Canadian Arts and Culture Network Mass Culture to Host Nation-Wide Consultations

The following is excerpted from a release issued by Mass Culture/ Mobilisation Culturelle.

Arts and culture groups, supporters and researchers from across Canada are coming together to discuss a national research network that aims to strengthen Canadian cultural policy. The initiative is called Mass Culture/ Mobilisation Culturelle, referring to the Massey-Lévesque Commission which, over 65 years ago, held nationwide consultations and resulted in the creation of many national arts institutions, including the Canada Council for the Arts.

During December’s National Arts Service Organization meeting in Ottawa, members of the Mass Culture Working Group shared the purpose of this initiative - to engage the arts community in a conversation about the creation, exchange, and use of Canadian cultural policy research.

Over 2017, during phase one of this initiative's development, the Working Group met one-on-one with 100+ artists, academics, funders, government, and arts managers to better understand the history, gaps, and current undertakings of cultural policy research in Canada.

With thanks to the Toronto Arts Council’s support to seed this initiative, diverse practitioners and supporters will be brought together in early 2018 through a series of 20 nation-wide consultations. Mass Culture/ Mobilisation Culturelle is excited to announce that OCAD's Strategic Innovation Lab will assist in designing a methodology for these consultations. Various regional and provincial organizations have expressed interest in hosting the consultations over Spring 2018, and the initiative is looking for additional interested hosts and participants.

Mass Culture/ Mobilisation Culturelle will be a catalyst for making cultural policy change accessible, well-communicated, diverse and relevant. There are multiple opportunities to help shape the future that this network strives to achieve.

For more information, contact project coordinator Joanna Prescod or visit the Mass Culture/ Mobilisation Culturelle website.