Today’s Globe and Mail features an article on fostering creativity for business and government types. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/work/battle-of-the-brainstorms-should-you-be-all-business-or-be-creative/article1603948/) Citing a new book by author Alexander Hiam, Business Innovation for Dummies, it suggests you exercise your creative muscles though tactile activities like Play-Doh or building blocks, obviously the mainstay of the pre-school set.
An alternative option, with far-lasting impact and benefits, would be for the key leaders in our society to ensure arts education has a meaningful place in our educations system. Often seen as a frill, experience and study demonstrate that effective and sustained arts education programs throughout a student’s career lead to enhanced creativity, imagination and effectiveness.
So rather than investing in Play-Doh for execs, perhaps we should consider the policies and actions necessary to put in place some meaningful arts education for all students.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Creating a marketplace framework for Canada’s digital content advantage
The Government of Canada is asking Canadians our views on how to improve our country’s digital advantage. Arguing that Canada is only in the ‘middle of the pack’ in terms of adopting and exploiting the value of digital technology, the federal government states that “we need to do better”; hence, the launch of the digital economy strategy, first announced in the March 2010 Throne Speech and Budget. At the Canada 3.0 conference in Stratford Ontario earlier this week, Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement released a consultation paper to solicit Canadians’ views. He also promised key stakeholder roundtables, though details aren’t yet available.
Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore is playing a key part in the development of this strategy from the perspective of digital content and creation. Acknowledging the innovation of Canadian creators, the consultation paper states that “With the right framework, digital media entrepreneurs have the ability to create Canada’s digital content advantage with vision and boldness to unleash the potential of content to capitalize on our investments … and drive more innovation”.
For Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore, the framework focuses on the marketplace. The chapter on Canada’s Digital Content Advantage emphasizes the responsibility of the government to ensure the right polices and measures are in place for digital entrepreneurs to succeed: “The Government of Canada’s role is to put in place a marketplace framework in which our creators, inventors and entrepreneurs have the incentives to innovate, the confidence to take risks and the tools to succeed.”
The paper does not discuss the role of digital media of sharing Canada’s diverse cultural voices with each other, or bringing the Canadian cultural perspective to the world, although Minister Clement’s speech did make reference to this.
The consultation is open until 9 July 2010. For more information, go to http://de-en.gc.ca/home/
Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore is playing a key part in the development of this strategy from the perspective of digital content and creation. Acknowledging the innovation of Canadian creators, the consultation paper states that “With the right framework, digital media entrepreneurs have the ability to create Canada’s digital content advantage with vision and boldness to unleash the potential of content to capitalize on our investments … and drive more innovation”.
For Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore, the framework focuses on the marketplace. The chapter on Canada’s Digital Content Advantage emphasizes the responsibility of the government to ensure the right polices and measures are in place for digital entrepreneurs to succeed: “The Government of Canada’s role is to put in place a marketplace framework in which our creators, inventors and entrepreneurs have the incentives to innovate, the confidence to take risks and the tools to succeed.”
The paper does not discuss the role of digital media of sharing Canada’s diverse cultural voices with each other, or bringing the Canadian cultural perspective to the world, although Minister Clement’s speech did make reference to this.
The consultation is open until 9 July 2010. For more information, go to http://de-en.gc.ca/home/
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Canada Prize in Arts and Creativity -- now it's time to contribute to good public policy
In the January issue of The Arts Advocate Report, MP Gary Schellenberger, Chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, noted how slowly the wheels of government turn. This became readily apparent this week with news from Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore that the Canada Prize for Arts and Creativity will be administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, its parameters yet to be worked out though. Regardless, the Minister was emphatic in stating that he expects the first prizes to be awarded next year, 2011.
Originally announced in the 2009 federal budget, it became evident that the Government did not have clear plans and objectives for the Canada Prize. Moreover, the rumoured roll out of it, centred in Toronto, became divisive within the cultural community. This presented the feds with significant problems particularly in Quebec. With speculation running rampant as to the genesis of the prize, the Canada Prize was a good example of how public policy should not be developed.
