What a great read. Never occurred to me to compare arts subsidies to business subsidies. Seems rather obvious now. Also pretty damn funny.

wow, "what a great read" (2)

nicely put Kate.

I for one have never figured the link between the lunch bucket support the NDP relies on and the Birkenstock set that they cater too. They seem so incompatible. Grunt workers on the line paying for elitist phoney culture.

The national gallery has warehouses of the paid contributions of our struggling dole artists.

You know, moonbats will see ANYTHING at all and if somebody tells them it's art, they'll believe it's art.

I wouldn't want my tax dollars going to some illucid imbecile so he/she could make a living loading his/her hiney with paint and flatulating it onto canvas and giving it a pretentious name or some naked leftist fool who goes to a buskers-on-the-boardwalk festival, stands on his/her head and drinks his/her whiz or the so-called "Penis Puppeteers"...

But that very sort of ridiculous trash has been happening under the Paul Martin Liberals. They'll give our money to anyone who demonstrates sufficient totally worthless freakishness...

CHOOSE YOUR CANADA.

Nicely done Kate!!

That was holding back eh??

Note to self: Don't cross Kate.

LOL

Syncro

Blog Start-Up Grants Now Awailable. >>>>

The Canada Council for the Arts - Grant Programs Summary
How to find grant application forms · Canada Council “thrilled” by funding announcement · Aboriginal arts organizations to benefit from new Canada Council ...
www.canadacouncil.ca/grants/ - 27k - 12 Jan 2006 -

Of course, Kate's not one of those "artists".

She's a REAL artist, with talent. I would be honored to someday have some of her work hanging on my wall.

And I'd pay handsomely for it with a smile.

When the Tories stop the incumbent government's habit of giving my money to the talentless left-wing extremists out there, that is. Then I'll be able to afford real art.

C'mon Kate. I was eating home-made chow mein stir fry, reading your post...and up comes....pubic hair jewelry.

Thanks for wrecking my meal.

But good post, nevertheless.

Here's a real artist. Imagine getting some bunch of dummies to pay for this.
Now that's artistry.
Or then again, maybe he doesn't have to be too smart to fool the pretentious idiots that hand out our money.
http://www.explodingcigar.com/article19.html?POSTNUKESID=714fbc7d837876513faea5d245e08cad

"Mexican performance artist Israel Mora has earned $1300 (Canadian) for wanking himself seven times and parading his man-gravy around town. The Banff Cultural Centre, where his semen is on display, defends the work as art. It hurts to think about how much money I’ve let slip through my fingers by not selling it to Canadians. Nobody is questioning his performance, but is it art?"

Instead of the state cutting cheques for shitty artists howzabout a modest tax credit for patrons of art?

For example: Bob the Artist is inspired to paint a series of Velvet Elvises, or "Velvii" as they are known in the industry.

Instead the status quo of Bob applying for a grant and the state cutting him an eight dollar cheque per Velvis, under the "Art Patron Credit" system Bob's patron uses his tax credits to purchase serveral Velvii at fairer market value, say, four dollars per Velvis. This provides modest support for artists while encouraging a higher quality of art. Just an idea.

I am realativly new to this but am enjoying diferent sites. Being here is your fault Kate I caught you on with Peter Warren. When you announced that you were going to work for the CBC my first thought was WTF, I've gotten past that, your articles read well.
With regards to this one I wish you woldn't hold back. Tell us what you really think.

I'm sure glad you held back, eh.

It would be a pity though if they did get rid of the Canada Arts Council funding. I was going to try for a grant to melt my reject slides into a sculpture of a cow patty. There goes my retirement nestegg ;-)

Seriously, I don't mind a bit of funding to help any artist get on their feet. I mean things like venues and ways to encourage the next generation of artists. This is a lot different than paying a fortune for a dress made of flank steak or a $2.5 million dollar's worth painted striped in the National Gallery.

Just my 2 bits worth.

You have eloquently drawn a line I drew for myself years ago between artists and "artistes" An artist does and does well with creativity effectiveness and aplomb. Whereas an "artiste" while potentially a fine crastsman, creativly brilliant, or even a good business person never actually does anything anyone would privately support them for, because they are too in love with the "lifestyle" of an "artiste" to concentrate on their art. Perhaps it could most acurately be said of "artistes" that their true art is that of swindling money from those easily flattered, those insecure about their own "cultural" level, and those who would otherwise cheerfully play the latest role of EMPEROR in a gala "FETE" of the emperor's new clothes.

"art for art's sake" is Masturbation, fit only for the practice and development of an artists skill set.
Daryl Haaland GMCC fine arts grad with honours majored in painting and multimedia

Will the CPC be principled enough to do the right thing despite the MSM cheerleading for the squealing hogs of the welfare dependent "arts community"?

