Illustration: Allen Crawford of Plankton Art Co. Image: timeout.com

A new report – done in collaboration with the federal government – argues for the importance of Canada’s arts:

Canada’s arts community has been given a big boost in its fight against government funding cutbacks in a form of an new economic report arguing that culture is a major contributor to national wealth and prestige.

The 60-page study from the Conference Board of Canada, a private-sector think-tank that did the study in collaboration with the federal government, argues that culture generated $84.6 billion in direct and indirect economic benefits last year, or 7.4 per cent of total gross domestic product.

t argues strongly that creativity in the arts is to be valued because it involves the use of new technologies, such as the Internet, and new industries that strengthen Canada’s competitiveness.

“Countries around the world, as well as many cities and regions, recognize that a dynamic culture sector plays a key role as a magnet for talent, enhances economic output, and acts as a catalyst for prosperity,” Bloom said.

Read the article from the Canadian Press HERE.

Meanwhile, Harper defends the cuts:

Harper said the government’s “changes” to more than a dozen programs is the only responsible path, and echoed recent assertions by his communications director, Kory Teneycke, and Canadian Heritage Minister Josée Verner that the government has managed to walk a tightrope, trimming the fat from its culture portfolio while simultaneously increasing overall spending.

“What this government has also done in that area, as it’s done across the government, is we’ve instituted an expenditure-management system, where over a period of five years we comprehensively review every program and we make sure that we’re spending on priorities and spending on those programs that are most effective,” said Harper.

“Some programs in arts and culture have increased in funding, others have gone down – in total it’s gone up.” Federal investment in culture for the 2007-08 fiscal year was $3.4-billion, up from $3.2-billion in 2006-07.

Read the Globe and Mail article HERE.