Nov 7, 2014
By Simon Brault, OC, O.Q., Director and CEO, Canada Council for the Arts
Published in the Ottawa Citizen, 6 November 2014
On Oct. 22, the offices of the Canada Council for the Arts on Elgin St. in Ottawa were locked down due to the shooting of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the nearby War Memorial. Like so many other Canadians, my staff and I spent that day glued to our Twitter feeds, TVs, computers and phones, following the events unfolding so alarmingly close to our front door.
In the hours and days that followed, those incidents were recounted and revisited in countless news reports. Some reports were responsible and informative; others verged on sensationalist. At times, their sheer volume felt overwhelming.
"The news" is an invaluable part of how we understand and relate to the world. But news is only one kind of storytelling, only one way to make sense of the world. There are other powerful and meaningful forms of storytelling practiced by artists – by singers, poets, dancers and more – that can help us to make a different kind of sense out of our shared experiences.
In moments of crisis, the power of artists to heal, to unite, to challenge inequalities, and to reaffirm our faith in each other and in our community's values, is tangible. It is, in fact, essential. Without culture, as I wrote in my book, there is no future.
Examples of this power abound. As Remembrance Day approaches, consider Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae's poem "In Flanders Field," which has become the national lens through which we honour and remember the contributions of First World War veterans. Fewer than 100 words - the length of a short blog post - have irrevocably shaped how we as a nation understand that Great War.
Contemporary Aboriginal artists offer another example of this transformative power at work, as they employ new tools and technologies to give voice to new narratives, stories that are increasingly empowering us all to come to terms with some of our nation's most profound historical wrongs. Whether it is A Tribe Called Red's postmodern mashups of traditional powwow with cutting edge electronic sound, the riveting remix by Tanya Tagaq of the colonial classic Nanook of the North, or the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's ambitious treatment of residential schools in Going Home Star, a new generation of indigenous artists is boldly challenging stereotypes and helping us learn, understand, and move forward together.
In Canada today we need the voices of more artists to be heard. We need their stories to complement the news, rather than being lost in the din. We need their imaginations and their expertise - in every medium - to make sense of our world for us, and with us.
The Canada Council for the Arts is dedicated to bringing more Canadian art to more Canadians, precisely so that at times like this, when art's healing power is truly needed, we all know where to turn for a deeper reflection on everyday events.
In the 21st century, how The Canada Council meets this challenge will change, as it must, in response to changes in society. We intend to explore exciting new opportunities and to develop vital new tools to connect more great Canadian artists to more great Canadian audiences. Because we too as an organization must look deeper, beyond the surface of things as they appear, to work towards a better, more imaginative and audacious artistic future. One in which the power of the arts to illuminate and amplify our shared human condition is experienced meaningfully every day, by every Canadian.
Just like "the news."
Simon Brault is the Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts. He will deliver the keynote speech at the Power of the Arts Forum, organized by the Michaëlle Jean Foundation and Carleton University, on Nov. 9.