Excellent. I too am a working artist. I had a job once, for 7 years, when I served an apprenticeship as a colour photo lithographer in the printing industry. Then I opened a design studio in Calgary, the first one between Winnipeg and Vancouver. After a few years I quit that profession and started painting for a living.

I raised three kids, supported my family for 33 years, bought one house and built another, and never once asked for or accepted a grant of any kind, welfare, or even unemployment insurance. It never even occurred to me actually.

I have no patience with artists who spend half of their time trying to "look" like an artist and convince everyone they are, and the rest trying to qualify for government grants.

I have no respect for any of them, and I know a bunch. No-one is owed a living. As they say "we pays our moneys and takes our chances." Those of us who have any pride anyway anyway.

Good on you Kate.

Analogue. "Instead of the state cutting cheques for shitty artists howzabout a modest tax credit for patrons of art?"

I once commissioned Price Waterhouse to do a study for some clients I had. Professional people, doctors, etc. Cost me $5000. We were able to show that Contemporary art is a very good investment. I tabled that study at my next few art shows and it resulted in a number of sales for me. High income people already have a good reason to invest in Canadian art.

Kate, you'd better be careful, the thought police might discover that you've been fending for yourself.

You seem to be able to say what many of us have wanted to say for years. Good for you, Kate.

Kate you are a voice of reason and sanity.

Anyone catch Duffy tonight when Belinda was given a bitch slap by Rona Ambrose. I always wanted to see a conversation between two people with one person double the IQ of the other and I saw it there. Do you think the Tories rise is directly correlated to the time she has spent in the Liberal party??

The "Bush" word was over the top, unnecessary, and ill-advised. Apart from that, it was a fine perspective.

Oh Kate. I loved it so much I read it twice.

Kate's post reeked. The last thing I need to hear when thinking about art is some bitter crank on a tear.

...God, why the CBC thinks Canadians want to read anything this harridan has to say is beyond me.

Kate,I thought you were gonna blow a gasket there, for a moment! You could blow an engine, revin' that high. Good thing you held it back, because the CBC's starting to get paranoid.
By the way, were you referring to the same Day Care that Paul Martin's been talkin' about or is this like an adult Day Care where BIG babies get looked after? I'm just wondering...

John Colonostomy (because anus jokes seem to be cool these days) wrote: " High income people already have a good reason to invest in Canadian art."

Heh, yeah I know. How big a tax credit did Moses Znaimer get for donating his Hustler collection to wherever (Ryerson High? Buster Brown College?). And IIRC donated art is about the best tax writeoff there is.

Krikee Sheila!
What are you like when you don't hold your Yabber?

Does anyone remember"Voice of Fire"? We ahd apparenetly paid something like $5,000,000.00 for it around 15 - 20 yrs ago for the national gallery...it consisted of one redline on the canvas, with two blue line on either side of the red line.

http://cybermuse.gallery.ca/cybermuse/search/artwork_zoom_e.jsp?mkey=35828

Since then, I myself have very little respect for these so-called "artists" who get federal funding for this crap.
Self-sufficiency, or bust.
I don't get anything from the feds for being an angry pissed off redneck, so why should these anamby-pamby, light in the loafers artists.
the mad redneck

We wouldn't need to subsidize artists if we were left with some discretionary income after we paid taxes. For most people, supporting the arts is a luxury and therefore, one of the first things that goes when money gets tight.

NDP/Liberal high tax policies are the worst thing that ever happened to the arts. Subsidizing mediocrity is the second worst.

Wow, I wonder what Kate would have said if she HADN'T held back! Methinks it could have been a little scary. :-D

Entertaining and enlightening, nevertheless. Kate rules!

It's no different with books. Anyone ever notice that there is no such thing as the "great Canadian novel"? American writers work at trying to write the blockbuster novel that will make them wealthy enough to retire to New Mexico or Montana where they'll write the great American novel. Canadian writers work at trying to land a Canada Council grant so that they can attempt to write the great Canadian novel. Besides the Darwinian sidestep, you end up with a bunch of writers who always write with an eye towards how the bureaucracy behind the grant money is going to perceive it, and whether or not it will please the intelligentsia. I can't imagine that Stephen King or Stephen Ambrose have ever constructed a book around how they think the Pulitzer committee will see it.

I can imagine that would want to stand well back if you were in the vicinity of Kate when she really went off. A welders mask and leather apron might be a good idea as well. Otherwise, all you clothing and hair that faced front would fall on your shoes as a fine gray ash.

If I am not mistaken anyone can purchase a piece of Kate's utilitarian art in the form of a helmet. If I didn't already have three; all custom painted; I'd get another. But, not one in which the figurative iconography was going, "Poot". Insider joke.

