No one knows. No one cares. All that matters is that genius created, explored, and achieved there. So too for a thousand artists in a thousand cities. Artists write our name in vivid letters, and always have.

We were incredibly proud of Canadian artists at the Winter Olympics. They were our shining, best face. Together with our equally superb athletes, they spoke the name CANADA to the world.

What government in its right mind kills support for Canadian artists? From studios to festivals, from recitals to arenas, from first lessons to master classes, Canadian artists speak our name.

We are the land of Glenn Gould and Nickelback, Jon Vickers and kd lang, Margaret Atwood and Doug Coupland, Luminato and The Fringe — and every kind of art in between.

Where does the government imagine these artists come from? Do they wander in off the street, fully-prepared to perform? Of course not. They are trained, educated, given apprenticeships and innumerable opportunities to perform. They are given forums like festivals and films and much more, and they are given the means to make art.

Some philistines argue that the arts should pay their own way. This is aberrant nonsense. Canadian art is more than arenas full of visiting American rockers. Canadian art is who we are as a people.

Money is NOT the measure of merit. It is a means of supporting merit.

Only those who want our nation to be overwhelmed by foreign pop and commercial culture can possibly support these ridiculous cuts. Canada is so much more worthy than philistines will ever understand.

Marsha Lederman has written an excellent piece about a terrible policy. Canadians deserve so much better. Canada IS so much better.
– Dr Charles Barber