Revitalising the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Working Group
Project Overview
The Working Group on Arts, Culture and Heritage (WG-ACH) is an initiative between Canadian Heritage and Quebec’s English-speaking arts, culture and heritage sectors. The WG-ACH brings together members of Quebec's English-speaking arts, culture and heritage community to meet with representatives from key federal institutions and other levels of government to discuss challenges and opportunities, and share information about support programs and initiatives.
Quinten Sheriff was engaged as a consultant to facilitate a two year project consisting of one year of roundtable discussions, and a second year of implementation of the new system with key stakeholders in the Arts, Culture, and Heritage (ACH) sector. The project was commissioned by the ELAN with the support of Canada Council of the Arts and Canadian Heritage.
With the final result of the Trellis MicroGrants, ELAN acts as third party to support the distribution of $1,212,000 in micro-grants over the 2024-2028 funding period. This initiative is unique in that the application was designed to be a more accessible source of funding for both arts organizations and artists, and particularly marginalized and emerging artists, in a time when access to funding is essential to the livelihood of much of the arts community.
Key Challenges and Opportunities
Through a series of in-depth discussions, several key themes emerged:
Microgrants: Participants emphasized the need for a microgrants program to support small-scale projects and artists that are more readily accessible than government programs.
Connections: The importance of fostering connections between heritage organizations, particularly in regional areas.
Regions: Participants expressed a desire to promote regional culture and heritage initiatives.
Communication and Collaboration: Challenges related to communication and collaboration among stakeholders were identified, particularly in terms of sharing information and resources.
Recommendations and Next Steps
Based on the insights gained from the roundtable discussions, the following recommendations were developed:
Establish a Microgrant Committee: A dedicated committee should be formed to oversee the microgrant program, providing guidance on eligibility criteria, selection processes, and evaluation.
Enhance Communication and Collaboration: Improve communication channels between stakeholders through regular newsletters, online forums, and in-person events.
Foster Regional Connections: Organize regional workshops and networking events to connect heritage organizations and facilitate collaboration.
Advocate for Increased Funding: Lobby for increased government funding for the ACH sector, with a focus on supporting regional and community-based initiatives.
Impact and Outcomes
The roundtable discussions facilitated valuable dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders in the ACH sector. The recommendations generated from these discussions have the potential to significantly impact the sector by:
Empowering artists and organizations by providing access to funding and resources of over $1 million over three years.
Strengthening community connections through collaboration and knowledge sharing among diverse stakeholders.
Advocating for Policy Change: Influencing government policies to better support the ACH sector.
The roundtable discussions highlighted several key areas for development within the ACH sector. These include the establishment of a micro-grants program to support innovative projects with an ACH Roundtable to support this initiative, the need for increased training and mentorship opportunities for cultural workers, and the importance of fostering collaboration among regional communities. In addressing these priorities in an active way making use of the roundtables, we can strengthen the sector, empower emerging artists and heritage workers, and ensure the sustainability of our work.
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the participants who gave freely of their time, energy and expertise. In particular much support has been extended with thanks from PCH and the CCA, and we thank them for their valuable contributions and insights. Their support and expertise have been invaluable in shaping the future of the ACH sector.