NICKEL BELT – GREATER SUDBURY- Arts and culture play a vital role in the civic and economic life in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury. Our community’s creative sector, which is a major economic driver, is facing extraordinary challenges because of the COVID‑19 pandemic. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canadian artists and cultural workers through this difficult time. This is why we created the Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations, and why we are continuing to provide additional support through targeted and sector specific measures announced in the Fall Economic Statement 2020.

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, in collaboration with Simon Brault, Director and CEO for the Canada Council for the Arts, announced further details today about the implementation of $181.5 million in funding for the live arts and music sectors in 2021–2022.

This funding will support the planning and presentation of COVID-19-safe events in the arts and music sectors—including both live and digital—and provide work opportunities in these sectors. Funding will also help stabilize the overall environment for the arts and music sectors by providing a one-year renewal of funding for three Canadian Heritage programs originally provided in Budget 2019.

The Department of Canadian Heritage is receiving $40 million in new funding to stimulate short-term contracting of workers in the live events sector through three Canadian Heritage programs: Building Communities through Arts and Heritage, the Canada Arts Presentation Fund and the Canada Music Fund. Information on how to access the new fund and apply is available here.

In addition, to help stabilize the overall environment for the arts and music sectors, the Government is extending a one-year renewal of funding of $25 million for these three Canadian Heritage originally provided in Budget 2019.

For its part, the Canada Council for the Arts will invest $116.5 million. Through a new digital innovation initiative (Digital Now), $50.5 million will enable arts groups, collectives and organizations to adapt or create works to be shared with virtual audiences; and $66 million of new funding will be used to stimulate increased research, creation and production of new work through the Explore and Create program.

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“Our cultural and heritage sectors promote community spirit all while creating jobs and enhancing economic opportunities. This sector has faced significant challenges over the last year and I’m happy to see our government invest to ensure the continuity of culture, art and live events. This funding is also a welcomed beacon of optimism. With the beginning of vaccine administrations in Nickel Belt – Greater Sudbury and the continued commitment of residents to following public health measures, we can be hopeful that live entertainment and arts and culture events in all forms will make a full return to normalcy.” – Marc G. Serré, MP Nickel Belt 

Related products

• Backgrounder: 2020 Fall Economic Statement funding rollout for the Arts and music sectors

Associated links

• Canada Council for the Arts web content
• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
• Information for Canadian Heritage grants and contributions recipients related to COVID-19

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Contact

 Kaylie Dudgeon,
Special Assistant
Marc G. Serré MP Nickel Belt
[email protected]
705-897-2222