Equiflash Archive

In an open letter to the arts community, Canada Council for the Arts Director and CEO, Michelle Chawla announced the Council will cut $9.88 million from its budget by 2026-2027 as part of the government-wide Refocusing Government Spending initiative, but assured the arts community that “these savings will not impact the Council’s regular granting programs nor our operating capacity.”

Instead, the incremental spending cuts – representing 2.7% of the Council’s current government funding – will be “achieved largely through lower administrative spending and through the phasing out of the Strategic Innovation Fund by 2025 – a fund that was intended to be time-limited,” thereby minimizing the impact on the arts sector.

"We are pleased to hear that the Canada Council believes that they can achieve the required cuts over the next three years without reducing funds available for grants to both organizations and to individual artists,” said Equity Executive Director, Arden R. Ryshpan. “But it’s worth noting, maintaining the current levels is still a slow squeeze on funding. As inflation increases costs of production, applicants are undoubtedly asking for more and more money to cover those costs. It is imperative that fees paid to artists keep up with inflation so that they can continue to earn a living wage and stay in the sector."

For more information, please contact communications@caea.com.