VANL-CARFAC
Visual Artists Newfoundland & Labrador

For Immediate Release

Provincial sectoral arts organizations collectively highlight importance and economic impact of our diverse arts and cultural industry
Consortium gathered to identify key common messages, and call for professional artists and groups to stand with public to protect investment in arts and culture

February 18, 2016 (St. John’s, NL) – The provincial sectoral organizations representing visual art, music, film and television, dance, writing, publishing, theatre, and craft recently met in response to the ongoing government renewal initiative. The groups gathered to share their collective experiences with one another, having attended public engagement sessions, and to outline a series of key points on the importance of the arts and cultural sector.

Each sectoral organization’s executive director or designate presented the points they had made during the public engagement sessions they attended. Professional artists who are members of the organizations also attended the sessions to echo the importance and value of the arts and cultural sector in general, and as an economic driver.

Many highlighted the fact that financial investment in the arts and cultural sector is already low, especially when compared to similarly sized populations, and the impact of the professional output of the arts and cultural sector goes far beyond that investment in terms of returned provincial revenue.

Given how strategically stretched existing budgets in the arts and cultural sector already are, any further reductions would inevitably result in a spike of out-migration that would swiftly shrink our provincial professional artistic talent, drying up Newfoundland and Labrador cultural identity.

Emerging artistic talent must be nurtured in this province, otherwise those professionals will shift to other parts of Canada and the world where they will be supported with a network of people and resources that recognize and understand their significant value to industry development and society as a whole.

Emerging and established artistic professionals charged with the preservation, creation, and appreciation of Newfoundland and Labrador culture at home and abroad will move on to other places and fulfill those roles elsewhere – contributing to the growth of industry in other jurisdictions.

The export and recognition of Newfoundland and Labrador artistic talent has an indelible effect on our province’s tourism industry, which as of 2011 was worth over $1 billion according to the provincial government. As of 2010, the Department of Finance estimated that tourism activity supported $204 million in labour income (or 1.8% of all provincial labour income for that year) for 10,760 people. Much of that tourism industry activity is catalyzed by the hard work and efforts of the arts and culture sector.

One of the reasons people come to Newfoundland and Labrador is because they read about it in a book, saw it on the big screen or television, enjoyed visual exhibitions or music by its artists, or saw a stage show about it in another country. All of that professional artistic content needs to be conceived, workshopped, created, and ultimately produced in a final version before distribution or export.

Once that arts and cultural product is out, it works for Newfoundland and Labrador – attracting local populations to explore new parts of the province, many others from afar to discover it, and assisting corporations in attracting and retaining professionals in various industry sectors.

The sectoral organizations support large memberships as they strive to create and share their artistic work, and agencies like ArtsNL are the research and development arm for our arts and cultural sector.

If sectoral organizations and ArtsNL are ill-equipped to foster and promote the creation and enjoyment of the arts, then a constantly renewable resource’s potential will be limited and wither, leaving potential revenue and growth within other sectors stunted as a result.

The arts and cultural sector also has strong connections with sectors such as health and business. Partnerships that see arts-based creative and innovative approaches to team building, increased productivity, and sound management in the corporate community already exist. There are direct connections between an individual’s quality of life and their health, both mental and physical, relative to their level of engagement with the arts. When the general public interacts with artistic content, it leads to a happier, healthier community and a stronger sense of identity.

The arts and cultural sector is a driver of provincial economic activity and revenue, and an industry in and of itself. An industry that is labour intensive, provides opportunity for youth, and creates job diversification in the province.

The consortium of provincial sectoral organizations calls upon their collective membership in partnership with the public to ensure these seven key points are brought to the forefront as the government renewal initiative continues to unfold:

1. Financial investment in the arts and cultural sector is already low and the impact of the professional work and output of the arts and cultural sector goes far beyond that investment in terms of returned provincial revenue.
2. Retention of our province’s arts and cultural professionals, especially young emerging artists, is necessary to further economic development.
3. Leveraging organizational partnerships is important.
4. Export and recognition of Newfoundland and Labrador artistic talent and the impact it has on supplementing tourism is directly tied to the level of revenue tourism generates for the province.
5. Links between the arts and cultural sector and other sectors can and should be made to improve levels of efficiency and success in those other sectors.
6. Dollars directed to the arts and cultural sector are investments.
7. ArtsNL is the research and development agency for the arts and cultural sector.
   (And, in the case of music, MusicNL)

These key points should be communicated to government representatives, and in response to the renewal strategy’s opportunities for feedback whenever possible. Members of the provincial sectoral organizations and the general public are encouraged to visit http://www.gov.nl.ca/ourfiscalfuture/index.html for information on how to forward their concerns that the arts and cultural sector be protected, or email OurFiscalFuture@gov.nl.ca, call 1-844-805-3494, tweet @OPE_GovNL, or contact their MHA directly.

Media enquiries:

                                                                                    –30–

December 17, 2015

Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador – Canadian Artists’ Representation (VANL-CARFAC) Appalled and Dismayed by Cuts to Arts and Culture by the City of St. John’s

On Monday, December 14, the City of St. John’s approved a three year budget that cuts arts, tourism, and sports grants by 50 per cent and suspends the city’s annual art procurement fund of $20,000 until 2018.

The City of St. John’s has acknowledged and highlighted the importance of the arts to tourism, quality of life, the economy, and our identity as a culturally rich, diverse, and progressive city. The City’s own economic development plan explicitly emphasizes the arts as one of the five key platforms that are necessary for the city’s growth. These budget cuts are moves that threaten to jeopardize that progress on all fronts.

The ways in which the arts act as an economic driver is well documented.

According to Statistics Canada, in 2010, culture industries in Newfoundland and Labrador accounted for 1.6% ($424 million) of total GDP in the provincial economy while sports industries contributed $49 million (or 0.2%) to total provincial GDP (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/13-604-m/2015079/eco-eng.htm).

It is safe to say, the return on investment in the arts is one of the highest in the City’s budget. Suspending the City’s art procurement program to save a mere $20,000 in municipal coffers sends a profound message to the public that the City does not value the arts. It is a small amount but is important income that allows our hard working, St. John’s artists to continue to create new work and to be able to afford to live and work in the provincial capital.

Arts and culture is an industry on which our city has built its brand and identity. Arts and culture attracts tourists; encourages private investment; and draws skilled labour to live and work in our province. Art also defines our cultural identity and reflects who we are as people. Weighing all of these benefits against the fraction of the budget earmarked for arts funding, it is clear that artists punch well above their weight by not only paying for themselves, but as core, economic drivers.

These cuts are not fiscally prudent and are not culturally responsible.

VANL-CARFAC is a not-for-profit arts advocacy organization that is tasked with overseeing the general health of the visual arts sector in Newfoundland and Labrador.  We can say, unequivocally, that this budget will have ongoing and far-reaching negative effects upon our artists’ ability to live and work in St. John’s, and so, we strongly urge the St. John’s City Council to reconsider these cuts and to reaffirm their commitment to our cultural sector and to the city’s future.  We would welcome any opportunity to discuss these issues directly with City representatives.

Sincerely,

Teresa Kachanoski
Chair, Board of Directors