BRIEF FROM THE INDEPENDENT
MEDIA ARTS ALLIANCE (IMAA)
INTRODUCTION
The Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) is a non-profit national
association working to advance and strengthen the media arts community in
Canada.
The IMAA represents over 80 non-profit independent film, video,
audio and new media production, distribution, and exhibition organizations in
all parts of Canada. Our members are dedicated to advancing creativity and
artistic expression by Canadians, serving over 12,000 independent media artists
and cultural workers.
Our member organizations, their artists, and the work they create
make important contributions to the cultural life of their communities across
the country. Our centres provide resources and training for media artists, and
are access points for the public to discover the innovative stories and
expressions of Canadian creators working with today’s media tools and
technologies.
The IMAA thanks the Committee for the opportunity to share the
following priorities for the arts and cultural sector as they relate to the
federal government’s budgeting process for the upcoming year.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
The Independent Media Arts Alliance makes the following
recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance’s Pre-Budget
Consultations:
1 – Canada Council
for the Arts
Increase funding
to the Canada Council for the Arts over three years to reach $300 million.
2 – Audience and
market development for the cultural sector
Implement
programs to support the development of markets for arts and cultural products
nationally and internationally for Canadian artists, cultural institutions and
industries.
3 – Income Averaging
and Tax exemptions for artists
Grant
professional artists and creators annual exemptions on income deriving from
copyright and residual payments, and a complete tax exemption on arts grants.
CONTEXT
The IMAA wishes to acknowledge the support and investments that the
federal government has made to date in the cultural sector, including the
renewal of programs in the Department of Canadian Heritage and sustained
funding to the Canada Council for the Arts.
As the world economy continues to struggle through uncertain times,
the IMAA will use this opportunity to underline the strengths of the cultural
sector by outlining key investments that will enable the arts sector to contribute
to an economic recovery.
Why invest in the creative economy? Not only does the cultural
sector provide direct employment to over 640,000 jobs in the Canadian economy, the cultural industries
bring ideas and experiences to mass-market audiences in Canada and abroad.
Additionally, the arts sector acts as a research and development laboratory for
the larger industry. Innovation, research and creative development in the arts
stimulate ideas, concepts and approaches that would otherwise not be developed.
The media arts is a cultural sector that illustrates this well. It
encompasses the tried and true forms of film and video in addition to new
media; a discipline that explores new forms of expression, new materials and
new technologies. It attracts a growing number of young artists who then enter
into the workforce within a wide range of jobs. In recent years there has been
a growing number of film festivals catering to specific audiences in all parts
of Canada. Media art is also the grounds for new organizational models both in
the non-profit sector and in the wider industry.
First, the current funding systems would benefit by targeted
investments to the Canada Council for the Arts in support of research and
development, emerging practices and new models. Second, these artists and
organizations would thrive within the national and international markets with
additional funds going towards domestic touring and for the development of
foreign markets. Finally, the IMAA is asking for the federal government to
introduce income averaging and tax exemptions for self-employed artists. The
following details these three priority areas for the media arts sector.
1 – Canada Council
for the Arts
Increase funding
to the Canada Council for the Arts over three years to reach $300 million.
For many years arts groups across Canada have been
advocating for a significant increase to the budget of the Canada Council for
the Arts.
Together with our colleagues in the arts
community, the IMAA affirms that the Canada Council for the Arts provides the
most efficient, fair and cost effective way of ensuring that public funds are
directed to individual artists and arts organizations, in communities large and
small across the country.
In congratulating the government on the vision
that has brought the Council’s annual appropriation to its current level of
approximately $181 million, we suggest that the ability of the Canadian arts
sector to achieve its potential will be greatly enhanced by the allocation of
additional resources to support the Council’s mission.
2 – Audiences and
Markets
Implement
programs to support the development of markets for arts and cultural products
nationally and internationally for Canadian artists, cultural institutions and
industries.
Canada’s large size and low population density have limited the
size of its internal markets for art and cultural goods. This in turn has
limited the ability of Canadian artists and cultural producers to develop
markets in other countries. Arts organizations and independent artists, as well
as cultural industries, have the potential to increase their impact and expand
their sales in markets they have previously been unable to access.
Targeted government support will help Canadian artists promote
their achievements, build their profile, and expand their opportunities for
revenues from sales and engagements abroad. Increased exposure contributes to
international recognition of Canada’s cultural achievements, and to the
sustainability and growth of the Canadian cultural sector as a whole.
Government investment here would follow the same principles that justify
support for industrial development initiatives in other sectors of the economy.
3 – Artists
Grant professional artists and creators annual exemptions on income
deriving from copyright and residual payments, and a complete tax exemption on
arts grants.
Fundamental to the ecology and economics of the
arts sector is the production of original artworks by individual artists.
Without their work, there would be no basis for the system of organizations and
institutions that share their creativity with the public. Through their
creative work, artists make a significant investment in the vitality of the
arts milieu and of the creative economy as whole. Artists are rarely
compensated for the true value of this investment.
According to a study of annual income conducted by
The Art Gallery of York University, in 2007 the average artist made $25,318
from all sources (practice income, secondary employment, and all non-work
sources). In other words, Canadian artists make significantly less than the
national average, which was $36,301 in that same year.
Artists often obtain income from other sources to subsidize their
practices. This employment limits the hours artists can dedicate to the
development of their professional art practice. While arts council grants are
extremely difficult to get (with a success rate of approximately 10%), they
have proven to have a long-term impact above and beyond their immediate cash
value. The increased studio production afforded by grants helps artists grow
their gross studio income through increased sales or artist fees from
exhibitions. However, while grants are not always spent in one fiscal year,
they are taxed in the year they are received. This taxation is an impediment to
artists’ career development - which would benefit by full use of funds
received.
CONCLUSION
The future of the Canadian creative economy depends both on
profitable and successful cultural industries (that are addressed by government
policies and regulations), and on a strong and dynamic arts sector (in which
government investment plays a key role). Investments in both of these areas
contribute to the overall health and sustainability of the creative economy.
Culture matters for both economic and non-economic reasons.
Thriving cultural scenes contribute to their local economies, draw tourism, and
help retain creative talent. Culture contributes to the attractiveness of
cities and regions to individuals and business to locate there. This applies
locally and regionally within Canada, and to Canada as a whole in relation to
other countries. A thriving creative economy is the basis of both the effective
national expression of the Canadian public, and of Canada’s profile, prestige
and prosperity internationally.
The IMAA is aware that the government considers the reduction of
annual budget deficits a high priority. We also acknowledge that the budgeting
process requires decisions to be made between the multiple priorities of many
Canadians.
Yet we submit that the recommendations made here are both
relatively modest in the context of the overall federal budget, and will make
an important contribution to Canada’s cultural and economic development. We
encourage you to consider the value of these measures, as well as the broad
context of support for these objectives.