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We don't need fancy machines or tools to make Art, we just need our brains and hands. ~ Grade 9 student at Naksup Secondary Our artists have the skill, the imagination and the commitment to create powerful and original work, and they have the drive and energy to compete with the very best in the world. Our artists are arguably Canada’s most important “export” product…and they symbolize Canada for much of the world. When you go on your next international trip, ask the people you meet what they know about Canada. People in Europe, in Asia or in South America will probably tell you that they’ve never heard of most of our politicians…our business leaders…or even our hockey players. But I suspect that they’ll tell you that the individuals who really define Canada for them are almost always our artists – artists from a wide range of disciplines. ~ Peter A. Herrndorf, former Director General
and CEO of National Arts Centre I've learned to be proud of who we are ... I enjoy showing people our culture. ~ Student, Hazelton Secondary School In any discussion about the arts and culture, it is important to remember that this sector is closely linked to the development of our communities. In fact, the arts and culture sector is a driving force in the economy and, in some cases, provides a crucial competitive advantage. ~ The Honourable Maria Chaput, Canadian Senator I love attending the recitals. Granted, they’re terrified the first couple of times, but you watch them progress. Now some of those kids are writing their own songs and playing in ensemble groups together, and, yeah, it’s really, really heartwarming. ~ Sarah McLachlan Arts and culture are about more than economic growth. About more than the Gross Domestic Product. Our artists, writers and performers enrich the quality of our lives. They can inspire and challenge us. They can help us understand our past. They can help us know who we are. They can help us to imagine new possibilities, new choices for the future. Arts and culture are not for the few. Cultural participation develops our creativity, enriches our citizenship, feeds the spirit. Arts and culture must be integrated into our lives and our communities. ~ former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien I never thought I could make something so beautiful. ~ Student, Kelowna Waldorf School Culture must not be regarded as an unproductive expense or a necessary luxury, but rather as a force in the economic life of Canada as a whole that gives “value added” to our national heritage. ~ His Excellency Jean-Daniel Lafond Like any other country, we are a country that depends on myth-making in the formation of our identity and artists play a role in that. ~ Professor John O'Brian, chair of the Canadian
Studies program at UBC I was born in Sechelt, B.C. and when I was about five years old I moved to Vancouver Island and we settled there, just south of Nanaimo in Cedar, B.C. There was a nice little music program starting from when I was in grade one that went through that school district of Nanaimo and that is what gave me a really great foundation on just making music. ~ Christine Jensen, Canadian musician Public art isn’t just about esthetics. Through public art, we express our values, celebrate our achievements and proclaim our civic pride. In essence, public art defines our city’s identity and its meaning. Public art isn’t about art. It’s about who and what we are. ~ Steven Thorne, Kelowna’s former Art
Development Officer Canada has always punched above its weight in terms of the
entertainment industry. The amount of worldwide superstars we’ve
created (Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Nelly Furtado, Jim
Carey, Mike Myers), not to mention critically acclaimed artisans
that this country has spawned (Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene,
David Cronenberg, Margaret Atwood, Douglas Coupland) is simply
astounding considering Canada’s population size. This is not a
coincidence. ~ Dan Mangan, BC musician Art binds us together more than any other human activity in life. ~ Lawren Harris from "Arthur Lismer: Paintings 1913-1949" A great art is fostered by artists and audience possessing in common a passionate and peculiar interest in the kind of life that exists in the country where they live. ~ E.K. Brown from "On Canadian Poetry" All real artists…are co-workers in different generations; the “made things” which we call works of art stretch in a continuous series through Old Kingdom Egyptians sculptures, the mosaics of Ravenna, the frescoes of Giotto, the canvasses of Seurat and on into the future…It is in fact true that life is short, art is long. ~ Alex Colville in an interview in "Saturday Night" So much history can be lost if no one tells the story -- so that's what I do. I tell the stories. This is my way of fighting for social change. ~ Alanis Obomsawin, Canadian filmmaker |
$5.2 billion 40% 20% 13% 31% $250 million 4.8 million 18,901 60’ x 18’ 8 10 1 140 $4.3 million $12,500 4 400 1500 10 60,000 16 |
