Canada Council for the Arts Director issues open letter to arts community: "It's time to change the narrative"

On October 17, Michelle Chawla—Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts—issued an open letter to the arts community, calling for a narrative turn away from what she terms "the crisis story" in favour of a more productive "impact story". "The story goes something like this," part of the letter reads. " arts sector is in crisis. Arts organizations across the country are on the brink of closure, some have already shuttered their doors for good. At the same time, artists and arts workers are leaving the sector for more sustainable fields. Something must be done, the story usually concludes, before we lose it all." The problem with this narrative? According to Chawla, it often neglects to give decision makers a reason why they should divert resources to the arts sector, even though it may be in crisis. It also neglects to make clear that public funding is a necessary part of the solution, she writes. Chawla's solution is to shift the narrative's focus toward the positive impact that the arts sector has on local communities and economies. The argument is that if arts organizations make it clear how much Canadians—inside and outside of the arts—stand to lose, decision makers are more likely to take action. "I call on all of you—arts leaders, artists and arts workers—to meet with the decision makers in your communities, or write them, as soon as you finish reading this," the letter continues. "Tell them about your impact story, whatever it may be. You might tell them about a project that helped your community explore a local issue. You might share the number of people you bring into your community to see your work who also, as a result, visit other local businesses. Each of us will have a different impact story to tell, but together they will create a powerful narrative." Read the full open letter here.