From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V13 #581 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Friday, August 22 2008 Volume 13 : Number 581 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- Canadian gov. cuts off funding for touring artists [birdie Subject: Canadian gov. cuts off funding for touring artists I am quite sure Vede Hille was an artist who was supported by this - dunno about Jane Siberry and company, but it looks like Canadians will have to fill seats or find other sources of funding....singing for burger & beer commericals or network TV shows.....etc I am pretty certain Leonard Cohen stands on his own two feet and won't be affected With the price of fuel/food and airfare, um...maybe we'll see more canadians move to the states now....Birdie Tories cut funding for artists touring abroad August 8, 2008 Tories cut funding for artists touring abroad By Karine Fortin, THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA - The Conservative government has announced it will no longer fund a federal program that subsidizes international promotional tours of Canadian artists. Foreign Affairs officials confirmed Friday that PromArt will lose its $4.7-million budget next spring, effectively killing the program. They attempted to play down reports that claimed the decision was motivated by ideological differences with many of the recipients. "More than anything it's a budget decision," said Anne Howland, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson. "The government is committed to a more disciplined approach to managing spending." But Howland didn't deny that the ideological leanings of some recipients did figure in the decision. "Certainly we felt some of the groups were not necessarily ones we thought Canadians would agree were the best choices to be representing them internationally," she said. Pressed for an example of those who failed to meet such a requirement, Howland cited a Toronto-based experimental rock band. "I don't even want to say it (their name) on the phone," she said. "Holy F , that was one that was flagged." Holy F**k's second album was nominated for a Juno award and the group has been shortlisted for the $20,000 Polaris Music Prize. Les Grand Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, author Gwynne Dyer and former CBC broadcaster Avi Lewis are among others who have received funding from the program. "Some of the groups we felt had little to do with our foreign policy, or how Canadians would want us to be perceived abroad," Howland said. Alain Dancyger, the head of the Les Grand Ballets Canadiens, called the decision a catastrophe for both artist groups and Canada's image abroad. "Abolishing this program is the equivalent of killing the entire culture market abroad," he said from Paris, where the ballet troupe has been performing with the help of PromArt funding. Opposition parties said the funding cut is further proof of the rigidly conservative line taken by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government. The NDP compared the Tories' decision to axe PromArt with bill C-10, their attempt to retroactively strip tax credits from films the heritage minister deems "offensive or not in the public interest." "These all seem to indicate concerns that are based in personal taste and conservative ideology, rather than in how to best reflect the diversity of culture in Canada and how best to represent Canadian cultural expression," said Bill Siksay, the NDP's culture and heritage critic. He also questioned the political wisdom behind the move, given the Tories face three fall byelections, two of which are in Quebec. "It really does seem to play to the most right wing part of the Conservative Party," Siksay said. "It doesn't strike me as a strong political strategy for a government that is facing re-election and byelections." The government defended itself from accusations it is leaving Canadian artists out to dry by removing an important avenue for promoting their work abroad. "We are still supporting arts funding, including international arts promotion," said Howland, though she was unable to provide specific examples. "Obviously the department is interested in continuing to support Canadian artists and entrepreneurs abroad through our network of missions and cultural representatives." ) The Canadian Press 2008 Related Items ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:24:11 -0700 From: birdie Subject: Re: Canadian gov. cuts off funding for touring artists also, it's only fair to note that network TV in the states is shifting more and more towards online viewing....with different rate schedules, audience numbers, etc KCRW and a few others will rule and so will the livingroom concerts :-) Having less and less places to sell out to (record labels, TV shows, etc) on the one hand and less funding for the arts on the other....and higher expenses all around....and...internet priracy...etc... Having your very own everything looks like the sure safe bet for survival. Woody Guthrie is still hip and happenin' The more honest and heartfelt the artists prolly the better chances of filling seats and sticking around... All that prefabricated dross the labels