Solo: Funding cuts and the future of theatre in Canada

About This Episode: In a solo episode of Stageworthy, host and producer Phil Rickaby discusses the looming threat to Canadian theatre and arts due to government funding cuts. He reflects on the recent mandate that all government departments, including the Canada Council for the Arts, must find 15% in savings, which will result in significant cuts to arts programs. Phil explores why the arts in Canada are so vulnerable to these cuts, citing a long-standing public perception that they are not essential or relevant to the average Canadian. He poses critical questions about the future of theatre in Canada, including what companies will do to survive and how the arts community can better articulate its value to the public and to the government.

This episode explores:

• The significant impact of a mandated 15% cut to the Canada Council for the Arts.
• The challenge of public perception that the arts are for "elites" and are not relevant to most Canadians.
• The historical context of Canadian-made content being seen as inferior to that of the US or UK.
• The importance of the arts in defining Canadian identity and what it means to be a nation.

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