The City of Montreal recently concluded consultations for its Cultural Development Project 2017-2022. Thanks to your input, ELAN had a lot to say about the policy in our own brief, which we presented to the Commission responsible for the policy at City Hall on April 6.
Many of ELAN’s recommendations, especially for increased encounters between artists from different linguistic groups and for clearer commitments to diversity and equity, were echoed by other groups who participated.
We were pleased to see that the Commission has adopted several promising recommendations along these lines, including:
An increased focus on equity, inclusion, and diversity;
Measures to ensure representation and document systemic barriers;
Encouraging encounters between French- and English-speaking artists and artists of other linguistic backgrounds;
Integrating universal accessibility into the planning of cultural activities;
Promoting use of the City’s cultural infrastructure among English-speaking and Allophone artistic communities.
What’s next? A Rendez-vous in 2018 will result in an action plan to implement the policy. We will share news as soon as it’s announced.
Read the Commission’s full report here (FR) and consult the list of recommendations here (FR).
The Canada Council for the Arts is on the brink of implementing its New Funding Model, and wants to make sure Quebec’s English-speaking artists have the information they need to make the leap.
ELAN’s Board of Directors met with Simon Brault, CEO of Canada Council, on March 24. Mr. Brault, plus Council staff Sarah Dingle and Claude Schryer, were generous with their time, answering questions from ELAN members and clarifying elements of the new model.
Answers to ELAN member questions submitted in advance are available in this summary. Supplementary notes from the meeting and answers to questions from board members are now available here.
Take a look at the Council’s website to get a sense of the new programs and processes. And register as an applicant in the online portal to get a head start – applications will open very soon!
The City of Montreal has launched its Cultural Development Project 2017-2022, titled Savoir conjuguer la créativité et l’expérience culturelle citoyenne à l’ère du numérique (Knowing how to combine creativity and citizens’ cultural experience in the digital age).
On March 7th ELAN held a community consultation to discuss the proposed policy, the issues at stake, and the next five years of Montreal’s cultural development. Thank you to all attendees for their participation and ideas at this event. Many of your suggestions have been incorporated into the official brief. Click here to read ELAN’s brief in full!
On April 6th ELAN will present our brief to the Commission sur la culture, le patrimoine et les sports de la Ville de Montreal at City Hall around 2:30pm. Community members are welcome to attend.