Arts and culture an election issue for the first time in 20 years

Todd Babiak, The Edmonton Journal

Alberta Ballet is a remarkably cost-effective global marketing tool. In his six years as artistic director of the company, Jean Grand-Maitre has built an internationally renowned organization, lauded by the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune. The Fiddle and the Drum, Grand-Maitre's collaboration with Joni Mitchell, got more mainstream international press last year than the oilsands. They've travelled from Egypt to China, and invitations are pouring in from around the world. If the dreamy "New Alberta" has a face, this is it: an increasingly sophisticated and cosmopolitan province defined by innovation, boldness -- energy and energy.

Yet if things don't change, right about now, Grand-Maitre and people like him will leave.

"The new culture policy is more of an entertainment policy," he said in Edmonton, where Alberta Ballet's brilliant Dangerous Liaisons was being presented at the Jubilee. "This province remains at least two decades behind what you see in Ontario and Quebec. The government still sees the arts as an extension of social policy."

Grand-Maitre's world-class dancers make $500 a week. Not enough, he said, to afford vitamins. In the boom economy, they shoehorn themselves into tiny apartments. The company has been supported by the province for its international touring, but its operations funding has decreased and flatlined in recent years, he said. "We're very proud ambassadors for this province, and I think we represent the changing identity of Alberta. Meanwhile, we're two years from implosion unless there are major changes to the way we're funded. All we really want is to bring our dancers up to the poverty line."

Grand-Maitre, like all artists, has sacrificed material comforts to do what he does. However, if the status quo continues, he'll be forced to take his talents elsewhere. "What we can't sacrifice," he said, "is artistic opportunity."

For the first time in 20 years, arts and culture is an election issue. Few voters choose candidates based on cultural platforms, but in 2008 the arts are understood in economic terms by most jurisdictions in the world. It's a competitive and lucrative industry, and a magnet for the well-educated workers Alberta needs to diversify. If people like Grand-Maitre are forced to leave for better opportunities in just about every other province, Alberta will suffer immeasurably.

Culture is not mentioned on the Progressive Conservative election website as a policy statement despite the phrase "Building Our Quality of Life" leading the party's three-point plan.

Stelmach and Culture Minister Hector Goudreau released their cultural policy in late January, before they called the election, with some ambitious goals. Yet the government only pledged $12 million in new lottery funding to a plan that, if implemented earnestly, will cost exponentially more. In late 2006, Tory leadership candidates like Jim Dinning and Dave Hancock had well-considered arts and cultural platforms, but these ideas have not been folded into the Stelmach regime.

Liberal Leader Kevin Taft has mentioned arts and culture a number of times in recent weeks, in speeches and announcements. Their comprehensive plan is called "Fuelling an Alberta Renaissance." If elected, they plan to immediately double lottery funding to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) and triple it over three years. They would create a $500-million endowment for the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, using energy royalties. They would help rebuild the Alberta publishing industry and institute a 45-per-cent Alberta tax credit for the film and television industry, which would finally allow the province to compete with B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba. They would create a separate ministry for arts and culture, create a biannual arts festival to showcase Alberta talent, expand performance space and eliminate entrance fees to cultural facilities for youth.

Brian Mason, leader of the Alberta NDP, would introduce $30 million in new funding to the AFA and ensure the political independence of its board. They would allocate one per cent of large capital projects to artistic commissions, increase fine arts in elementary and secondary schools, and increase the working and living conditions of artists in the province. Artists, according to the party's arts platform, "should not have to move to Vancouver or Toronto to find better opportunities."

The Liberal platform is, by a long shot, the only one that respects the true meaning of the word "plan." Yet what people like Grand-Maitre are looking for, above all, is leadership. Mayor Stephen Mandel, said Grand-Maitre, is the only politician he regularly sees at actual Alberta Ballet performances in Edmonton and Calgary. "He gets that art isn't about elitism," said Grand-Maitre. "He understands that it connects to everything. It is the foundation of a healthy society."

Others understand, and the breadth of their understanding is available on the party websites. Choose wisely on March 3.

The Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton has an ArtsVote 2008 toolkit at pacedmonton.com/artsvote

© The Edmonton Journal 2008