Recognizing the firestorm that developed around the Canada Prize, it makes sense to go back to first principles to see that the new prize becomes sought out by all artists, and is respected throughout Canada and around the world. With this week’s announcement, Minister Moore re-asserted ownership of the Prize. The appointment of an advisory panel to “generate a series of recommendations and options regarding the parameters of the Canada Prizes” will provide everyone with an opportunity to have their views heard. Chaired by Canada Council Chair Joseph Rotman and including Vice Chair Simon Brault, the 5-member panel will make recommendations on how to “recognize outstanding Canadian artistic achievements and will help brand Canada as a centre of excellence”.
Notwithstanding the controversy that has dogged the Canada Prize for Arts and Creativity, its proponents should be credited for convincing the Government of Canada to recognize excellence in the arts, something this government, and minister in particular, have not been identified with: The ‘i-pod minister’s focus has seen to be on consumer demand and access -- important factors in artistic decisions, but not in isolation from excellence.
Now it behooves Canadians, particularly those in the cultural sector, to give the advisory panel good and creative ideas on how to make the Canada Prize for Arts and Creativity work for all Canadians.
To make your views known, go to http://survey.pch.gc.ca/perseus/se.ashx?s=0B880FDE0B712106&c=en-US. You only have until 21 May 2010.
Originally announced in the 2009 federal budget, it became evident that the Government did not have clear plans and objectives for the Canada Prize. Moreover, the rumoured roll out of it, centred in Toronto, became divisive within the cultural community. This presented the feds with significant problems particularly in Quebec. With speculation running rampant as to the genesis of the prize, the Canada Prize was a good example of how public policy should not be developed.
Recognizing the firestorm that developed around the Canada Prize, it makes sense to go back to first principles to see that the new prize becomes sought out by all artists, and is respected throughout Canada and around the world. With this week’s announcement, Minister Moore re-asserted ownership of the Prize. The appointment of an advisory panel to “generate a series of recommendations and options regarding the parameters of the Canada Prizes” will provide everyone with an opportunity to have their views heard. Chaired by Canada Council Chair Joseph Rotman and including Vice Chair Simon Brault, the 5-member panel will make recommendations on how to “recognize outstanding Canadian artistic achievements and will help brand Canada as a centre of excellence”.
Notwithstanding the controversy that has dogged the Canada Prize for Arts and Creativity, its proponents should be credited for convincing the Government of Canada to recognize excellence in the arts, something this government, and minister in particular, have not been identified with: The ‘i-pod minister’s focus has seen to be on consumer demand and access -- important factors in artistic decisions, but not in isolation from excellence.
Now it behooves Canadians, particularly those in the cultural sector, to give the advisory panel good and creative ideas on how to make the Canada Prize for Arts and Creativity work for all Canadians.
To make your views known, go to http://survey.pch.gc.ca/perseus/se.ashx?s=0B880FDE0B712106&c=en-US. You only have until 21 May 2010.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Looking ahead to next week's budget -- cultural loose ends
As the glow of the winter Olympics and the Cultural Olympiad begins to dissipate next week, attention will shift to the federal Throne Speech and budget. With policy watchers fully anticipating the governing Conservatives to stay the course, so to speak, there are few expectations in the cultural sector. It is clear that two-year economic stimulus funding will continue for one more year, with strong signals expected that restraint will kick in from 2011 onwards.
That said, based on previous commitments, there remain a few loose ends for the Government to address in the cultural sector:
- Since last fall, details around the $25 million Canada prize announced in the last federal budget have been promised soon. No word on when that might be though.
- The Conservative election platform pledged a refundable tax credit, up to $500, for children who participate in eligible arts and cultural activities.
Next week might tell the tale on where these initiatives stand.
That said, based on previous commitments, there remain a few loose ends for the Government to address in the cultural sector:
- Since last fall, details around the $25 million Canada prize announced in the last federal budget have been promised soon. No word on when that might be though.
