HANDS OFF MY ART! (NO to federal budget cuts to arts and culture)
by Alison Louder
French version below
Dear friends and fellow folks working, loving and living in the arts.
You have undoubtedly heard by now about the major funding cuts ($25 million +) to various programs in what else but arts and culture, hindering international touring and distribution above all, recently announced by the Harper government. These cuts put the future of Canada’s cultural preservation in jeopardy, as well as thousands of careers and the livelihood of all Canadian artists currently at large. Please pass the word about, and come let your voice and chagrin be heard at the following manifestation which is being as we speak mobilized by Conseil des Arts de Montréal, Culture Montréal, and their many partners and collaborators.
RENOUNCE FUNDING CUTS TO ARTS AND CULTURE! BE THERE ON AUGUST 27th!!
This manifestation will take place at the SAT, 1195 boul St-Laurent, on Wednesday August 27th at 10:30 am. (Close to metro St-Laurent)
The entire theatre and film industries are coming together on this one, actors, technicians, directors and practitioners alike, to present a strong, unified front in the face of these abominable financial cuts. I would love to see as many MUSICIANS there as possible too!!! The manifestation is open to all of the general population, not just those working in the arts. We all need to stick together on this one! PLEASE bring your friends, family and colleagues. For those of you who can’t be there, please spread the word!
If you want more information, please contact Christian O’Leary, Director of Communications and Development at Conseil des arts de Montréal : coleary.p@ville.montreal.qc.ca / 514 280-3991
You can also join the Facebook Event if you want to pass the event info along, or join Faceless, a national network of people opposed to the cuts.
I send you all my love and positivity, and hope to see you all there! Together, we can do anything!!!
- Alison
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RENONCEZ LES COUPURES AUX ARTS ET EN CULTURE! SOYEZ-LÀ LE 27 AOÛT!!
Un grand rassemblement pour protester contre les coupures du gouvernement Harper dans les arts et la culture. Cette importante manifestation, coordonnée conjointement par le Conseil des arts de Montréal et Culture Montréal, se déroulera LE MERCREDI 27 AOÛT 2007, À 10h30 à la Société des arts technologiques( 1195, boul. Saint-Laurent) à Montréal.
Tous les acteurs du milieu artistique, ainsi que la population, sont invités à cette manifestation pour lancer le message suivant au gouvernement Harper :
Rappelons que ces coupures, totalisant presque 25 millions de dollars, touchent notamment la promotion et l’exportation des productions et des produits artistiques à l’étranger, une dimension cruciale du développement artistique au Canada. Nos artistes sont de remarquables ambassadeurs de notre culture et leurs créations contribuent fortement à l’excellente réputation du Canada dans le monde. Nous vous demandons de :
1. Inscrire immédiatement cette date à votre agenda;
2. Faire suivre ce message au plus grand nombre de personnes possible;
3. Vous présenter le mercredi 27 août accompagné de nombreux collègues et amis;
4. Le cas échéant, astiquer les divers prix et trophées d’excellence artistique que vous avez reçus à l’international - vous serez appelés à briller!
Cet événement est un des moments cruciaux d’une campagne pour laquelle la participation de l’ensemble de la communauté artistique et culturelle, toutes disciplines et toutes pratiques confondues, est essentielle. Puisque la force d’un message réside dans le nombre et la diversité de ses porteurs, nous vous invitons à sensibiliser l’ensemble de vos connaissances à la situation actuelle et à l’importance de leur présence cet événement. D’autres gestes de sensibilisation auront lieu, à l’échelle locale et partout au Canada, dans les semaines à venir.
WE’RE EXPECTING YOU ON AUGUST 27th! NOUS VOUS ATTENDONS LE 27 AOÛT!
Information : Christian O’Leary
Directeurs des communications et du développement
Conseil des arts de Montréal
coleary.p@ville.montreal.qc.ca / 514 280-3991
Listen to this article
Published on: August 25th, 2008
Terms Used: arts and culture, arts funding, canada, canadian art, cuts, demonstration, funding cuts, government, manifestation, policy, protest, Stephen Harper
About: Alison Louder
A bilingual actress-activist born and raised in Montreal's Plateau/Mile End, Alison now works professionally in theatre and film, in both languages. Her implication in the Montreal theatre community goes beyond the stage. She recently completed a six-month paid internship at Imago Theatre,[...]
4 Responses to “HANDS OFF MY ART! (NO to federal budget cuts to arts and culture)”
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Also,there will be a Toronto Town Hall meeting to discuss these arts funding cuts Sept 3rd at 1087 Queen W. at 7pm.
Small press is included here - over half a million in publishing support has been cut…
Posted on August 27th, 2008 at 2:37 am [permalink]
Ironically, you are asking for ‘hands off my arts’ while at the same time protesting a lack of government funding. Choose one.
Posted on October 28th, 2008 at 11:14 am [permalink]
gov can support art without intruding in it or censoring it, i don’t think it’s an either/or situation necessarily.
Posted on October 28th, 2008 at 11:59 am [permalink]
“Hands off” is a statement usually addressed to individuals, or organizations, behaving in an abusive, negative manner.
What’s ironic is: that by withdrawing financial support from arts funding, the government would like to give the impression that they’re leaving more room to the artists to seek out their own funding and therefore be more independent. The reality is that a major reason there was as much federal funding as there WAS in the arts, is because private investment is extremely hard to come by, and even harder to maintain.
The cuts to arts and funding are no less than an alegorical punch in the gut to every professional and emerging Canadian performer, visual artist and cultural historian. It is a prime example of Aristotlean active inactivity and compels me to say “Hands off!” just as I would if someone came to my house and broke a window, with the reasoning that I would still be getting daylight either way.
Posted on November 18th, 2008 at 8:50 pm [permalink]