have pumped out ought to come finally crashing to a halt. So, it's changing more and more for everyone, these days. Birdie DanS wrote: > Not a big surprise as the Tories (aka Conservatives) in Canada are not > known for being friendly to the arts. They've also cut funding to the > CBC which has resulted in some pretty controversial changes to the > radio service, CBC Radio 1. Hopefully the Harper administration won't > be around for much longer there, but it seems that by the time the > next election finally happens the major damage will have been done. > > Dan > > > At 04:40 PM 8/21/2008, birdie wrote: > >> I am quite sure Vede Hille was an artist who was supported by this - >> dunno about Jane Siberry and company, but it looks like Canadians will >> have to fill seats or find other sources of funding.... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:00:27 -0400 From: DanS <2005.carnivore99@verizon.net> Subject: Re: Canadian gov. cuts off funding for touring artists Not a big surprise as the Tories (aka Conservatives) in Canada are not known for being friendly to the arts. They've also cut funding to the CBC which has resulted in some pretty controversial changes to the radio service, CBC Radio 1. Hopefully the Harper administration won't be around for much longer there, but it seems that by the time the next election finally happens the major damage will have been done. Dan At 04:40 PM 8/21/2008, birdie wrote: >I am quite sure Vede Hille was an artist who was supported by this - >dunno about Jane Siberry and company, but it looks like Canadians will >have to fill seats or find other sources of funding.... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:16:28 -0600 From: neal copperman Subject: Re: Canadian gov. cuts off funding for touring artists That is going to be a huge blow. I just had a Canadian band staying with me last weekend and they were raving about the travel subsidies. They have gotten to Australia several times, with more then half of the cost paid for, allowing them to actually make money on some of their trips. Virtually every Canadian artist I met is able to tour because of government subsidies. And we have seen tours cancelled and cut short when other countries have not awarded tour support that has been awarded in the past. :( neal On Aug 21, 2008, at 2:40 PM, birdie wrote: > I am quite sure Vede Hille was an artist who was supported by this - > dunno about Jane Siberry and company, but it looks like Canadians will > have to fill seats or find other sources of funding....singing for > burger & beer commericals or network TV shows.....etc > I am pretty certain Leonard Cohen stands on his own two feet and won't > be affected > With the price of fuel/food and airfare, um...maybe we'll see more > canadians move to the states now....Birdie > Tories cut funding for artists touring abroad > > August 8, 2008 > Tories cut funding for artists touring abroad > By Karine Fortin, THE CANADIAN PRESS > OTTAWA - The Conservative government has announced it will no longer > fund a federal program that subsidizes international promotional tours > of Canadian artists. > > Foreign Affairs officials confirmed Friday that PromArt will lose its > $4.7-million budget next spring, effectively killing the program. > > They attempted to play down reports that claimed the decision was > motivated by ideological differences with many of the recipients. > > "More than anything it's a budget decision," said Anne Howland, a > spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson. > > "The government is committed to a more disciplined approach to > managing spending." > > But Howland didn't deny that the ideological leanings of some > recipients did figure in the decision. > > "Certainly we felt some of the groups were not necessarily ones we > thought Canadians would agree were the best choices to be representing > them internationally," she said. > > Pressed for an example of those who failed to meet such a requirement, > Howland cited a Toronto-based experimental rock band. > > "I don't even want to say it (their name) on the phone," she said. > "Holy F , that was one that was flagged." > > Holy F**k's second album was nominated for a Juno award and the group > has been shortlisted for the $20,000 Polaris Music Prize. > > Les Grand Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, author Gwynne Dyer and former > CBC broadcaster Avi Lewis are among others who have received funding > from the program. > > "Some of the groups we felt had little to do with our foreign policy, > or how Canadians would want us to be perceived abroad," Howland said. > > Alain Dancyger, the head of the Les Grand Ballets Canadiens, called > the decision a catastrophe for both artist groups and Canada's image > abroad. > > "Abolishing this program is the equivalent of killing the entire > culture market abroad," he said from Paris, where the ballet troupe > has been performing with the help of PromArt funding. > > Opposition parties said the funding cut is further proof of the > rigidly conservative line taken by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's > government. > > The NDP compared the Tories' decision to axe PromArt with bill