The Roots of Culture, the Power of Art: The First Sixty Years of the Canada Council for the Arts

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The Canada Council for the Arts is the country’s largest provider of grants for artists and arts organizations, benefiting not only writers, visual artists, performers, and musicians but Canadian culture as a whole. In The Roots of Culture, the Power of Art Monica Gattinger outlines the history of the Canada Council, the impetus for its foundation, and the ongoing debate about its goals and impact. Tracing the Council’s gradual shift from focusing on artistic supply and building the roots of Canadian arts and culture in its early years to its expanded focus on the power of the arts in society over time, Gattinger describes how leaders have navigated core tensions inherent in the Council’s activities. She examines the arguments for and against “art for art’s sake” and pursuing broader social and economic aims through the arts, as well as the inherent political conflicts between serving the needs of the artistic community and the needs of Canadian society, between leadership and followership, between autonomy and collaboration, and between emerging and established artistic practices. Combining lively storytelling with insightful analysis, and beautifully produced with dozens of photos of the art, people, and events that have shaped the organization through the years, The Roots of Culture, the Power of Art is essential reading for those with an interest in Canadian arts and culture and cultural policy. Cover THE ROOTS OF CULTURE THE POWER OF ART Title Copyright Dedication CONTENTS Introduction The Canada Council for the Arts: Sixty Years Old or Sixty Years Young? 1 The Canada Council’s Origin Story: How Did This Distinctive Arts Council Model Come to Be? Has It Stood the Test of Time? 2 The Past as Prologue: From the Roots of Culture to the Power of Art: The Model Evolved but the Mandate Endures 3 The Canada Council and the Changing Face(s) of Art: From “The Disciplines” to Inter-Arts, Equity, Aboriginal Arts, and Beyond 4 Too Close or Too Far for Comfort? The Canada Council as Crown Corporation: Leadership, Money, and Navigating Political and Bureaucratic Waters 5 A Seat at the Table: The Canada Council as More than Arts Grantmaker Conclusion The Canada Council for the Arts: Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future Acknowledgments Illustration Credits Notes Bibliography Index