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Category:: Entertainment & Arts - Books & Literature
Description:: Cultural Human Resources Council releases Report on the Effect of the Recession on Canada's Culture Sector

"The global recession is expected to reduce revenues for cultural enterprises by approximately $3.1 billion in 2009". This is one of the findings of "The Effect of the Global Economic Recession on Canada's Creative Economy in 2009,” a report prepared by The Conference Board of Canada for the Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) that measures the impact of the current recession on the cultural sector.

Traditional culture sector revenue streams such as business advertising, endowments, and municipal funding have been eroded due to the weak economy and the steep decline in stock markets. Cultural industries have felt the pinch. For example, the report highlights the fact that written media and broadcasting which depend heavily on business advertising are expected to see real revenues fall by 6.1 per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively.

In terms of earnings, the report estimates that the global recession will reduce average employment earnings of workers in the culture sector by 2.2 per cent in 2009. The report also notes that the number of self-employed workers in creative and artistic production occupations is expected to grow while revenues fall. As a result, real employment earnings for workers in these occupations (including the self-employed and employees) are expected to fall by 3.5 per cent, on average.

The report is sprinkled with current examples of how the global recession is compounding the challenges facing the cultural sector. For example, one of Canada's largest media companies recently laid-off over 500 workers, and filed for creditor protection because of declining advertising revenues and reduced operating profits; and cultural organizations are announcing staff cuts to counter lower sponsorship dollars, shortfalls at the box office, and poor fundraising results.

The report is the first in a series of three reports that the Conference Board is working on for CHRC, the other two being: a Labour Market Information report for the cultural sector (to be released in December 2009); and an identification and analysis of Human Resource issues and trends in the cultural sector (to be released in June 2010). The report is available on CHRC's website.

Peter Tabuns, MPP writes: "The new Harmonized Sales Tax threatens to hit Ontario's culture industry hard, by removing the sales tax exemption for tickets to live performances. I'm working with arts groups to see how we can minimize the damage this change will bring. Ontario arts are too often ignored, and I look forward to again working with the cultural community to deliver good policy that reflects their importance." YES!

CANADA COUNCIL WELCOMES $25 MILLION FUNDING RENEWAL

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Canada Council for the Arts welcomes today’s announcement that the Government of Canada has renewed for five more years the $25 million in annual funding scheduled to sunset at the end of the current fiscal year. This represents total funding of $125 million over the next five years. Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages James Moore made the announcement in Vancouver, and Canada Council Director and CEO Robert Sirman was there to hear the good news.

“This funding confirmation couldn’t come at a better time,” said Mr. Sirman. “It gives the Council a solid base for planning the implementation of the third year of its Strategic Plan 2008-11, and helps stabilize the arts sector during a particularly challenging economic period.”

Today’s announcement recognizes the important role of the arts in Canada and the value which the Council’s support of professional arts practice brings to all Canadians. According to Statistics Canada, there are approximately 600,000 cultural workers in Canada of whom over 140,000 are practicing artists. Further, a study by the Conference Board of Canada reported that the economic impact of the culture sector was $46 billion. A special examination of the Canada Council in 2008 by the Office of the Auditor General reinforced the efficiency and effectiveness of the Council’s work with the finding: “The systems and practices we examined had no significant deficiencies. In fact, the Canada Council’s systems and practices have contributed to its success in several areas.” For more info: www.canadacouncil.ca

Here's to protesting the Harper cuts to CBC jobs and programs! I almost wrote pogroms...:[.Scandalous, however you cut it. CBC hangs this country together: don't let it hang out to dry. Write your MP!

Is the new Canada Prize replacing Save Prom Arts? Is it going to emerging international artists (aka American Idol) rather than... or in addition to emerging Canadian artists. Time will tell... as will the details. Please do write James Moore to support Canadian arts first! See Martin Knelman's article in The Toronto Star,http://www.thestar.com/article/581921.

Would Heartless Harper would have us Artist-less!?

Here's a quote from John Ralston Saul's 2008 book, A fair country : telling truths about Canada, P. 197,
"What about culture? Here is the cheapest and single-most influential voice of Canada abroad. Not only that, it is a long-term influence on how the world thinks about Canada. We have actually had a highly successful long-term strategy that embraced culture as a pillar of foreign policy. This approach lasted several decades. But after 1988 branding was good so long as it didn’t come through culture, which failed as a scriptable method of messaging. In other worlds, culture isn’t useful because it isn't propaganda. And an efficient use of public funds required controlled messaging.
[Senior diplomats] managed to destroy one of the few successful long-term Canadian strategies for giving the country's international reputation some widespread weight the sort of weight that is about Canada rather than a particular governments policy. The strategy was cheap, effective and supported by our best-known international figures, who co-operated while seeking no direct financial benefit. They enjoyed supporting their country.”

This is a call to take action. Just think what culture produces: wine, yogurt and ART! The Arts WAS an election issue!... Write all those recently elected and request that the Arts programs be reinstated and enhanced.. OH, WE CANNOT STOP THERE...

Write your MP again. They are listening, even if only to respond with a form letter! And some respond with personal, thoughtful letters of support. Read them all, "Letters from Politicians", on the Discussion Board...

Here's to maintaining a vibrant Canada in and for the arts!

Let us hope... and insist.. that Mr. James Moore, the new Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, fulfills the Conservative Party's assurance that 'the arts are essential to our country and our communities.'"

Questions about Google? See the Discussion thread below. (read less)
Cultural Human Resources Council releases Report on the Effect of the Recession on Canada's Culture Sector

"The global recession is expected to reduce revenues for cultural enterprises by approximately $3.1 billion in 2009". This is one of the findings of "The Effect of the Global Economic Recession on Canada's Creative Economy in 2009,” a report prepared by The Conference Board of Canada for the Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) that measures the impact of the current recession on the... (read more)
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