Alliance's cultural position

[Moira day]

        I agree that this puts us back into the discourse of the "national
theatre" and theatre being used to promote and represent the nation.  Not a
bad idea as far as I'm concerned if it actually means continued government
subsidization on the understanding that arts and culture are an intrinsic
part of our fabric as a people - no less than health, education (though I'd
better not speak too quickly about government support on those ones either
these days)the economy, and social/political issues.
        But of course, that concept is sensitive to the idea of
"nationhood" being promoted, and I don't see that being very clearly spelt
out in the letter.  It's also not clear how much Alliance intends to
publically fund the arts, if it also intends to cut the tax base supporting
that endeavour with the idea of encouraging volunteer and corporate
sponsorship instead.  Without clear planning and particulars about how that
is to be achieved, it sounds as if the arts could get badly caught in the
middle struggling to cope with the worst of both worlds.
        At this point, at least, I find Deborah's statement less scary and
dangerous than banal and naive. At least she responded. Where there's
dialogue, there's hope. Let's hope they get better. They can't get much
worse.

Moira

At 3:28 PM -0600 11/10/0, Louise H. Forsyth wrote:
>Hello to all,
>
>Thanks for posting this, Robert. Deconstructing the language of this
>message from Deborah Grey even superficially suggests to me that this is a
>very scary policy statement. I can see this country being drawn back to
>pre-Massey Report days in terms of public support for arts & letters, along
>with an intense censorship regime in place to further stifle the creative
>community.
>
>We must not only defeat but also discredit the Alliance Party's discourse.
>
>Louise Forsyth
>
>At 04:20 PM 10/11/00 -0500, Robert Nunn wrote:
>>         You may be interested to read this reply from the office of
>> Deborah Grey
>>to my e-mail asking for a response to Margaret Atwood's stinging attack on
>>the Reform/Alliance cultural  policy, which appeared in the Globe a while
>>ago.
>>         The second paragraph invites one to read between the lines. It
>> sounds like
>>the principle of arms-length funding is called into question. Is Deborah
>>Gray arguing that the Canada Council should only fund work that Canadians
>>can be "proud of", otherwise they must be held to account? It sounds like
>>an update of the attitude Dickens complained about, re the demand to avoid
>>anything that might bring a blush to the cheek of a young person. This
>>mythical person, Dickens observed, seemed to be all cheek.
>>         It would be interesting to take a straw poll and see how many
>> Alliance
>>party members are "proud" of the results of the labours of Edmonton's own
>>Brad Fraser.
>>         As to the trickle-down theory of the benefit to the arts of all
>> that extra
>>money in wealthy people's pockets, have another slice of pie in the sky.
>>
>>Rob Nunn
>>
>>
>> >Return-Path: <GreyD9 at parl.gc.ca>
>> >From: "Grey, Deborah - Assistant 2" <GreyD9 at parl.gc.ca>
>> >To: "'rnunn at spartan.ac.brocku.ca'" <rnunn at spartan.ac.brocku.ca>
>> >Subject: Alliance's cultural position
>> >Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 11:12:35 -0500
>> >
>> >O T T A W A
>> >November 10, 2000
>> >
>> >Mr. Robert Nunn
>> >rnunn at spartan.ac.brocku.ca
>> >
>> >Dear Mr. Nunn:
>> >
>> >This will acknowledge receipt of your e-mail dated November 3, 2000.
>> >
>> >The Canadian Alliance believes that art and culture can represent the
>> >best of our country's creative energy and expression.  Throughout
>> >Canada's history, distinguished painters, writers, and musicians
>> >have interpreted Canadians to themselves and to the world.  We
>> >view this creative heritage as a trust to be protected and fostered for
>> >future generations.  We believe that the federal government should continue
>> >to play a role in creating an environment that stimulates and encourages
>> >artistic endeavour and excellence.
>> >
>> >We also believe that hard-working Canadians have a right to see their tax
>> >dollars treated with respect.  When public funds are entrusted to talented
>> >individuals for artistic endeavour, we believe Canadians should be able to
>> >say they are proud of the result.  Grants and contributions must be awarded
>> >impartially and fairly, with greater transparency and accountability.
>> >
>> >The Canadian Alliance believes that lower taxes - as well as other
>> >incentives to
>> >be provided through the tax system - would contribute significantly toward
>> >stimulating voluntary sponsorship of the arts that would create the maximum
>> >opportunity for artists to strive for excellence.  In this way we will
>> >strive to increase corporate and voluntary sponsorship of the arts.
>> >
>> >In addition, the Canadian Alliance is committed to strengthening local and
>> >aboriginal artistic heritage, museums, historic exhibits and libraries
>> >across
>> >Canada, including remote and isolated communities.
>> >
>> >Thank you for taking the time to write and share your thoughts on this
>>issue
>> >with me.
>> >
>> >Sincerely,
>> >
>> >Deborah Grey, M.P.
>> >Edmonton North
>> >
>> >DG/lf
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>Robert Nunn
>>52 Crescentwood Drive
>>St. Catharines, ON
>>L2N 4L2
>>(905) 646-6597
>>e-mail: rnunn at spartan.ac.brocku.ca


Moira Day, Associate Professor of Drama
moiraday at duke.usask.ca