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Arden's Notebook

July 21, 2009

The Senior Artists Research Project

Working to ensure that you will still be able to feed yourself when youre 64...

Paul McCartney was only 24 when The Beatles recorded "When I'm 64" and could hardly have known that his senior years would be so well provided for at the time. Unfortunately, Sir Paul is in a minority as most artists do not have the kinds of earnings that guarantee such comfort in the twilight of their careers.

While RRSPs were officially introduced in Canada in 1957, it really wasn't until the 70's that they really took hold as a meaningful investment vehicle to provide income in our old age. There are quite a number of our countrys most treasured artists whose prime earning years came and went without substantial contributions. Seniors generally are amongst the most financially disadvantaged citizens and senior artists face even greater challenges as many have never worked in the kinds of jobs where contributions were made to the government pension plan.

Seniors also face increased health challenges, compounded by the fact that many are no longer working (or working sufficiently often) so as to contribute and benefit from private insurance plans.

The positive flip-side of aging in the arts is that many senior artists continue to practice their craft long beyond the time when others have retired to the golf course or the recliner. But they still face different needs from their younger colleagues.

The Senior Artists Research Project is an industry-wide organization designed to identify those needs and look for ways to provide for them. Spearheaded by the indefatigable Joysanne Sidimus, a retired ballet dancer and founder of The Dancer Transition Resource Centre, and several of her equally energetic colleagues, a pan-industry group has been assembled over the last year to raise money and commission research to identify the specific needs of senior artists.

Working with Kelly Hill of Hill Strategies Research (a company known for its research in the arts in Canada) we have begun the process of analyzing the services available to and needs of this particular community. Kelly has recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Europe where he met with many of our colleagues in all fields and later on this fall, he will be conducting a series of focus groups and town halls across the country to speak directly with senior artists about their needs and concerns. Please keep an eye on your email and our website for specific details about time and place. This is an important project and one that Equity is proud to be involved in.

In addition to Canadian Actors' Equity Association, the organizations involved in the steering committee for the project include: the Actors' Fund of Canada, ACTRA, the American Federation of Musicians, the Canadian Music Centre, The Canadian Artists' Representation (representing visual artists), the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, the Cultural Careers Council of Ontario, PAL Canada Foundation and the Writers' Union of Canada.

All the best,