FACE TO FACE: Should arts groups continue to get federal tax dollars?
When people of a certain social and economic class talk about "the arts," they often speak in hushed and reverent tones more suited to the interior of a church.
Indeed, "the arts" are like a religion to many of this caste. Artists are demigods. Artistic expression is sacrosanct. And artistic creations are to be worshipped. It's as if we should all bow before the great god of creative genius.
But the religion metaphor gets a little complicated when it comes to government involvement. Where our rarified art lovers undoubtedly believe the state and religion should keep to their respective spheres, when it comes to the Temple of Art, they cry out for as much public money as they can get.
So when that supply of money is threatened, Canada's "artistic community" is appalled. It's as if an act of desecration were being suggested.
This would explain the shock and horror in some quarters earlier this summer when federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told reporters: "We actually don't believe in festivals and cultural institutions assuming that year after year after year they'll receive government funding." Moreover, he said arts groups "ought not assume entitlement to grants" and he suggested they "stay on their toes" and prepare for all eventualities, including the complete loss of federal funding.
Weeks later, Heritage Minister James Moore added another verse to Flaherty's fiscal ditty by warning the CBC that it should prepare for a 5% budget cut. "The CBC has to do its part," the Tri-Cities MP explained.
While the NDP, the Liberals and, no doubt, my colleague on the other side of the page are of a mind to bash Flaherty and Moore for being philistines, most common-sense Canadians would likely agree the Tory politicians are merely attempting to inject a little fiscal reality into what has become a very unreal universe of entitlements and high expectations.
Yes, some emerging artists and cultural festivals undoubtedly need patronage to survive, but such patronage need not be the annual handing over of bundles of cash from a treasury filled by a public that has no direct say in the matter.
We already look to Ottawa to solve too many of our problems. Let's stop expecting the feds to fund our festivals and artists, too.
An award-winning journalist, a writer with Edmonton's Report Magazine and Toronto's Catholic Insight magazine, and co-host of RoadkillRadio.com, Face to Face columnist Terry O'Neill is a long-time Coquitlam resident who sits on the board of the Coquitlam Foundation and chairs the finance commitee of St. Joseph's Catholic parish.