"As much as the well-fed eliteocracy of the left would like us to believe otherwise, the arts are an industry and profession that can manage just fine without the state."

So, Kate, how often do you do a painting 'just because'? Something inspired and original?

Well Sean, I, like kate, am an artist that actually sells stuff. When do I do something just because? Inspired and original?
When I can afford too!
Just like the guy down the street who likes to fish in his spare time. Or maybe the other guy who likes to tinker on cars.
Why is what I do for a job any different than anyone else (aside from the fact that I love it)
If I can't make a living at it, I would get a JOB! And like the guy down the street....make it on my own time.

Kate:

CBC TV also covered this tongiht.

http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=11802

Martin family’s theatre faces wrecking ball
By charlie smith

Publish Date: 28-Jul-2005

A Point Grey landmark that has been in Prime Minister Paul Martin’s family for three generations will soon be demolished. Ken Charko, president of First Run Theatres, told the Georgia Straight that he will have to close the Varsity Theatre at 4375 West 10th Avenue because the property is being redeveloped.

The site is owned by Nellmart Ltd., a Martin family–controlled company that combines the name of the prime minister’s mother, Nell, and the family’s surname. Charko said that his company, First Run Theatres, has operated the 468-seat theatre on a lease for the past seven years. He estimated that the Varsity is more than 50 years old.

“I thought we really did a good job,” Charko said. “I’m sad to see the Varsity go, but I understand it’s time.”

Vancouver developer Robert Fung, president of the Salient Group, told the Straight that his company will buy the site from Nellmart Ltd., but this is conditional upon obtaining a development permit. He wouldn’t disclose the price. The Varsity site had an assessed value of $1,133,800 in 2005.

Fung acknowledged to the Straight that Prime Minister Martin is his godfather. Fung, a former executive with Concord Pacific, is the son of Paul Martin’s friend and former university roommate, also named Robert Fung. The elder Fung, a developer and financier, is a long-time federal Liberal supporter who chairs the Toronto Harbourfront Revitalization Corporation.

Charko and Fung each told the Straight that they couldn’t be sure when the Varsity will close because it depends on when the development permit board approves the redevelopment. In an initial step, Vancouver’s Urban Design Panel granted unanimous support on July 6 for the Salient Group’s proposal for a four-storey building at 4375 West 10th Avenue with ground-floor retail and three storeys of residential units. According to the minutes of the panel’s meeting, several members described it as a “handsome” project, and some supported retaining the Varsity name to commemorate the neighbourhood theatre.

“There is the potential to do good-quality projects—residential, multifamily projects—that fit into this neighbourhood and can really continue to add to the growth of Point Grey Village,” Fung said.

The Salient Group’s proposal will not go before city council because it conforms to current zoning. “From our standpoint, we’re expecting the development permit sometime this summer, and I say that with some uncertainty,” Fung said. “We do need additional permits to go on from that.”

Charko described his time operating the Varsity as an “absolute joy”. He noted that the theatre was the original venue for the Vancouver International Film Festival in 1982. He said that the flags appearing along the theatre’s façade represent all the countries with films that appeared at the first festival. Charko added that the Martin family has treated him fairly over the years.

As Canada’s finance minister, Martin declared on his financial-disclosure form that he owned 15,028 Preference Class A shares and 47 of Preference Class B shares in Nellmart Holdings Inc., which owned 50.25 percent of the voting shares in Nellmart Ltd. None of the Martin family members could be reached for comment by deadline.

Nellmart Ltd. also owns the Plaza at 881 Granville Street and the Dunbar Theatre at 4555 Dunbar Street, which Charko’s company also operates. This year, the Plaza’s assessed value was $1,894,000, and the Dunbar Theatre’s assessed value was $1,218,600.

“We’re going to put a lot more energy into the Dunbar and fix up a lot of stuff,” Charko said.

In 1994, then-Bloc Quebecois MP Suzanne Tremblay asked in Question Period if Martin participated in a meeting as finance minister with two other cabinet ministers to discuss the sale of Ginn Publishing to a company that owned Famous Players. "The minister, through his Nellmart Ltd. holding, owns three cinemas in Vancouver and leases them to Famous Players, a Canadian subsidiary of Paramount Communications," Tremblay alleged in Parliament.

Then-industry minister John Manley replied in Question Period that there were no discussions between him, Martin, and then-heritage minister Michel Dupuy concerning the sale of Ginn Publishing. In 2004 after Martin had become prime minister and had transferred much of his corporate empire to his sons, he stopped listing Nellmart Holdings Inc. and Nellmart Ltd. on his financial-disclosure form.

I'm also an artist. I do comics, portrait work and character design. The comics will not get you rich, unless you're lucky enough to land a gig at DC or Marvel or Top Cow, but that and a few other things put food on the table for me.

