Government turns its back on creative economy.
A recent Statistics Canada study (December 2004) measured the economic impact of the culture sector, and the analysis for Alberta indicated that culture contributed $4.3 billion to the province’s economy in 2001.
The Arts Foundation of Alberta receives $20 million annually, and supports roughly 1,400 arts and cultural organizations as well as individual artists across the province. Unfortunately, in recent years the agency has only been able to support about 60 per cent of the applications it receives annually.
It’s time the government got creative in supporting this important sector of the community and economy.
Why Alberta Liberal policy gets a better grade:
For most Albertans, life is about more than making money. When the work is done and it’s time to relax, we want to be entertained and enriched. That might mean reading a great novel, going to see a movie, taking in a concert, festival or play, or visiting a local museum or art gallery.
These are the kinds of activities that enrich our lives and make Alberta a great tourist destination.
This is the Creative Economy, and it’s worth billions each year to Alberta business. Far from being a drain, money spent on arts and culture is an investment - in ourselves and our province.
To stimulate the development of visual and performing arts in Alberta, the Alberta Liberals would create an endowment fund for the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Solutions: Read more...