- The Conservative election platform pledged a refundable tax credit, up to $500, for children who participate in eligible arts and cultural activities.
Next week might tell the tale on where these initiatives stand.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Ontario's report on the economy's long term prospects -- the place of the broader cultural sector
Ontario released its long term report on the economy last Friday, a report designed to highlight the challenges and opportunities facing the province over the next 20 years.
The report provides an extensive in-depth look at the many factors and influences expected to affect Ontario going forward. Chief among them of course are demographic shifts, the changing global economy and increased competition from rapidly emerging economies.
It’s nice to see that culture, more specifically the digital sector and parts of cultural industries, are expected to continue playing a key role in Ontario’s economic prospects. Acknowledging that Ontario’s economic success is “increasingly dependent on knowledge, creativity and innovation” the buzz words ‘du jour’, Ontario’s Long term report on the Economy notes that entertainment and creative services are expected to lead job creation and output growth over the long term. Pointing to digital media, and film and music production, the Report suggests these sectors will continue to be strong global competitors.
Where this leaves the rest of Ontario’s cultural sector is not addressed. The Report does make clear that the Ontario government sees cultural tourism as an area of significant potential, pointing to the Province’s cultural attraction agencies. The combined impact of smaller institutions, museums and arts organizations across the Province is not acknowledged in the Report.
The juxtaposition of creative industries and cultural tourism in this report is consistent with the outline of Culture Minister Michael Chan’s new responsibilities as outlined by the Premier. The resulting challenge for heritage, arts and smaller segments of the cultural industries, the part that provides texture, richness and colour to Ontario, will be to ensure that Minister Chan and the Ontario government continue to see and understand the full scope of cultural activity across the Province and the contribution it makes in every corner of Ontario.
It’s a tall order for the cultural sector in the current fiscal and policy environment in Ontario and Ottawa.
The report provides an extensive in-depth look at the many factors and influences expected to affect Ontario going forward. Chief among them of course are demographic shifts, the changing global economy and increased competition from rapidly emerging economies.
It’s nice to see that culture, more specifically the digital sector and parts of cultural industries, are expected to continue playing a key role in Ontario’s economic prospects. Acknowledging that Ontario’s economic success is “increasingly dependent on knowledge, creativity and innovation” the buzz words ‘du jour’, Ontario’s Long term report on the Economy notes that entertainment and creative services are expected to lead job creation and output growth over the long term. Pointing to digital media, and film and music production, the Report suggests these sectors will continue to be strong global competitors.
Where this leaves the rest of Ontario’s cultural sector is not addressed. The Report does make clear that the Ontario government sees cultural tourism as an area of significant potential, pointing to the Province’s cultural attraction agencies. The combined impact of smaller institutions, museums and arts organizations across the Province is not acknowledged in the Report.
The juxtaposition of creative industries and cultural tourism in this report is consistent with the outline of Culture Minister Michael Chan’s new responsibilities as outlined by the Premier. The resulting challenge for heritage, arts and smaller segments of the cultural industries, the part that provides texture, richness and colour to Ontario, will be to ensure that Minister Chan and the Ontario government continue to see and understand the full scope of cultural activity across the Province and the contribution it makes in every corner of Ontario.
It’s a tall order for the cultural sector in the current fiscal and policy environment in Ontario and Ottawa.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Ontario’s cabinet shuffle: re-amalgamating Culture and Tourism
Ontario’s cultural sector will be looking hard at the meaning of the re-amalgamation of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Premier Dalton McGuinty's announcement did not provide any clues to his rationale for his decision: No link was made between culture and tourism, despite the potential to do so. His decision probably has as much to do with the current focus on cost-cutting and fiscal prudence as it does with policy alignment. After all, the position of Deputy Minister has been vacant since the summer, with the Acting DM, Tourism’s Drew Fagan, seen as doing a good job.
The long term implications of the re-amalgamation will be contemplated for months, even years, by the cultural sector. There was genuine happiness that Culture merited its own ministry. That said, many in the sector wondered if that decision actually side-lined the importance of the sector, despite the identification of the Entertainment and Creative cluster as one of the economic pillars to drive Ontario forward.
