In response to the series of articles written by Stéphane Baillargeon concerning the lack of representation of artists on the boards of directors of state-owned cultural corporations, I would like to share a reflection with your readers as well as to my colleagues working in creation.
Lawyers, managers, accountants and consultants take up the overwhelming majority of CA positions in Quebec. In a spirit of reciprocity, I would like to see artists sit in large numbers on the boards of state cultural corporations, but also be members of boards of directors in all areas.
Obviously, the governance of several state companies is struggling dramatically to propose possible solutions to address the problems of today and tomorrow (housing crisis, labor shortage, crumbling of the social safety net, climate crisis, etc.). Artists and creators have the vocation of developing original visions and ideas. Isn’t this precisely the type of skill that could enrich thinking and fuel debate among decision-makers?
I would like to see Dany Laferrière on the board of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Pierre Lapointe on the board of the Société de Télédiffusion du Québec, Alexandra Stréliski on the board of the Société de la Place des Arts de Montréal, Caroline Monnet on the board of ‘Hydro-Québec and Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette on the board of directors of the Quebec Real Estate Company. Is it crazier than seeing a banker at the head of the board of directors of the Cultural Enterprise Development Corporation (Stéphane Achard at SODEC)? Or a hotelier at the presidency of the Board of Directors of the National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec (Christiane Germain at MNBAQ)?
To paraphrase Alain Deneault, the only way to win the gameis to play our own game.
“ The art of business [business art] is the step that comes after art. I started as a commercial artist and I want to end my career as a business artist… Being good at business is the most fascinating form of art… Working is an art, and good business is the best art. » Warhol, 1975
Looking forward to meeting people with a greater diversity of professional and personal backgrounds in senior decision-making levels.