Institutions and Infrastructure - Sharing Canadian Stories 2005
Building a Solid Foundation
Building a cultural infrastructure that encourages growth while maintaining established cultural treasures is an ongoing challenge for any country. Diversity sometimes makes it difficult to find and establish common cultural ground, and it is here that the Government of Canada and partners within the Canadian Heritage portfolio play a key role–– maintaining national institutions that serve as benchmarks for other organizations across the country.
The Government of Canada supports heritage institutions, including national museums, Library and Archives Canada, and the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI). These institutions provide wider public access to heritage objects and archival material and ensure this material is preserved for future generations. The CCI is a centre of excellence in the conservation of Canada's cultural heritage. As such, it has three key roles: scientific research, service delivery and training, and publishing activities.
In 1977, Canada enacted the Cultural Property Export and Import Act to implement the UNESCO convention to prohibit and prevent the illegal import, export and transfer of cultural property. In addition to measures that allow Canada to take part in recovering and returning cultural property imported illegally, the Act governs the export of cultural property and contains mechanisms that encourage the retention and repatriation of artifacts considered to be important heritage symbols.
"Canada is a country of unlimited possibilities, a country that has allowed me the freedom to be whatever I wanted to be. In Canada, anyone can set goals and fulfill dreams. And that is, indeed, its true beauty."
Julie Payette, Canadian astronaut
Canada is also strengthening its commitment to protect cultural heritage in times of war. The Government is about to take the final steps toward Canada's accession to two UNESCO Convention protocols for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict, also known as the Hague Convention.
When it comes to infrastructure, a fair number of art centres, museums and galleries that were built in the late sixties are now in need of renovation. To respond to the vitality and creativity of our artists and art promoters, new cultural space is also needed. In response, the Government of Canada created Cultural Spaces Canada, a program that supports the construction, renovation, and conversion of cultural spaces across Canada. The new Canadian War Museum in Ottawa and the establishment of Library and Archives Canada, an innovative knowledge institution responsible for acquiring and preserving Canada's documentary heritage in all its forms, are examples of work being done to adapt our institutions to the needs of the 21st century.
In addition to the many specific programs that support Canadian cultural producers, the Government of Canada pursues cooperative initiatives and partnerships with provincial and municipal governments, the private sector and individual Canadians. It also helps in the formation of meaningful partnerships between cultural producers themselves, and between cultural producers and the private sector. Tours by professional theatre and dance companies, orchestras, and other arts groups are supported by Canadian corporations and foundations. Museums enjoy ongoing partnerships with telecommunications companies, multimedia and software developers and philanthropic foundations. Canadian businesses sponsor arts centres, sports teams, artistic collectives, art exhibitions and special events. A network of national sport centres is made possible through partnerships involving all levels of government and other organizations.
These partnerships are encouraged by legislation, which provides tax credits to Canadians who donate money to non- commercial heritage, artistic and cultural endeavours. As a result, private-sector support of Canadian arts and culture is on its way to becoming the norm, rather than the exception. It is a matter of some pride to Canadians that these kinds of partnerships have been established and maintained in a manner that preserves artistic vision.
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