel and his friends are in complete harmony - The Globe and Mail

In Canada, we give the Glenn Gould Prize to a man who embraces classical music for the good of society and the poor, while we support governments at all levels that are closing down orchestras, closing down music programs in schools, closing theatres with the capacity to present orchestras. The Third World is racing to make a better society; meanwhile Canada appears to be stumbling to the bottom.

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B.C. arts groups plan day-long ‘grey relay' in Vancouver - The Globe and Mail

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Direct Access gaming grant funding cuts leave Vancouver dancers reeling | Vancouver, Canada | Straight.com

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Vancouver Foundation report finds arts groups hit hardest | Vancouver, Canada | Straight.com

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Mission Statement & how you can contribute

This blog tracks cuts to government programs and services at all levels, as well as the resulting fallout to the artistic programming of cultural organizations. Decimation to arts education is also covered.

If you know of a cultural program that has been cut, or if you would like to become an author/researcher for this blog, please send a message to contributor William Bruneau, whose information is listed further down).

Of course it's not all bad news out there. There may be new programs that emerge to replace some of the programs being cut. We will attempt to footnote or comment when this occurs, within square brackets, coloured light gray.

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Petition to restore funding for Specialized Music

Le français suit

I urge everyone to sign this petition to the Government of Canada to restore funding to the Specialized Music sound recordings program. The original is in French, and is reprinted below the English. Here is my rough translation.

Whereas last July 31, the Department of Canadian Heritage announced the withdrawal of two programs from the Canadian Music Fund that were dedicated to support the diversity of Canadian music: Grants for Specialized Sound Recording and specialty Distribution Assistance specialized music.

Whereas the Canada Council for the Arts managed successfully these programs which supported hundreds of artists, groups, labels and distributors in numerous recordings of import to the artistic and cultural sphere.

Whereas, for the time being, no other Canadian institution can accommodate the clients hit hard by these program cuts according to their own eligibility criteria.

We urge our Canadian government to recognize the importance of music created, performed and broadcast by our musicians and the essential role these artists play in Canadian culture. Accordingly, we ask them to provide support for artists and record companies with programs tailored to the specific environment of creative music and properly funded to meet the needs of this sector.

October 2009

When you arrive at the end, you will see two lines about how to download the text and add your name to the petition. Here is the translation. I have included the links to that you can sign the petition from here.

You can download our declaration (pdf) and read it to your audiences at your events!

You can also add your name to the list below by clicking HERE and sending your name and your professional title.

Here is the original French text.

[If you feel more comfortable signing an English petition, there is another petition available here.]

Attendu que le 31 juillet dernier, le ministère du Patrimoine canadien annonçait le retrait de deux volets du Fonds de la musique du Canada dont le volet de la diversité de la musique canadienne: Subventions à l'enregistrement sonore de musique spécialisée et Aide à la distribution de la musique spécialisée.

Attendu que le Conseil des Arts du Canada gérait avec succès ces programmes qui ont servi à soutenir des centaines d'artistes, ensembles, étiquettes et distributeurs de nombreux enregistrements d'importance sur le plan artistique et cuturel.

Attendu que pour l'instant aucune autre instance canadienne peut accueillir la clientèle durement touchée par ces coupures de programmes dans le cadre de leurs propres critères d'admissibilité.

Nous appelons notre gouvernement canadien à reconnaître l'importance de la musique créée, interprétée et diffusée par nos musiciens et du rôle essentiel de ces créateurs dans le paysage culturel canadien. En conséquence, nous lui demandons d'assurer le soutien aux créateurs et aux maisons d'enregistrement sonores par des programmes adaptés aux réalités spécifiques du milieu des musiques de création et financés à la hauteur des besoins de ce secteur.

October 2009

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Decimating the Arts in Canada

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

El Sistema - a film by Paul Smaczny & Maria Stodtmeier

Farmers say Restore Arts Funding!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Gustavo Dudamel and his friends are in complete harmony - The Globe and Mail

B.C. arts groups plan day-long ‘grey relay' in Vancouver - The Globe and Mail

Direct Access gaming grant funding cuts leave Vancouver dancers reeling | Vancouver, Canada | Straight.com

Vancouver Foundation report finds arts groups hit hardest | Vancouver, Canada | Straight.com

John Oliver on music composition and performance Headline Animator

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Mission Statement & how you can contribute

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Petition to restore funding for Specialized Music

Le français suit

I urge everyone to sign this petition to the Government of Canada to restore funding to the Specialized Music sound recordings program. The original is in French, and is reprinted below the English. Here is my rough translation.

Whereas last July 31, the Department of Canadian Heritage announced the withdrawal of two programs from the Canadian Music Fund that were dedicated to support the diversity of Canadian music: Grants for Specialized Sound Recording and specialty Distribution Assistance specialized music.

Whereas the Canada Council for the Arts managed successfully these programs which supported hundreds of artists, groups, labels and distributors in numerous recordings of import to the artistic and cultural sphere.

Whereas, for the time being, no other Canadian institution can accommodate the clients hit hard by these program cuts according to their own eligibility criteria.

You can also add your name to the list below by clicking HERE and sending your name and your professional title.

Attendu que le Conseil des Arts du Canada gérait avec succès ces programmes qui ont servi à soutenir des centaines d'artistes, ensembles, étiquettes et distributeurs de nombreux enregistrements d'importance sur le plan artistique et cuturel.

Attendu que pour l'instant aucune autre instance canadienne peut accueillir la clientèle durement touchée par ces coupures de programmes dans le cadre de leurs propres critères d'admissibilité.

October 2009

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