Arts Cuts

I have been pondering this issue for days, because I really have two separate views on the matter: a personal view and a public view. First off I want to start by saying this issue has been really blown out of proportion because of the current elections. I'm not convinced that other than Gilles Duceppe, any of the other federal leaders would be making such a commotion if this were after the election; maybe I'm wrong. Anyways, I'm going to take you through my thought process.

I heard these vague reports about cuts to the arts, to programs I had never heard of or really, to be frank, cared about. The arts. It's a pretty broad topic. Well the brunt of it seems to have been absorbed by the Canadian film industry, which we know is struggling as it is. But on the bright side, people love that low-budget amateur feel these days, so maybe it's a plus. I'm a big fan of the 'art for art's sake' motto. I like the idea of art being created for the purpose of releasing emotion, for creating something new and inspirational, for capturing the nature of something. I like the idea of creating art as a hobby, because I think once people produce art for economic gain they begin to conform to societal pressures. I think artists should sell their paintings, but should not receive any tax cuts from the government (except maybe to write off their supplies and such), just because they are a starving artist. There are other things you can do in the art community: you can be an agent, buying and selling art for people, teach drawing/painting in schools or privately, set up a photography studio, get into graphic design or fashion, etc. All of these things depend on your marketing and entrepreneurial skills, and can generate quite an income. It is my opinion that individuals should not receive tax breaks, but looking deeper it isn't individual artists suffering from the Conservative arts cuts.

What are being affected are arts-based organizations, like PromArt, Trade Routes, Canadian Independent Film Fund, the New Media Research funds. Oh, and the CANADIAN MAGAZINE FUND. That woke me up. This is the potential field I will be getting into. It is a very strenuous task to find steady work in the magazine business, as is. Interns go for years without being paid because magazines can't get enough government funding to pay them. Some magazines pay their writers with tickets, CDs or swag. I will likely live on no name macaroni and cheese, stolen toilet paper rolls and printer paper for a surplus of five years and the government is cutting magazine funding? This is my personal feelings on the matter.

Stephen Harper basically said the Conservatives cut programs that didn't appear to be as efficient. I suppose this is true because magazines do recieve little funding from the government, relying mostly on ad revenue. If the government can put in place a more effective program, then by all means, but I know how long these things take, and it worries me having to enter the magazine industry in less than two years.

So why are people so outraged about this? Ordinary people don't care about the arts. The arts, in general, are a critique of society - whether through film, fine art, music, writing, etc. You don't want the people who are going to be painting your picture to the public (literally) to be pissed off, right, Jean Chrétien? Investing in art and culture is always a good thing, it makes citizens feel that they have an identity and a meaningful place in society. It evokes thought, emotion and feedback. It allows people to feel like they are free. In the days of slavery, music and dance are the things that ultimately kept slaves hopeful, and today the arts have the same effect for everyone in this dismal world we live in.

These cuts were made with good intentions for Canadians, to reduce taxes, which is my public view on the matter. I realize money has to be cut from somewhere, and arts on the grand scheme of things may be less important.But ultimately if you want to be part of free, social-minded nation (which I do) then you don't cut culture. In fact, its countries with strong social programs and leftist governments that rebuild the best - countries with strong senses of community. Look at Rwanda rebuilding after the genocide, it proceeds to grow more and more liberal. The countries that thrived during the financial crises in the 1990s, were all strong communitarian societies. Switzerland - notoriously big on the social programs - is still envied for its neutrality and peacefulness.

The truth is, what more can you expect out of a Conservative party? They are concerned with property, the economy, individuals, privatization. They want less to do with the arts , because they believe individuals should fund their own endeavours (health care, daycare, savings, etc.). They generally believe in less government interference. Of course, Conservatives in Canada are quite liberal, but, nonetheless. I believe what people were angered most about was the way Harper dismissed the cuts. "Ordinary people don't care about the arts," was the message given. This is the similar dim-witted strategy (or lack thereof) used against Québec separtists, which gave rise to such ruckus. The ordinary people Harper referred to were more than happy to object. If you want to see social programs become a priority, I would consider voting NDP or Green parties - maybe even the Bloc - as they have a strong commitment to these issues. Anyways, that's all for now.

Oh. These sites were fairly helpful in my research on the subject. Maybe they can clear things up for you.

http://www.mastheadonline.ca/news/2008/20080904588.shtml Talks about the funding cuts to Canadian Magazines.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2008/08/15/govt-arts-cuts.html Breaks down most of the arts cuts clearly.
http://mastheadonline.com/news/2008/20080820868.shtml More in depth about the magazine cuts.


-- the golden girl