This text is part of the special World Theater Day notebook
At the end of the pandemic, the performing arts experienced an upsurge, with the public in need of concerts and all-round plays returning to the venues. However, the upheaval was short-lived, with the inflationary situation quickly putting a brake on it. Inflation which afflicts the entire theatrical sector – artists, presenters and producers – in addition to the public itself.
“The explosion of costs is the major challenge,” says the general director of the Conseil québécois du théâtre (CQT), Caroline Gignac, in an interview. We must respond to the growing needs of our organizations with increasingly limited resources. »
“In addition to the much appreciated assistance during the pandemic, investments in the theater sector have been the same for seven years,” indicates the co-general director and administrative director of the Théâtre Le Trident, in Quebec, Marc-Antoine Malo. But expenses have increased by 25 to 30 percent” due to inflation.
Although grateful for government support during the COVID-19 crisis, the sector is today “worried about a decline in investments corresponding to those before the pandemic, because the context has completely changed,” underlines Mme Gignac.
“We are aware that everyone is struggling with these economic issues,” she adds about the public. But there is a limit to what broadcasters can do to remain viable. We were already a very precarious sector. As soon as there is a setback, the repercussions are great. »
Not charity
The general director is also saddened to hear more and more about artists who, in order for their creation to see the light of day, go into debt.
However, “the theater sector is a sector that gives back enormously to the Quebec economy,” she argues. It will be important that we are able to measure collectively, and politically, what these people bring to society in relation to what they receive. They are educated people, who often have master’s degrees, who actively participate in society and who promote Quebec abroad through their creativity. »
She also takes the opportunity to shed light on “this impression that theater is heavily financed”. “It is financed in the same way as the different economic sectors of Quebec. “It’s not charity,” she says.
In this context of economic decline, “how can the sector continue to innovate if we do not support its foundations? “, she asks herself. “I have so much confidence in this environment. They are infinitely brilliant people, extremely supportive. But you still need to have the means to reinvent yourself. »
“As we are a very creative environment, we are so in our methods of operation. But there are limits to being able to reinvent yourself,” corroborates Marc-Antoine Malo, from Trident.
Cultivating artistic curiosity outside major centers, eliminating the boundaries between specialized and multidisciplinary presenters, seeking private financing, increasing the role of philanthropy: these are solutions that the theater ecosystem is focusing on in order to stay afloat, giving he said as examples.
The public at the meeting
If the investments necessary for the vitality and development of the theater sector are not there, the public is. Despite everyone’s tighter purses, several pieces were entitled to extra money during the current season.
In the opinion of the general director of the CQT, “it remains that presence in theaters alone cannot be the pulse of economic health [du] medium “.
Notwithstanding “a certain fatigue” which has spread within the theater community, Marc-Antoine Malo believes in the importance “of keeping a light in all of this”. “It’s not catastrophic, but we have to quickly readjust to continue to move forward, to do work, to develop. »
Works which, beyond their economic benefits, provide undeniable psychological benefits to theater fans. “It seems to me that it has never been so important and joyful to find ourselves in the same place to experience emotions together,” says Mr. Malo. We stay the course when we see the people gathered in our rooms. We know we’re doing this for something. »
“Coming together to confront a speech at the same time awakens minds,” concludes Caroline Gignac. During the pandemic, we needed artists so much. Never have we understood so much the importance of the performing arts in our societies. If we are preparing to go through an economic, political, democratic crisis, we are going to need living arts, people who question themselves together. »
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.