(Toronto)…The Ontario Budget 2015, Building Ontario Up, is a 372-page document that contains little to recognize the growth sectors of the arts, culture or heritage. 
The Government of Ontario appears to have once again cut its investment in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport by $150 million, a decrease from $1.424 billion (2012-2013) to $1.274 billion (2015-2016), according to budget documents released yesterday. 
“The PASO Coalition’s primary concern continues to be Ontario Arts Council cuts to operating grants that took effect April 1.” Demetra Christakos observed, co-chair of the voluntary arts coalition. “When transfer payments from Ontario to the Ontario Arts Council are straight-lined for a sixth consecutive year, attrition to their value is a ligature on emerging arts professionals.” 

Ontario’s Economic Forecast

Ontario government revenues have increased by $27 billion since 2008-2009, from $97.5 billion to $124.4 billion, according to the budget. Ontario has recovered all the jobs lost since the 2008 recession, the unemployment rate is improving (down to 7.3% from 7.6% last year), the net surplus of corporations rose by 8% in 2014, and a resurgent US economy and a rebound in US consumer demand supports stronger growth in Ontario exports, including motor vehicle sales.

Keystrokes for the arts in the 2015-2016 budget:

• $5.9 million has been allocated to celebrate the significance of the 400th anniversary of the Francophone presence in Ontario in 2015. However, it is not clear whether these funds come out of $905 million in additional funding already allocated for the Pan/Parapan American Games in 2015-2016.
• The government proposes to narrow eligibility for the Ontario Digital Media Tax Credit and use a portion of the savings to renew the Interactive Digital Media Fund.
• The $5 million cut first made to the Ontario Trillium Foundation in Budget 2013 is reiterated the current financial year, 2015-2016, for a total loss to date of $20 million over four years.
• $15 million in arts funding reallocated by the government in 2013 to establish the Ontario Music Fund has been renewed.

Other potential impacts on the arts

Apprenticeship programs is one area where the government proposes some strategic investments: $13 million more over two years for pre-apprenticeship readiness programs, $19 million to increase the per diem for apprentices in classroom training, and $23 million to help colleges and other delivery agents train and deliver high quality apprenticeship programs. 
However, the government is also tightening the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit by $30 million this year—deepening to a loss of $95 million in 2017-2018. 
There is an anticipated increase in investment in the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities of $472 million (from 7.337 billion to 7.809 billion).
At the same, the government announced a massive reform of the postsecondary education system, embarking on a review of university funding this spring with a view both to greater differentiation between schools and the further alignment of public funding with “desired outcomes”.
“We’ll be tracking those outcomes.” Christakos said. “When the Harris government moved on core funding to universities in the mid-90s, university arts programs, art galleries, and other arts activities were deeply impacted.”
Perhaps due to lack of detail about the federal government’s funding intentions in the 150th anniversary of the confederation of Canada available when the Ontario budget document was printed, Ontario’s commitment to 2017 is equally vague: “The government will engage Ontarians to share ideas for commemoration and will work collaboratively to make Canada’s birthday an occasion for pride and celebration across the province.”

About the PASO Coalition

PASO is a Coalition of Provincial Arts Service Organizations that strives to strengthen the environment for the individuals and institutions that create and disseminate the arts in this province and for public access to the arts. Its collective memberships are made up of individual artists as well as the performance and exhibition organizations that create and support artistic expression. PASO operates on the principle of voluntary contributions of time and travel from Coalition member organizations.

Connect with PASO by e-mailing Kristian Clarke at: kc [at] carfacontario.ca. Demetra Christakos can be reached at: oaag [at] oaag.org. Kristian can be reached by phone at: 416-340-8850.
 

Visual Arts Summit, Ottawa, November 2007

Art is the face of Canada.