Aileen Carroll was well-liked by the cultural sector and seen to be a supportive proponent. There is no question that she was successful in delivering some significant increases in support to the cultural sector, particularly in the last Ontario budget. Going forward though, it’s a different scenario in a different time. Much of last year's funding is one-time, with some signficant programs up for renewal.
Minister Michael Chan will have his hands full. The Province hails tourism as a major economic driver, but has yet to deliver much in response to the major recommendations made by Greg Sorbara, former finance minister, in a far-reaching report early last year. The Premier’s statement on the cabinet shuffle could certainly lead one to surmise that Minister Chan’s focus will be on the tourism side, with cultural industries being the second thought. Where this leaves the other parts of the cultural sector is an equally open question.
The long term implications of the re-amalgamation will be contemplated for months, even years, by the cultural sector. There was genuine happiness that Culture merited its own ministry. That said, many in the sector wondered if that decision actually side-lined the importance of the sector, despite the identification of the Entertainment and Creative cluster as one of the economic pillars to drive Ontario forward.
Aileen Carroll was well-liked by the cultural sector and seen to be a supportive proponent. There is no question that she was successful in delivering some significant increases in support to the cultural sector, particularly in the last Ontario budget. Going forward though, it’s a different scenario in a different time. Much of last year's funding is one-time, with some signficant programs up for renewal.
Minister Michael Chan will have his hands full. The Province hails tourism as a major economic driver, but has yet to deliver much in response to the major recommendations made by Greg Sorbara, former finance minister, in a far-reaching report early last year. The Premier’s statement on the cabinet shuffle could certainly lead one to surmise that Minister Chan’s focus will be on the tourism side, with cultural industries being the second thought. Where this leaves the other parts of the cultural sector is an equally open question.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Ten cultural policy developments and initiatives worth noting from 2009!
With 2010 almost upon us, The Arts Advocate Report would like to acknowledge and celebrate the many accomplishments in cultural policy and politics in Ontario, and nationally, over the past year. We reached out to leaders of the cultural sector for their thoughts on this. Thank you to all who shared your insights with us.
The ten cultural policy developments, initiatives and directions that we feel merit attention are:
* At the federal level, Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore delivered on five-year renewals of significant programs for broad segments of the cultural sector. From the revamped Canada Cultural Investment Fund and the Canada Book Fund to the Canada Magazine Fund and Canada Music Fund, cultural enterprise and organizations are on more solid and predictable ground going forward.
* Love it or leave it, Minister Moore has also articulated clear policy directions for culture in Canada. Focused on modernizing, digitizing and responding to the need of the consumer, Minister Moore has brought clarity to the directions cultural policy is going in Canada.
* The recently established national Arts Caucus in the House of Commons holds promise for raising the level of dialogue around culture in Ottawa.
* The arts hold a soft spot for Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Be it a cameo performance at the National Arts Centre gala or joining in a televised Bollywood dance show on his recent trade mission to India, the PM knows that Canadians delight in his artistic pursuits.
* In Ontario, Culture Minister Aileen Carroll convinced the Finance Minister and her colleagues to increase the Culture Ministry’s budget by $92.2 million in the March 2009 budget, an impressive 51% increase over 2008-09. This, despite a soaring provincial deficit. Some of the new money is one-time and the dust still needs to settle as to what will be sustained over the long term, but the result is noteworthy regardless. Two initiatives from this new funding deserving mention are the increase in operating funds to cultural attraction agencies and delivery of the promised $5 million increase to the Ontario Arts Council.
* The Intellectual Property Fund, one of the initiatives of the Ontario government’s increased cultural spending, signals interest in developing alternative programs to tax credits for the cultural industries. The IP Fund is designed to support upfront creative and development costs, a notoriously difficult area to finance and one ignored by government for at least a decade.
