Today's LINKS contains an article from the Toronto Star, reporting the Conservative Party's commitment to uphold Liberal government's increases to federal arts funding, should the Conservatives win the next election in November 2006. The amount of money involved is $306 million Canadian ,double the previous annual budget.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...d=1137193812206

From the point of view of party politics here in the US, there are a few amazing things going on in Canada.

1) Apparent acceptance by both parties the arts are part of a "national heritage" that deserves expanded goverenment support. This includes ballet.

QUOTE: "Kevin Garland, executive director of the National Ballet, said: "It is wonderful that all parties are in favour of more money for the Canada Council, and especially important for us because, as we move into the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, we need more support."

2) The visibility of an active pro-arts lobby, including workers in the arts field.

QUOTE: "Oda's more positive spin can partly be explained by mounting pressure from the half million Canadians who work in the country's cultural industries, which contribute $39 billion to the GDP. But it may also be a sign that the Conservatives are focusing now on Quebec, where they have made astonishing gains. Quebec voters see culture as a more crucial issue than those in the rest of Canada."
_______________________

Any thought from our Canadian Board Members? Or implications for here in the US?

One would think that this would be an example the US Congress would note and emulate. But there is such a strong streak among politicians these days that the US is a nation unto itself, and what goes on in other countries should not influence our policies. Makes no sense to me, but what could you do.

Wouldn't it be great if, instead of going to war, our armies settled disputes by, say, a fouette contest or whose tenor could hold the high note the longest? Okay, neither in and of itself is great art, but a step in the right direction, maybe?

I just got the following email from National Ballet of Canada, a member of the Canadian Arts Coalition:




The website has a lot of information, and urges Canadians to write to party leaders to urge them to support the initiative.

I just got the same email under the name of the Vancouver Opera.

An update and possible reversal, from today's LINKS:



Any thoughts or elaboration on the apparent political/cultural turnaround in Canada?

As someone who used to work in Canada, I hope this funding works out in Canada. Two years ago, the government discontinued grade 13 in high school and the result was that many dancers stopped dancing when they graduated the 12th grade as they went off to University. Many dancers stopped doing the thing they loved (dancing) and the trickle down effect hurt many businesses in Canada.

Thanks for your comments, 1dancefan. And welcome to Ballet Talk. I hope you'll introduce yourself on the Welcome forum, and that you'll feel free to post frequently in the future.

Here's the Link to WELCOME. When you get there, hit "New Topic" to post.
http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/index.php?showforum=9

Unless there was a precipitous dip in the birthrate 15, 16, 17 years ago, this would seem to have -- at least directly -- a one-year setback. I hope that's all it is. Of course, it could take several years for the retailers and manufacturers to recover from the initial loss.