July 26, 2007 - An additional $30 million in permanent funds to the Canada Council for the Arts

The Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference welcomes the news that the one-time increase in funds to the Canada Council for the Arts, announced in 2006, is now permanent. Canadian Heritage Minister, the Honourable Bev Oda, confirmed last Friday that the yearly budget allocation to the Council will grow to $181 million from its current level of $151 million. As it comes at a time when the Council is preparing its strategic plan for 2008-2011, this increase will allow for a better support of the arts in Canada.

It is too early to know how this new money will be allocated within the Council’s budget, but the Conference will be working to ensure a proper percentage of this increase is devoted to the Artist-Run Centre sector. Artist-Run Centres (ARCs) play a vital role in the development and presentation of contemporary art in Canada, yet have suffered of late from small budgets and growing expenditures. Funding levels have also been hard-pressed to answer to the increased activity in this sector. Canada’s growing and diverse population has led to the creation of several new centres over recent years. The Assistance to Artist-Run Centres program will be entering a new 2-year funding cycle this fall; in 2006, 71 artist-run centres received operating funds from the Council, out of approximately 150 centres across Canada.

This increase of the permanent allocation to the Council still falls short of the estimated need for a total budget of $300 million to properly support the arts in this country. It is nevertheless very good news and an important step in the better recognition of the role of arts and artists.

We will be informing you of all new developments.
Get in touch with us at info@arccc-cccaa.org

<Le 15 mai 2007
Le 26 juillet 2007 - Une augmentation de 30 millions de dollars en fonds permanents au budget du Conseil des Arts du Canada.>