My Alberta Craft magazine arrived yesterday. The subtitle of the magazine which is published by the Alberta Craft Council is "Culture in the Making." As I read Executive Director Tom McFall’s account of the Harper government’s summer cuts to federal culture funding I was thinking more about words like "Cultural Demolition."

To date The Conservatives have announced proposed cuts to Canadian arts and culture amounting to more than $45 million. Stephen Harper stated that "ordinary people" don’t care about "the arts." The "ordinary people" I know (which includes everyone I know) read books, enjoy music and films, attend plays. Many also collect art of one sort or another.

Harper has tried to paint a picture of the arts as an indulgent group of whiners who attend galas and complain that their subsidies aren’t high enough. This is certainly not the arts scene I am familiar with. I have many friends and colleagues who are visual artists, fine crafts artists, writers and musicians. They are a hard working lot. Many of them cannot fully support themselves on the earning from their artistic pursuits. They are grateful when they receive grants. Similarly, organizations receiving grants are appreciative because those grants enable them to do their work.

According to Tom McFall Canada has approximately 25,000 professional craft artists who sell about $800 million of their work and services annually. Margaret Atwood quoted the Conference Board of Canada estimated that the total Canadian cultural sector actually generated $46 billion or 3.8 per cent of the GDP in 2007.

In Alberta we are lucky to have an excellent crafts council. During the years I have been a member it has supported me and helped me to develop my work. I know this is true for others as well. In recent years the Alberta Craft Council has aggressively sought opportunities for its members to gain national and international exposure. This effort is now in jeopardy.

Stephan Harper has announced proposed subsidies to families for classes in art, music and dance as proof that he supports the arts. While it is admirable to help children take classes it is hardly a substitute for supporting arts as a thriving industry and a valuable asset to our culture and economy.

Cuts to arts and culture are uninformed and shortsighted. Instead we should be boldly supporting the arts. We can view the arts as having both a positive economic and cultural benefit. It’s good for us all!

© C O P Y R I G H T   2 0 0 8.  Mary Sullivan Holdgrafer ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.