Shaping a New Future
Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts has outlined an ambitious vision for the arts sector in Canada with the release of its latest strategic plan, Shaping a New Future and the announcement of several major funding initiatives for the current year.
The news comes one month after the March 22, 2016 Federal Budget, which confirmed an unprecedented $1.9 billion for the arts and culture sector, including a doubling of the Canada Council’s budget by 2021.
This plan sets out a vision for the future of Canada’s arts sector. The Canada of today is profoundly different from that of 1957.
It is being transformed by factors like changing demographics, globalization, the effects of digital technologies and the way we interact with each other. It is also being shaped by an urgency to redefine the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples of Canada, and the aspirations of today’s youth.
Looking ahead, the Canada Council has identified commitments and actions in four broad areas. They include:
- Increasing support to artists, collectives and organizations striving for artistic excellence and greater engagement in the arts.
- Amplifying the quality, quantity and sharing of Canadian art through digital technology.
- Renewing the relationship between Indigenous artists and Indigenous and non‑Indigenous audiences for a shared future.
- Raising the international profile of Canadian artists.