(Montreal) The show programming and festival organization sector is nervous as the federal government prepares to reduce its spending. A group of around thirty Canadian associations is instead calling for an improvement in aid programs.
During a joint outing in Montreal on Wednesday, the group pleaded in favor of “historical catch-up” of the envelope devoted to two programs: Development of communities through arts and heritage (DCAP) and the Fonds du Canada (FCPA).
The president and CEO of the Regroupement des events majors internationals (RÉMI), Martin Roy, recognizes that the advocacy comes in an unfavorable context at a time when Ottawa wants to reduce its spending. The Treasury Board has given federal departments until October 2 to identify ways to save $15 billion.
“We understand that the context is not very favorable to us, hence the importance, precisely, of our mobilization,” responds in an interview the man who also directs Festivals and Major Events (FAME).
Cultural associations deplore that the sums allocated to the two programs have not kept pace with inflation. The increase in the number of beneficiaries also means that the envelope is distributed among a greater number of organizations.
“In the mid-2010s,” an organization received an average grant of $110,000. This amount increased to $61,700, notes Mr. Roy. Taking inflation into account, $110,000 in 2015 would be worth about $137,000 today, according to a Bank of Canada calculation tool.
Individually, organizations get less help, but their operating costs follow the opposite trajectory.
Mr. Roy cites a survey carried out in 2022 among festival organizers to measure the increase in their operating costs to hold an event of comparable size. They reported an increase in their costs of around 25% compared to their 2019 statement, i.e. before the pandemic. “We all see it when we go to the grocery store or elsewhere. It’s the same thing in the case of festivals, all festival suppliers cost more. »
However, organizations receive less money individually due to the 12% increase in the number of beneficiaries of the two programs, which support 1,500 associations. Shouldn’t we tighten the eligibility criteria?
Mr. Roy recognizes that the question arises, but he believes “that we should rejoice” at the increase in the number of organizations in the industry. “It still proves the cultural vitality, the dynamism of the cultural sector and also the resulting multiplication of social, cultural, economic and tourist benefits. So the federal government should support this growth and invest more rather than going towards reductions and subsidies. It seems to me that this goes without saying. »
The Trudeau government released additional funds for the FCPA and DCAP in 2019, but these are allocated on a temporary basis and must be renewed. The associations deplore the uncertainty regarding their long-term financing.
In addition to perpetuating this temporary aid, they are asking for an increase in funding of 30 million. Mr. Roy believes that this improvement would be in line with the Trudeau government’s decision to increase funding for Radio-Canada/CBC and the Canada Council for the Arts when it came to power in 2015. He believes that the Liberals have “forgotten” the funding of performing arts and festivals.
“It may seem quite banal or common that groups in the cultural sector come out to ask for more money, but in our case, I assure you that we have been working on the file behind the scenes for several years,” says he.