C-10, > their attempt to retroactively strip tax credits from films the > heritage minister deems "offensive or not in the public interest." > > "These all seem to indicate concerns that are based in personal taste > and conservative ideology, rather than in how to best reflect the > diversity of culture in Canada and how best to represent Canadian > cultural expression," said Bill Siksay, the NDP's culture and heritage > critic. > > He also questioned the political wisdom behind the move, given the > Tories face three fall byelections, two of which are in Quebec. > > "It really does seem to play to the most right wing part of the > Conservative Party," Siksay said. > > "It doesn't strike me as a strong political strategy for a government > that is facing re-election and byelections." > > The government defended itself from accusations it is leaving Canadian > artists out to dry by removing an important avenue for promoting their > work abroad. > > "We are still supporting arts funding, including international arts > promotion," said Howland, though she was unable to provide specific > examples. > > "Obviously the department is interested in continuing to support > Canadian artists and entrepreneurs abroad through our network of > missions and cultural representatives." > > ) The Canadian Press 2008 > > Related Items ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:49:02 -0700 From: birdie Subject: Re: Canadian gov. cuts off funding for touring artists There's more.... Aug 16, 2008 04:30 AM Comments on this story (22) GREG QUILL ENTERTAINMENT COLUMNIST RICHARD BRENNAN OTTAWA BUREAU The Canadian arts community is reeling again after learning yesterday that the Harper government is cutting another five cultural funding programs  in addition to two dumped last week, and totalling as much $20 million  that will make it even more difficult for Canadian musicians, composers, artists and filmmakers to compete in the international marketplace. "The government has departed from its usual consultative process and cut these programs without warning," said Stephen Ellis, a board member and former chair of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association and president of Toronto-based Ellis Entertainment Group, an independent TV production company. While Canadian Heritage Minister Josie Verner was unavailable to comment, the Prime Minister's Office said the cuts are part of a government-wide program review. "The opposition seems to be accusing us of having an agenda to see the arts is funded to a lesser extent on an ideological basis, and I can say that's not the case (because) we are spending more on the arts than the Liberal government," said Kory Teneycke, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's director of communications. The latest cuts include federal contributions of $300,000 to the Audio- Visual Preservation Trust of Canada, which archives and makes available for distribution film, television and musical recordings; $1.5 million to the Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund, which helps top up the budgets of independent films and triggers private investment; and $2.5 million to the National Training Program in the Film and Video Sector. The Stabilization Project and Capacity Building program, which provides financial and administrative support to art groups, and a new media research program are also victims of funding cuts. These cuts, like those made last week  the $4.7 million ProMart program, an artists' travel support fund, and the $9 million Trade Routes program that supports film and music exports  were not formally announced, but posted on government websites. The cancellations will have a "devastating effect" on the Canadian arts community, said Antoni Cimolino, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's general director, in a statement condemning the action. The Toronto International Film Festival benefits annually to the tune of $157,000 from the programs to be cancelled in April. It uses the funds to assist in the marketing of Canadian films overseas. "The ProMart and Trade Routes funding we received allowed us to host 400 international buyers and programmers at the Festival, to produce a book promoting the films we screen, to take 40 Canadian filmmakers to 32 countries for 400 screenings of Canadian films for overseas buyers, and to promote Sprockets, our children's film festival, to potential foreign programmers," public affairs director Maxine Bailey said. Canadian musicians, deprived of future promotional funding in major markets in Europe and Asia as a result of the ProMart and Trade Routes cuts, will also suffer from the withdrawal of funding to the Audio- Visual Preservation Trust, said its director, David Novek. Teneycke said more than $4 billion a year is spent on arts and culture. But critics charged yesterday the cuts reflect a deep-seated desire by the Conservative government to change the face of Canada. "They (the Conservatives) don't believe in culture, but the worst part of it is that they want to change the kind of society you want to live in ... and I don't like what I am seeing," Liberal Heritage Critic MP Denis Coderre (Bourassa) said. The