MCC invests to counter the effects of the pandemic on the cultural sector

The Regroupement québécois de la danse (RQD) is pleased to inform you that the Ministry of Culture and Communications (MCC) and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) have heard the needs of the cultural and dance communities.

The MCC’s $225.8M Plan pour consolider, faire briller et propulser le milieu culturel 2022-2025 (in French) announced this week provides funds aimed at countering the effects of the pandemic on the cultural sector. For dance, investments to note are in support of training, human ressources, the next generation, live presentation measures, provincial and international tours, presentations in alternative venues, and performing arts promotion.

The RQD has summarized below the measures beneficial to the dance community, by activity.

For organizations:

• The Regional Emergency Fund for Organizations Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic, which provides emergency assistance to organizations that were not supported before the pandemic, will be relaunched by the Ministry, with expanded criteria. With an envelope of $1.5 million, it will be able to help new organizations, such as dance schools, which have been particularly affected by the interruption of their activities.
• The core funding for arts training organizations will be increased by $4.2 million.
• Support for the mission and support for specific programming will be increased by $29 million to recognize the scarcity of labour, among other things.

For the next generation and for artists:

• The new method of calculating the representation support measure will have a particularly beneficial effect for more emerging performances.
• The CALQ artist grant program will see its annual budget increase by $10 million for the next three years (total of $30 million) with an annual target of at least 20% for the next generation.
• The CALQ is also providing $7 million over three years for increased support for projects featuring emerging artists, immigrant, Aboriginal or disabled artists, in order to give them more visibility.

For representation:

• The CALQ adds to its annual budget an amount of $3 million over three years in order to further promote the circulation of works in Quebec and to allow creations in atypical or alternative venues. The purpose of this measure is to encourage presenters to welcome bold artistic proposals from all walks of life and to offer all Quebecers access to strong and significant works.
• Another envelope of $4 million over three years will be dedicated to citizens’ access to art, in particular to strengthen the presentation of works in the public space and reach new audiences.
• The new amounts provided by the CALQ for the operation of organizations may also be intended to increase the size of productions or diversify the offer.
• Support measures for the representation of Quebec shows will be extended.

For promotion:

• The Ministry has budgeted $9 million over two years to support collective promotional initiatives and large-scale cultural projects. These sums will complement the promotional efforts of the CALQ (which will mainly go through operating support.)

For export:

• The CALQ funds dedicated to international outreach will be increased by $3 million over three years to support international tours, market development and international co-production.
• The Ministry has simplified and made its own export support programs more flexible. The maximum threshold of the new program has been increased from $25,000 to $50,000.

For innovation:

• To encourage cultural organizations that stand out for their audacity and their ability to innovate and build large-scale projects, the CALQ is providing an additional $2 million over three years.

The CALQ will communicate more details on these envelopes and the RQD will not fail to keep you informed.

Source: Plan pour consolider, faire briller et propulser le milieu culturel 2022-2025 (in French).