Financial Relief for Canada’s Arts

Local Canadian arts programs have received $500 million in federal funding amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear when it will be distributed and who will receive the funds. It is expected that the recipients of the funding will be non-profits, music organizations, television production, and national sports organizations.
 
Previously, the government sector responsible for allocating funding was not creating eligibility for the arts. However, the arts organizations that will now benefit from the funding are glad that they are now being seen as a business entity.
 
Regardless of which programs receive the funding, they all benefit, directly or indirectly. More than 70 arts organizations will receive funding in addition to local artists. The arts sector is like other sectors, which have had social gathering restrictions placed on them. They have also been one of the last to receive consideration for emergency funding.
 
Due to the recent restrictions, it has had a significant impact on the arts community. The CEO of the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary, Dale Henwood admits that they would welcome the emergency funding. If they can get some financial assistance to help retain some of their players they will gladly accept it.
 
So many involved in Canadian sports have been affected by COVID-19. The Canadian Sport Institute Calgary operates mainly at WinSport but is also involved with athletes and facilities at the Olympic Oval and in Canmore. They are responsible for paying strength coaches, trainers, support staff, athletes, and medical professionals. They have been all been impacted by the current pandemic.
 
Henwood said that it has been financially difficult. They received commitments from the government in the early part of the pandemic from the government for financial support. While his organization is eligible for part of the subsidy program, they were vague about how when they would receive the funding or how much they would receive.
 
Catriona Le May Doan, Olympic speed skater and president and CEO of Sport Calgary says that they know how much the sports community, the society, and culture would be impacted if sports were taken away. It is a big part of the fabric of the country and community.
 
Many in the Canadian sports sector are just grateful to receive the acknowledgment. The organizations throughout Canada will be watching closely to find out whether they will be eligible for the funds and how it will be allocated.
 
In Western Canada, the arts sector is facing similar challenges. Theatre companies, festivals, and presentation sectors will be looking into the possibility of receiving some type of subsidy. The funding could help us hang on until things improve. Most involved in the arts are simply in survival mode.
 
Just to put things in perspective, Arts Commons, a non-profit organization that includes the city’s largest arts organizations, which also include the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Alberta Theatre Projects, and Theatre Calgary, could lose as much as $3.2 million in revenue if they remain closed until August.