I have absolutely no patience for people who peddle bodily fluids as "art" and expect me to pay for it.

Bravo Kate. Your words are as true in Canada as here in the States and should be on the front page when the 'budget-brigade' allots. What bothers me most regarding this topic, is the strident viewpoint that "this art must be seen by the people"..., this is of course the argument when discussing Performance Art and any other 'non-mainstream' products. My feelings?...as with most everything thing in life there is a measurement applied at some point -- if the result is failure, you get up, dust off and try again. Amazingly simple -- and don't we all wish politicians had (at least) this much common sense.

Sean: If you want to see some of Kates art that is original and inspired, go read her posts at the CBC roundtable.

Kate's statement on Federal intervention in the "arts": "the Canadian culture of state-funded mediocrity"

Bravo! I think "state funded mediocrity" could be extended to out public broadcasting trough as well.

If I could do it, it isn't art.

I cannot remember where I read that but it has often helped myself (who practices a craft) determine what is art and what is not art. Especially art that is foisted upon us in the public arena.

Kate, if that was holding back, I would hate (love) to see you let loose. Your words were music to my CanCon ears. Especially sweet because they were written on the CBC website. (they know a thing or two about subsidies)

There's an old cliche about art and the eye of the beholder. I'm a machinist and a drag racer. There isn't a week goes by that I don't see some piece that can be turned out by modern machine tools that transcends industrial utility and becomes, quite literally, art. The same holds true at the race track. I've seen my share of weekend warriors that, like my own car, are attractive and nicely put together. Yet, rarely a weekend at the track has passed where I haven't had to stop and just admire the absolute peerless execution of some other gearheads' dream. That too, is art. I have yet to see a form for a government grant to help pay for that kind of artistic expression.

Culture is not something that should have to live and die in the market place.Profit is not the only critera of value.
Good for you you can make a living of graphic arts.This means what?
That you judge all others by your life and your life experiences.
That would be a pretty boring world.

dirk- The point is simple. The whole cultural agenda is based upon the incredibly stupid notion that you can somehow quantify and define a nations' culture and even steer it in a certain direction with government programs that eventually only serve the interests of "artists" and bureaucrats who serve them. Who defines "culture"? Who decides what is and isn't worth supporting with other people's money? The idea that we can maintain a bureaucracy whose sole purpose is to help define our nations' culture based upon some navel-gazers prognostications is almost Python-esque in its' absurdity. Every moment of every day, myriad events interact and react amongst the citizenry in a random, unpredictable fashion. A random act of violence in Dallas over 40 years ago still reverberates through the American psyche. Paul Henderson's game winning goal of the Canada-Russia series reverberates through ours, as do countless other moments which have come to define us. Government programs can not counter or complement God's randomness. But more to the point, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a society expecting artists to have the guts, brains, and integrity to make a living on their own in order to allow themselves the luxury of creating art. If they are fortunate and skilful enough to be able to make a living from their artistic endeavors, more power to them. Those who choose to be unable to support themselves are not deserving of our support.

In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, bloodshed - they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, 500 years of democracy and peace and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.

-Orson Welles

Anyone dare to make a USA/Canada comparison?

This sums it all up.

I watched CBC's Canada vote this morning as they went across Ontario's ridings. Guessing who will win what riding and talking to people on the street about who they will vote for and why. After 1 1/2 hours they finely get to Northern Ontario ridings. Less than 30 seconds of commets. No one from CBC on Thunder Bay streets. Thunder Bay which is the largest city in the area was not mention. Then right back to Southern Ontario. HELLO! Believe it or not there are people who live here. Where do you think the wood comes from to build your home or the paper for your newspapers. The trees do not just jump on the truck and become what you want as it drives down our broken-down one lane Trans-Canada Highway, which may have a delay of hours or days) if there is a major accident, cause theres no other way to Southern Ontario. This tells me it's time we form the province of Northwestern Ontario. We don't want to be hated no more by the other provinces cause of the big-shot asses in these major Eastern Ontario cities. Were fed-up with the Pricks in Parliament making promises to the North, then not keep them. To the assholes at CBC and CTV your should be fair to all of Canadians, get out of your warm boxes, come to the North, stand in the -20% with windchill of -35% to -55% and ask what we think. Were out there now, standing waiting for the bus cause we can't afford that car no more. You took the good jobs away from the North, now we are off to our telemarketing job. Thank for f#*"ing nothing!!!!
P.S.
Thank You to this site for giving me a place to scream. I was so mad this morning that I did write the CBC, but i know it will go nowhere. Then I heard about this site this evening on the news. Our own papers and news outlet will not cover all the news and or commets fully I don't think, so this will save the ink to pay the next bill.

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