* Tax credits have a place in cultural policy though, and the Ontario government saw fit to continue enhancing or enlarging their scope.
* The growing momentum of Culture Days, the collaborative, Canada-wide volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement by all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities, is exciting and an initiative to be watched going forward.
* While museums generally did not have a lot to celebrate this past year, it’s noteworthy that both the Canadian Museums Association and the Ontario Museum Association have ramped up advocacy and policy dialogue with decision makers in Ottawa and at Queen’s Park with Museum Advocacy Days.
* In Toronto, arts advocacy and mobilization happened in ways never before seen. The successful campaign of the Beautiful City Billboard Fee Alliance, an initiative of young artists designed to introduce a billboard fee that would ultimately go towards arts funding and public arts, created a new model of mobilizing artists and arts supporters through a sophisticated social networking campaign. It bodes well for the impact of such initiatives as ArtsVote2010, also launched late this year.
No doubt, we could add a list of cultural policy bloopers or misses. In fact, many were suggested to us. We’ll leave those for the moment, preferring to look forward to 2010 in an optimistic and constructive fashion. It’s clear we have lots to build on from 2009.
Happy New Year to everyone!
The ten cultural policy developments, initiatives and directions that we feel merit attention are:
* At the federal level, Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore delivered on five-year renewals of significant programs for broad segments of the cultural sector. From the revamped Canada Cultural Investment Fund and the Canada Book Fund to the Canada Magazine Fund and Canada Music Fund, cultural enterprise and organizations are on more solid and predictable ground going forward.
* Love it or leave it, Minister Moore has also articulated clear policy directions for culture in Canada. Focused on modernizing, digitizing and responding to the need of the consumer, Minister Moore has brought clarity to the directions cultural policy is going in Canada.
* The recently established national Arts Caucus in the House of Commons holds promise for raising the level of dialogue around culture in Ottawa.
* The arts hold a soft spot for Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Be it a cameo performance at the National Arts Centre gala or joining in a televised Bollywood dance show on his recent trade mission to India, the PM knows that Canadians delight in his artistic pursuits.
* In Ontario, Culture Minister Aileen Carroll convinced the Finance Minister and her colleagues to increase the Culture Ministry’s budget by $92.2 million in the March 2009 budget, an impressive 51% increase over 2008-09. This, despite a soaring provincial deficit. Some of the new money is one-time and the dust still needs to settle as to what will be sustained over the long term, but the result is noteworthy regardless. Two initiatives from this new funding deserving mention are the increase in operating funds to cultural attraction agencies and delivery of the promised $5 million increase to the Ontario Arts Council.
* The Intellectual Property Fund, one of the initiatives of the Ontario government’s increased cultural spending, signals interest in developing alternative programs to tax credits for the cultural industries. The IP Fund is designed to support upfront creative and development costs, a notoriously difficult area to finance and one ignored by government for at least a decade.
* Tax credits have a place in cultural policy though, and the Ontario government saw fit to continue enhancing or enlarging their scope.
* The growing momentum of Culture Days, the collaborative, Canada-wide volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement by all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities, is exciting and an initiative to be watched going forward.
* While museums generally did not have a lot to celebrate this past year, it’s noteworthy that both the Canadian Museums Association and the Ontario Museum Association have ramped up advocacy and policy dialogue with decision makers in Ottawa and at Queen’s Park with Museum Advocacy Days.
* In Toronto, arts advocacy and mobilization happened in ways never before seen. The successful campaign of the Beautiful City Billboard Fee Alliance, an initiative of young artists designed to introduce a billboard fee that would ultimately go towards arts funding and public arts, created a new model of mobilizing artists and arts supporters through a sophisticated social networking campaign. It bodes well for the impact of such initiatives as ArtsVote2010, also launched late this year.
No doubt, we could add a list of cultural policy bloopers or misses. In fact, many were suggested to us. We’ll leave those for the moment, preferring to look forward to 2010 in an optimistic and constructive fashion. It’s clear we have lots to build on from 2009.
Happy New Year to everyone!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