government earlier sparked outraged with Bill C-10, which gives the Heritage Department power to deny funding for films and TV shows it considers offensive. On Aug 21, 2008, at 10:16 PM, neal copperman wrote: > That is going to be a huge blow. I just had a Canadian band staying > with me last weekend and they were raving about the travel > subsidies. They have gotten to Australia several times, with more > then half of the cost paid for, allowing them to actually make money > on some of their trips. Virtually every Canadian artist I met is > able to tour because of government subsidies. And we have seen > tours cancelled and cut short when other countries have not awarded > tour support that has been awarded in the past. > > :( > > neal > > > On Aug 21, 2008, at 2:40 PM, birdie wrote: > >> I am quite sure Vede Hille was an artist who was supported by this - >> dunno about Jane Siberry and company, but it looks like Canadians >> will >> have to fill seats or find other sources of funding....singing for >> burger & beer commericals or network TV shows.....etc >> I am pretty certain Leonard Cohen stands on his own two feet and >> won't >> be affected >> With the price of fuel/food and airfare, um...maybe we'll see more >> canadians move to the states now....Birdie >> Tories cut funding for artists touring abroad >> >> August 8, 2008 >> Tories cut funding for artists touring abroad >> By Karine Fortin, THE CANADIAN PRESS >> OTTAWA - The Conservative government has announced it will no longer >> fund a federal program that subsidizes international promotional >> tours >> of Canadian artists. >> >> Foreign Affairs officials confirmed Friday that PromArt will lose its >> $4.7-million budget next spring, effectively killing the program. >> >> They attempted to play down reports that claimed the decision was >> motivated by ideological differences with many of the recipients. >> >> "More than anything it's a budget decision," said Anne Howland, a >> spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson. >> >> "The government is committed to a more disciplined approach to >> managing spending." >> >> But Howland didn't deny that the ideological leanings of some >> recipients did figure in the decision. >> >> "Certainly we felt some of the groups were not necessarily ones we >> thought Canadians would agree were the best choices to be >> representing >> them internationally," she said. >> >> Pressed for an example of those who failed to meet such a >> requirement, >> Howland cited a Toronto-based experimental rock band. >> >> "I don't even want to say it (their name) on the phone," she said. >> "Holy F , that was one that was flagged." >> >> Holy F**k's second album was nominated for a Juno award and the group >> has been shortlisted for the $20,000 Polaris Music Prize. >> >> Les Grand Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, author Gwynne Dyer and >> former >> CBC broadcaster Avi Lewis are among others who have received funding >> from the program. >> >> "Some of the groups we felt had little to do with our foreign policy, >> or how Canadians would want us to be perceived abroad," Howland said. >> >> Alain Dancyger, the head of the Les Grand Ballets Canadiens, called >> the decision a catastrophe for both artist groups and Canada's image >> abroad. >> >> "Abolishing this program is the equivalent of killing the entire >> culture market abroad," he said from Paris, where the ballet troupe >> has been performing with the help of PromArt funding. >> >> Opposition parties said the funding cut is further proof of the >> rigidly conservative line taken by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's >> government. >> >> The NDP compared the Tories' decision to axe PromArt with bill C-10, >> their attempt to retroactively strip tax credits from films the >> heritage minister deems "offensive or not in the public interest." >> >> "These all seem to indicate concerns that are based in personal taste >> and conservative ideology, rather than in how to best reflect the >> diversity of culture in Canada and how best to represent Canadian >> cultural expression," said Bill Siksay, the NDP's culture and >> heritage >> critic. >> >> He also questioned the political wisdom behind the move, given the >> Tories face three fall byelections, two of which are in Quebec. >> >> "It really does seem to play to the most right wing part of the >> Conservative Party," Siksay said. >> >> "It doesn't strike me as a strong political strategy for a government >> that is facing re-election and byelections." >> >> The government defended itself from accusations it is leaving >> Canadian >> artists out to dry by removing an important avenue for promoting >> their >> work abroad. >> >> "We are still supporting arts funding, including international arts >> promotion," said Howland, though she was unable to provide specific >> examples. >> >> "Obviously the department is interested in continuing to support >> Canadian artists and entrepreneurs abroad through our network of >> missions and cultural representatives." >> >> ) The Canadian Press 2008 >> >> Related Items ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V13 #581 ***************************