The National Director’s Tour

Alain Pineau is back in the office after his cross-country tour. Along his route he visited Victoria, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Fredricton, Saint John, Moncton, Charlottetown, Québec, Halifax and St. John’s. Details on his travels and consultations with CCA members and arts supporters are shared in his blog. The Canadian Conference of the Arts would like to thank its supporters who hosted and assisted in the organization of the public consultations across the country. Our most sincere...

Welcome

    Message from the President The President of the CCA’s Board of Directors, Kathleen Sharpe, addresses the challenges currently facing the CCA. Read on!   CCA Spotlight Municipal Cultural Investment in Five Large Canadian Cities -  a study comparing cities with the largest number of cultural workers and artists in Canada – Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal.  The report was released in January 2012 by  Hill Strategies Research. The Visual Arts Alliance (VAA), the umbrella organization of...

The Impact of Digital Media on the Performing Arts

A new report entitled Beyond the Curtain: How Digital Media is Reshaping Theatre was recently released by Ballinran Entertainment Ltd. in partnership with Digital Wizards Inc., Canadian Actors Equity Association, and Stratford Shakespeare Festival.  It contains a study of the challenges facing the performing arts in the sector’s attempt to embrace and achieve the right balance with new media and digital technologies. The research involved interviews with leading theatre professionals and an online survey that received over 400...

Europe and gender equality

During a plenary session held in Brussels on October 27, 2011, the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the audio-visual field formally adopted a framework of action on gender equality, representing a successful outcome to two years of negotiation between social partners. The agreement aims to improve the situation in the sector in the following areas: - Gender representation; - Gender role at work; - Wage equality; - Decision-making equality; and, - Balance between career and home. Drawn up by representatives of several employer...

Municipal Cultural Investment

Montréal and Vancouver Lead the Way in Culture Funding On January 10th, Hill Strategies Research released a study called Municipal Cultural Investment in Five Large Canadian Cities. The study compares cities with the largest number of cultural workers and artists in Canada – Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal. This report written in partnership with the cultural staff of the five cities covered, the Creative City Network and the Canadian Urban Libraries Council aims to fill a gap in the level of information provided by...

Message from the President

Dear Members and Colleagues, By now many of you have been made aware of the CCA’s changing relationship with its major funder, the Government of Canada. Indeed, many of you may already or will soon be facing the prospect of reduced support federally. The model is shifting and changing for all of us. It is an immense challenge for this organization given its reliance for 45 years on federal support. The board and staff have been working since last summer on a series of financial options and a business plan that will allow us to move forward...

Update on Canada/EU negotiations: the culture angle

CCA Bulletin 03/12

Some encouraging news concerning the status of culture in the on-going trade negotiations between Canada and the European Union! The CCA learned during the briefing session held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) that . . .

Halifax

February 16, 2012 I have always loved Halifax for its friendly atmosphere, the quality of its cultural life and its restaurants. In fact, I must confess that I have a soft spot for Nova Scotia where, over the years, I have spent four summer holidays. But it is the first time that I set foot in the Neptune Theatre where, after a short interview for Radio-Canada’s television services, I join the thirty people or so who have gathered in one of the rehearsal rooms on the third floor of this vast building in the heart of old Halifax. Erika...

Québec City

February 14, 2012 Bonhomme Carnaval was back in storage, the sky was pure blue and the air icy cold when I arrived in Québec City on Sunday. I come here invited by the network of Québec independent presenters (RIDEAU) to be a panellist at their annual gathering. I seize the opportunity to meet a number of people in the province’s old capital who have an interest in the future of the CCA. Monday starts early: an all-morning workshop  starting at 8:30 am,  preceded by breakfast with fellow panelists and the moderator. The theme of the...

Copyright reform : the government fast-tracks the process

CCA Bulletin 02/12 February 15, 2012 Just the facts Bill C-11, known as the Copyright Modernization Act,  was adopted at second reading yesterday after the government imposed a limit to the debate last week. All opposition parties voted against, but the bill was adopted thanks to the government majority. Barely hours after the vote, the special Legislative Committee met to establish its work plan and once again, the government majority could overcome opposition parties’ objections and set a very tight agenda for the hearing of witnesses and...