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Collective Agenda for the Visual Arts

Visual Arts Summit, Ottawa, November 2007
Art is the face of Canada.

We, as artists, curators, collectors, dealers, educators and supporters, are united to enhance the opportunities for Canadian art to be created, seen, understood and enjoyed. We came together in the largest gathering of the visual arts in our history, to proclaim the critical role of the visual arts in an innovative and compassionate society in the 21^st century. We know what is needed: we call on the governments, nations and peoples of Canada to join us in realizing our potential.

The visual arts community acts within an increasingly complex environment, with stagnant or shrinking resources. The growth in public engagement with the visual arts is not reflected in government policies or support. Canadian artists, galleries and museums have been starved for too long. Too many people work in the visual arts without an adequate livelihood or long-term security.

The lack of vigorous and consistent policy, particularly from the federal government, is unacceptable. The visual arts provide a high level of service while receiving an unjustly low level of support from most government agencies and departments. In a time of global challenges calling for dialogue and understanding, the Canadian government has cut support for our international cultural profile. The unique and diverse character of Canada is under threat. The visual arts offer the best opportunity to counter this threat. It is time to recognize the place of visual arts at the centre of society.

We commit ourselves to work together:

• To satisfy the public’s growing demand for participation in visual culture;
• To communicate the sector’s needs with a united voice;
• To provide a secure livelihood for artists;
• To acknowledge the varied cultures of the indigenous peoples of this land;
• To reflect the diversity of our society; and
• To strengthen the institutions that advance the visual arts.

With a united voice, we advocate:

1. To create a new alliance across the sector, to advance the position of the visual arts;
2. To engage public appreciation for, and connection with, visual arts in all their forms;
3. To provide stronger and stable support to artists and to the individuals and institutions that present, preserve and interpret the work they create;
4. To establish a dedicated fund for the payment of artists for the public exhibition of their works;
5. To increase investment in arts education for all ages and from all levels of government;
6. To provide dedicated support for Aboriginal arts; and
7. To recognize and support the leading role of visual arts in strengthening Canada’s international profile.

We envision a Canada that embraces creativity in all its dimensions. We believe in art that challenges us, deepens our understanding, and bridges our differences. Visual arts build a more tolerant, diverse and creative world.
Show your support, sign the statement here, and forward the link to your colleagues:
www.petitiononline.com/visarts/petition.html

For more information:
Canadian Museums Association
613-567-0099
info@museums.ca
www.museums.ca
www.visualartssummit.ca

Summit Partners:
Aboriginal Curatorial Collective: www.aboriginalcuratorialcollective.org
Art Dealers Association of Canada: www.ad-ac.ca
Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference: www.arccc-cccaa.org
Canadian Artists’ Representation (CARFAC): www.carfac.ca
Canadian Education Association: www.cea-ace.ca
Canadian Museums Association: www.museums.ca
Canadian Art Museum Directors’ Organization: www.camdo.ca
Independent Media Arts Alliance: www.imaa.ca
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts: www.rca-arc.ca

Ottawa, November 26, 2007 – A landmark agreement has been reached for the first time in over 40 years between the museum community and artists’ organizations over fees for exhibition of artists’ works. The agreement puts an end to a long-standing impasse and will lead to a new era of cooperation.

“We are very pleased with this agreement,” said Gerald Beaulieu, President of CARFAC, on behalf of all organizations. “It means that museums and artists’ organizations will work closely together on many fronts, including the economic well-being of artists and for improved funding for Canada’s museums and galleries.”

On November 19 and 20, 2007, representatives from CARFAC and RAAV met with CMA and CAMDO representatives to hammer out the new deal with a retired justice of the Supreme Court of Ontario as mediator. Subsequently, the agreement has been formally approved by all organizations.

The new streamlined fee schedule goes into effect on January 1, 2008 for a 5-year term and soon will be posted on the partners’ websites. It is simplified for ease of administration and provides useful definitions. It will be adjusted annually by a 3% increase.

Most importantly, the parties agreed to pursue the establishment of a new Exhibition Right Fund, similar to the highly successful Public Lending Right Fund, which provides compensation to authors of books used in public libraries. When the new Exhibition Right Fund is established the fee schedule will be renegotiated at that time.

The agreement establishes a joint committee that will advocate for the proposed Exhibition Right Fund, develop templates for standardized contracts for exhibition and acquisition, and address mutual interests which will move the visual arts forward.

The announcement was made at the opening of the Visual Arts Summit, the largest meeting in Canadian history of the visual arts community. Over 450 artists, dealers, collectors and museum officials have gathered in Ottawa to explore new ideas to strengthen the sector and to improve the public appreciation of the visual arts. A statement and action plan will be finalized at the conclusion of the Summit on Tuesday, November 28, 2007.

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For further information, contact:

John McAvity
Executive Director
Canadian Museums Association
613-567-0099 x226
jmcavity@museums.ca
www.museums.ca

Shawn Van Sluys
Executive Director
Canadian Art Museums Directors’ Organization
613-862-5035
shawn.vansluys@camdo.ca
www.camdo.ca

April Britsky
Executive Director
Canadian Artists’ Representation/le Front des artists canadiens (CARFAC)
613-233-6161
carfac@carfac.ca
www.carfac.ca

Christian Bédard
Executive Director
Regroupement des artists en arts visuels du Québec (RAAV)
514-866-7101
christian.bedard@raav.org
www.raav.org