ELAN History
Historical Background to the English-language Arts Network (ELAN)
The roots of the English-language Arts Network go back to the Official Languages Act (OLA), which guaranteed federal government support for linguistic minorities. The real impetus for the OLA was to protect minority language francophone communities outside Quebec. Most bureaucrats in Ottawa did not recognize English-speaking Quebeckers as a linguistic minority in need of federal protection, and most anglo Quebeckers agreed.
During the 80s and 90s francophone artists outside Quebec took advantage of the OLA to structure, organize and develop their community. Anglo Quebeckers made few requests for assistance as part of a minority language community. The focus of their efforts was to become integrated in the mainstream of Quebec/Canadian culture.
By the dawn of the 21st century many English-speaking Quebeckers were feeling secure enough about their place within Quebec society to admit that no matter how integrated we become, there will always be special obstacles to producing art as part of a minority culture. Theoretically, an infinite English-speaking market is "out there" but to tap into it without leaving Quebec is not always easy.
In 2000, the department of Canadian Heritage (PCH) advised the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) that the francophone artists outside Quebec were negotiating a matching grant agreement with Canada Council to increase support for minority language communities. PCH asked QCGN if English-speaking artists would be interested in negotiating a similar agreement.
In May, 2001 several dozen representatives of the English-speaking artistic community were invited to a meeting at the McCord Museum. A lively debate was sparked about whether English-speaking artists are a minority and in need of any special assistance. The consensus was that, in some areas at least, we are. Six volunteers were appointed to a committee to negotiate with Canadian Heritage and Canada Council.
In October 2001 a draft agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) for 3 years of support was signed. The resulting IPOLC program has distributed a considerable amount of extra money to English-speaking artists via regular Canada Council programs.
The Quebec Arts Summit, held in Montreal on November 25–27, 2004, assembled more than 200 Quebec artists, government officials and community partners. This was the first time that representatives of the entire English-speaking arts community had been brought together. The establishment of the English-language Arts Network was the immediate outcome of the Summit.