Funding Cuts Severe Blow to Arts Sector
For immediate release September 26, 2006
The federal Government’s recent announcement of funding cuts to the arts sector is a severe blow to the arts community. “The cuts are unwarranted,” explains SAA President Skip Kutz. “They came without advance warning at a time when Canada has a $13.2 billion surplus.”
Government suggestions that programs such as the Museums Assistance Program (MAP) are wasteful and ineffective is perplexing, and incorrect. In Saskatchewan, MAP has supported programs of many of our exemplary museums such as the Western Development Museum, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Moose Jaw Art Gallery and Museum, and Wanuskewin Heritage Park to list a few. The loss of this program is especially disconcerting given the Conservative Party’s promise during the last election to bring in new investment to the museums community.
The arts and culture sector is at the heart of our communities, bringing a richness and diversity to all our lives. The sector offers significant opportunities for social and economic development ? a priority shared by all Canadians. Investment in the sector is money well spent.
Saskatchewan Arts Alliance, a non-partisan coalition of arts organizations provides a collective voice for the arts in Saskatchewan. SAA promotes the lively existence and continued growth of the arts and cultural industries in Saskatchewan. Established in 1984, the SAA advocates on issues such as public funding of the arts, freedom of expression, and artists? working conditions.
