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1. HERE’S WHAT THEY’RE SAYING IN CALGARY:

Wait a minute. If our dynamic Canadian culture is in such demand all over the world, then surely the world will beat a path to its door and pay full freight to watch the likes of Les Grands Ballets, if not Holy F—.

Was this another story of our splendid arts community banding together to combat the heartless, uncultured Harper Conservatives?

Read the full article from the Calgary Herald HERE.

2. AND HERE’S WHAT THEY’RE SAYING OUT EAST:

With new cuts to culture and arts funding, the Conservative government is showing once again its complete disrespect toward our country’s cultural institutions and a flagrant lack of vision that is hurting our arts community and culture

The Conservatives are now showing clearly what they have in mind for Canada’s arts and culture. The lack of explanation for the cuts and the silence of the Heritage minister is unacceptable.

Read more HERE.

3. THE LIBERAL PARTY SPEAKS UP - FINALLY

Liberal Heritage critic Denis Coderre has criticized the government for not being forthcoming with information about cuts to a slew of arts-and-culture programs.

“A Liberal government … will reinstate all those programs and [Canadians] will have … a true structural vision of what culture should be for our country,” he said, in a telephone interview from his riding in Montreal.

More on Liberal plans in THIS Globe and Mail article.

4. THE EFFECTS ARE BEING FELT IN VANCOUVER:

Canada has been selected as the official guest country for the 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale, an event that will feature more than 3,000 artists from 50 nations.

But the country’s participation is at risk after the axing of grant programs that funded exploratory work on the project.

Read more from Vancouver’s Georgia Straight HERE.

5. AND IN MONTREAL…

The cuts are a severe blow to the Canadian “cultural economy”, which generates $40-billion annually, says a statement from the Visual Arts Alliance. The VAA was just one of many arts and cultural groups to voice their dismay over cuts.

More from Montreal’s Hour, right HERE.

6. THE STORY HAS GONE INTERNATIONAL IN VARIETY MAGAZINE:

The cuts have been criticized by the Canadian Film and Television Production Assn. and its Quebec sister group. “These cuts risk diminishing Canada’s international reputation,” said Sandra Cunningham, chair of the Canadian producers body.

This is the government’s latest run-in with the film industry…

Read more in Variety magazine - HERE.

7. AND IN UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL…

HERE.

8. MAGAZINES AREN’T IMMUNE, EITHER:

$500,000 will be cut from the Canada Magazine Fund’s budget next year…

Read more HERE.