We, as artists, curators, collectors, dealers, educators and supporters, are united to enhance the opportunities for Canadian art to be created, seen, understood and enjoyed. We came together in the largest gathering of the visual arts in our history, to proclaim the critical role of the visual arts in an innovative and compassionate society in the 21st century. We know what is needed: we call on the governments, nations and peoples of Canada to join us in realizing our potential.

The visual arts community acts within an increasingly complex environment, with stagnant or shrinking resources. The growth in public engagement with the visual arts is not reflected in government policies or support. Canadian artists, galleries and museums have been starved for too long. Too many people work in the visual arts without an adequate livelihood or long-term security.

The lack of vigorous and consistent policy, particularly from the federal government, is unacceptable. The visual arts provide a high level of service while receiving an unjustly low level of support from most government agencies and departments. In a time of global challenges calling for dialogue and understanding, the Canadian government has cut support for our international cultural profile. The unique and diverse character of Canada is under threat. The visual arts offer the best opportunity to counter this threat. It is time to recognize the place of visual arts at the center of society.

We commit ourselves to work together:

• To satisfy the public’s growing demand for participation in visual culture;
• To communicate the sector’s needs with a united voice;
• To provide a secure livelihood for artists;
• To acknowledge the varied cultures of the indigenous peoples of this land;
• To reflect the diversity of our society; and
• To strengthen the institutions that advance the visual arts.

With a united voice, we advocate:

1. To create a new alliance across the sector, to advance the position of the visual arts;
2.  To engage public appreciation for, and connection with, visual arts in all their forms;
3. To provide stronger and stable support to artists and to the individuals and institutions that present, preserve and interpret the work they create;
4. To establish a dedicated fund for the payment of artists for the public exhibition of their works;
5. To increase investment in arts education for all ages and from all levels of government;
6. To provide dedicated support for Aboriginal arts; and
7. To recognize and support the leading role of visual arts in strengthening Canada’s international profile.

We envision a Canada that embraces creativity in all its dimensions. We believe in art that challenges us, deepens our understanding, and bridges our differences. Visual arts build a more tolerant, diverse and creative world.

Show your support, sign the statement here, and forward the link to your colleagues:
www.petitiononline.com/visarts/petition.html

For more information:
Canadian Museums Association
613-567-0099
info@museums.ca 
www.museums.ca 
www.visualartssummit.ca

Summit Partners:
Aboriginal Curatorial Collective: www.aboriginalcuratorialcollective.org 
Art Dealers Association of Canada: www.ad-ac.ca 
Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference: www.arccc-cccaa.org 
Canadian Artists’ Representation (CARFAC): www.carfac.ca 
Canadian Education Association: www.cea-ace.ca 
Canadian Museums Association: www.museums.ca 
Canadian Art Museum Directors’ Organization: www.camdo.ca 
Independent Media Arts Alliance: www.imaa.ca 
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts: www.rca-arc.ca

Message from CARFAC President, Grant McConnell:

In 2007, during bargaining for a scale agreement, the National Gallery unilaterally refused to continue to negotiate binding minimum fees for the use of artists’ work.

When a Tribunal found the Gallery guilty of bargaining in bad faith, instead of accepting the decision, the Gallery asked for a judicial review.
The gallery has a budget of $55 million – that’s more than 100 times larger than CARFAC and RAAV’s combined budget. This is not a fair fight but we are still winning.

The Status of the Artist Act gives CARFAC and RAAV the ability to negotiate agreements with federal institutions but the National Gallery is refusing to negotiate minimum copyright fees. They believe we are taking away your right to be paid less.

CARFAC and RAAV are continuing the legal battle to show the gallery that artists will not allow for this kind of attitude any longer.

But we can’t do it without you.

We have been lucky to receive tens of thousands of dollars of high quality, pro bono legal help from Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck to cover the first round of hearings but the next stage will require fundraising.

Your donation of $25, $50 or whatever you can afford will help us make it clear to the gallery that artists not only have legal rights – but we are prepared to defend them. All donations of more than $10 will receive a tax receipt.

