Globally, there is growing interest in exploring the benefits and many influences of arts and culture on the collective progress of humanity. Whether we examine the links between artistic creation and cultural participation on the one hand, or economic, community and social development on the other, the interest is there.
This is particularly reflected in events such as the Abu Dhabi Culture Summit, which brings together political, economic, media and arts decision-makers to explore the benefits of art and its possibilities for integration into economic and social development.
However, although culture occupies a central place on the international scene and reflections on the action of different levels of government in terms of cultural development are multiplying, the last few years have been tough. The pandemic hit hard, leading to the closure of cultural institutions, the cancellation of major events and a major drop in sector revenues.
At home, the consequences of this crisis have given way to growing concern about the future of the cultural scene. When will art be used as an economic development tool in Quebec?
Rethinking culture
The pandemic has revealed the fragility of the cultural and artistic sector in Canada.
In Quebec, in addition to the millions of dollars in emergency funding injected to keep the sector afloat during the long period of suspension of in-person activities, the government recognized the need to allocate an additional amount of $225 million to revive the industry. Nationally, the federal government, aware of the devastating repercussions of the pandemic on the sector and the financial precariousness of cultural organizations, included nearly $2 billion in its 2021 budget to ensure their survival and promote their growth. post-pandemic.
Arts and culture play an essential role in our collective identity and our social fabric. They have the added value of strengthening our sense of belonging, promoting innovation, stimulating creativity, and boosting our economy by attracting visitors from the country and abroad, which has a significant effect on tourism and the local economy.
Therefore, it is crucial to take concrete steps not only to preserve Quebec’s cultural and artistic heritage, but above all to strengthen it through an intentional approach that fully embraces the cultural diversity of its population. This will enable the offering of a wider range of artistic expressions and stories, which will enrich the cultural offering.
Art as an economic vector
The role of arts and culture in the economy can no longer be ignored. Not only do they enrich our cultural heritage, but they also contribute to the economic growth of the province.
Artistic activities generate considerable income through attendance at cultural events, tourism and creative industries. However, this contribution often remains underestimated or poorly evaluated.
To strengthen the link between artistic creativity and the economic prosperity of Quebec, various approaches are possible: targeted investments in the cultural sector, tax incentives intended for patrons, training programs that teach artists to better manage their careers and increased collaborations between the public and private sector that aim to promote artistic creation.
The ultimate objective is to create an ecosystem where art can flourish while actively contributing to the economic well-being of Quebec.
Quantify what is of the order of emotion
However, quantifying the economic impact of the arts remains complex. Economists are trained to evaluate measurable concepts, and art often transcends these measurements. Its aesthetic value, its capacity to arouse emotions and encourage reflection escape traditional methods of evaluation.
This difficulty in assigning a financial value to cultural and artistic experiences is one of the reasons why they are sometimes treated as poor cousins of priority sectors of economic development and neglected in financial and political decisions. Thus, we must reconsider our economic approach to the arts and appreciate their benefits beyond traditional financial measures.
Cultural diversity, the key to success
Finding a balance between the traditional economic valuation of culture and respect for creative nature remains a challenge. A challenge that is amplified when we collectively deprive ourselves of the talent and strength of the diversity of Quebec heritage and its great potential to contribute to the expansion of Quebec’s creative economy and its influence internationally. ‘international.
By adopting thoughtful cultural policies, our economists, leaders and institutions have the opportunity to better understand the economic impact of the arts and make them a leading engine of economic development, while promoting local prosperity and preserving the essence and integrity of these forms of expression.
However, to achieve this, it is imperative to adopt an approach that recognizes the cultural diversity of artistic expressions as a unique richness of our culture. Beyond a simple strength, it is a comparative advantage that arouses the admiration of the rest of the world.