Even after seeing the increased government contribution, the performing arts community still says it is dissatisfied with the funding from the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec (CALQ) and it once again proclaimed it loud and clear by demonstrating in the streets of Montreal, THURSDAY. However, Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe has closed the door to any new investment before the next provincial budget.
Several hundred artists and artisans from the performing arts met in front of the Montreal offices of the Ministry of Culture for a second time in less than a month, before taking to the streets to parade within of a quadrilateral formed by Bleury, Sainte-Catherine, Saint-Laurent and Sherbrooke streets.
The demonstrators notably denounced the granting this week of an additional sum of $15 million to organizations supported at the mission by the CALQ for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, while they were instead demanding an increase of $100 million. .
“We feel that things are moving, but perhaps not as quickly as we would like,” admitted Jenny Huot, technical director in the world of theater, one of the organizers of the event. The $100 million is not an exaggeration, it is really for the survival of the cultural sector at the moment. The $15 million is not going to be enough. We thank the minister for taking a first step, but it is not enough. »
The Common Front for Arts and Letters, which brings together artist associations, unions and broadcasters, wants the CALQ’s annual budget to be increased to $260 million.
Before the addition of the $15 million, the organization, which provides funding for artistic research, creation, production and dissemination, had a budget of $160.5 million for 2024-2025.
“We hope that the CALQ can benefit from an indexed budget, naturally, but also from an overall envelope which gives it the room to maneuver to meet the needs of the community, once and for all. This would prevent us from constantly performing this play in which we have to return to the streets and mobilize to raise funds,” mentioned Caroline Gignac, general director of the Conseil québécois du théâtre (CQT), a member organization of the Common front.
“We really need to address the issue of the arts in the next budget,” insisted Tania Kontoyanni, president of the Union of Artists (UDA). [La Coalition Avenir Québec] is a nationalist government that claims to understand the importance of culture and language in our society. We want to have proof. »
Beyond the figures, the demonstrators met also wish to highlight the unquantifiable contribution of the arts to society, often neglected according to them.
“The logic of subsidies makes us appear like beggars, while almost all professions benefit from public subsidies. Art is an investment in the social fabric, insisted Hugo Fréjabise, author and director. We are not selfishly asking for money for ourselves. We are part of what a country, a culture means. We ask to be considered up to our status as workers. »
The minister says no
Almost at the same time, a few streets further, Minister Mathieu Lacombe inaugurated the new premises of the Society of Technological Arts (SAT), renovated at the end of a 14-month project which cost 18.2 million $.
He took the opportunity to announce an investment of $17 million in around thirty digital creativity and digital cultural development projects.
Asked by The dutythe minister closed the door to any new investment in the CALQ budget.
“For this year’s financing, I made the announcement that I had to make a few days ago [en annonçant 15 millions supplémentaires]. But, there is a budget each year. For the future, I am always willing to continue the discussion with the cultural community. »