Since the beginning, CARFAC has relied on the collective action of artists across Canada to bring about change. You are the backbone of our organization.

As you know, half of visual artists in Canada earn less than $8000/year. The National Gallery should be a place to celebrate our artists – not whittle away their rights.

Please make a contribution to our campaign now.

Grant McConnell
CARFAC President

---

Artistes en lutte pour des tarifs minimums

Artistes en lutte pour des tarifs minimums – CARFAC/RAAV

En 2007, le Musée des beaux-arts du Canada a rompu unilatéralement des négociations visant l’établissement d’un barème contraignant de tarifs minimaux pour l’utilisation des œuvres des artistes.

Reconnu coupable de négociation de mauvaise foi avec les artistes, le Musée, plutôt que d’accepter cette décision, en a demandé la révision judiciaire.

Le Musée dispose d’un budget de 55 millions de dollars, soit plus de 100 fois les budgets combinés de CARFAC et du RAAV. Le combat est inégal… et pourtant, nous continuons de le gagner.

Bien que la Loi sur le statut de l’artiste habilite CARFAC et le RAAV à négocier des ententes avec des institutions, le Musée des beaux-arts du Canada refuse de négocier des tarifs minimums de redevances du droit d’auteur. Il croit que nous voulons supprimer votre droit… à être moins payé(e) !

CARFAC et le RAAV poursuivent leur bataille juridique pour montrer au Musée que les artistes ne toléreront pas ce genre d’attitude plus longtemps.

Mais cette bataille ne peut être menée sans vous.

Nous avons eu la chance de recevoir de l’aide bénévole équivalant à des dizaines de milliers de dollars en conseils juridiques prodigués par Raven, Cameron, Ballantyne & Yazbeck afin de couvrir la première série d’audiences. Mais la prochaine étape exige une collecte de fonds.

Votre don de 25 ou 50 dollars, ou tout montant que vous puissiez vous permettre, nous aidera à réaffirmer haut et fort au Musée que non seulement les artistes ont des droits, mais qu’ils sont prêts à les défendre.

Pour tout don supérieur à 10 dollars, nous émettrons un reçu pour don de charité.

Depuis ses débuts, CARFAC s’appuie sur l’actions collective des artistes afin susciter le changement. Vous êtes le cœur de notre organisme !

Comme vous le savez, la moitié des artistes au Canada ont un revenu inférieur à 8 000 dollars par an. Le Musée des beaux-arts devrait être le lieu de consécration de nos artistes, et non celui où l’on bafoue leur droits !

Merci de faire une contribution à la lutte des artistes pour des tarifs minimums.

Grant McConnell
Président, CARFAC National

Thank you for your interest to sign our letter to the Minister of Finance. The letter writing campaign is now closed. We will continue to advocate for Status of the Artist legislation that includes wording that addresses artist’s socio-economic standing; makes a commitment to developing a labour relations mechanism; and requires periodic reviews of the legislation.

If you want more information about Status of Ontario’s Artists Act, 2007, please read Bill 187 – Budget Measures and Interim Appropriation Act, 2007 / Schedule 39 / Status of Ontario’s Artists Act, 2007

CARFAC Ontario continues to urge the Minister of Finance, to amend Schedule 39 (Status of Ontario’s Artists Act, 2007) to include wording that:

• addresses your socio-economic standing;
• makes a commitment to developing a labour relations mechanism; and
• requires periodic reviews of the legislation.

Thank you to the 180 artists who sent letters using our website. The following five key Members of Provincial Parliament received your submissions:

Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, Ottawa South, Liberal.
Hon. Greg Sorbara, Minister of Finance, Vaughan-King-Aurora, Liberal.
Hon. Caroline DiCocco, Minister of Culture, Sarnia-lambton, Liberal.
Cheri DiNovo, High Park-Parkdale, Culture Critic, NDP.
Julia Munro, York North, Culture Critic, PC.