Emmanuelle Hébert, the executive director of Culture Montréal, advocates for an increase in arts and culture funding in Quebec. She emphasizes the importance of cultural sovereignty and suggests raising the current allocation from just under two percent to three percent over the next four years to ensure the sustainability of cultural initiatives.
Culture Montréal recently released a report outlining recommendations for the upcoming Quebec government, highlighting the significance of arts funding amidst trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. and the growing impact of artificial intelligence. The organization urges Quebec and Canada to prioritize cultural activities in trade agreements and strengthen Quebec’s legislation protecting French-language media discoverability on streaming platforms.
Despite the existing legislation affirming Quebec’s cultural sovereignty, Hébert points out that enforcement lacks sufficient resources to monitor compliance, especially among major streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. The need for adequate funding is also stressed by media producers, such as Télémontreal, to enhance the competitiveness of Quebec-made content on streaming platforms.
To preserve cultural sovereignty, Culture Montréal emphasizes the importance of promoting Quebec culture domestically through education and internationally through partnerships and exports. The organization also highlights the impact of tariffs on Quebec artists showcasing their work abroad, exemplified by artist Isabelle Bouchard’s experience with significant tariffs hindering her exhibition in New York City.
Culture Montréal proposes 37 recommendations to support the arts sector, including infrastructure maintenance, free museum access, and protection of funds for school book purchases. The organization calls for increased earmarked funds to facilitate long-term planning and advocates for initiatives to support Indigenous self-determination in the arts and culture sector.
In conclusion, Hébert stresses the need for decisive action to address the challenges facing the arts and culture industry in Quebec. She emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to nurture cultural growth and its vital role in communities.