Anyone who watched the SunNews interview with Margie Gillis was not only treated to a whole whack of spray tan and shouting, they also heard a lot of misinformation about the arts community. Despite her best efforts, Gillis’ saint-like patience couldn’t quite cut through interviewer Krista Erickson‘s agenda, and today, the Canadian Dance Assembly National Council sent a myth-busting document to members of the media.
Take a deep breath, let the stress ulcer that no doubt flared up upon viewing the clip subside, have a read and relax.
“Following the interview of Margie Gillis on SunNews, in which she so gracefully and eloquently talked about the importance of the arts in the lives of Canadians, the Canadian Dance Assembly would like to add support to her comments by reminding the Canadian media about the following statistics. The Canadian Dance Assembly will let the numbers speak by themselves and advocate on behalf of our dignity.
1) The cultural sector has about 600,000 workers, which is about double the level of employment in the forestry sector in Canada (300,000) and more than double the level of employment in Canadian banks (257,000).
 Source: A Statistical Profile of Artists in Canada: Based on the 2006 Census, Hill Strategies Research, 2009
2) In 2005, two thirds of Canadians read a book (66.6%), one in two attended a performance by professional artists or a cultural festival (48.8%), and one in four visited an art gallery (26.7%).
 Source: General Social Survey, Statistics Canada, 2005
3) In 2008, Canadians spent more than twice as much on live performing arts ($1.4 billion) than on sports events ($0.65 billion). 
Source: Survey of Household Spending, Statistics Canada, 2008
4) The arts are important for personal health and well-being, having an
impact on personal confidence, sense of control, social connectedness, education, and ensuring supportive physical environments. 
Source: Arts and Culture in Medicine and Health: A Survey Research Paper, Cooley & Associates, 2003
5) Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement (National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, 2006). Impacts in 6 areas :
Reading and language skills
Mathematical skills
Thinking skills
Social skills
Motivation to learn
Positive school environment
Source: Hill strategies research, March 2011″
I’m sure if you’re sitting at your computer on a Friday afternoon reading Art Attack, you may not need to be convinced, but—at the very least—some researched facts make a nice chaser to that shitshow of an interview.
This article appears in Jun 9-15, 2011.
WTF is Sun News?
not worth investigating unless you have low blood pressure that needs skyrocketing.
Cranky: it’s right-wing tabloid journalism at its worst, otherwise known as the “Fox News of the North”. It’s only been around for a short while, but so far it’s living up to expectations of awfulness.
Indeed hard on the blood pressure… I heroically made it to about halfway before I had to give up, and I don’t know how Margie had the strength to go through it all. She is truly an amazing ambassador for the arts community, and she really proved it here…
It’s ironic to note Erickson’s vehement objection to tax money being used to support the arts, as she just came off an 11-year stint with the CBC. Apparently she had no objection during those years to the tax payer supporting her bottled-blond self. : )
@ Cranky, Me0w: http://i.imgur.com/Qdde0.jpg
I lasted fifteen seconds. What a horrid interview! And Sun’s been trumpeting their arrival like they’re going to take over the TV! Complete bull when you look at the numbers, of course, but what a bunch of self-centred, out-of-touch asshats.
Krista Erickson is a hypocrite and a moron.
She worked for the TAXPAYER FUNDED CBC for 11 years, during which time she received on the job training and mentoring from her more experienced colleagues who were also paid by the same taxpayer funded corporation. I don’t recall her taking a principled stand and refusing our tax dollars when they were going into her pocket.
Then Ms. Erickson up and quit last year and now she demands to know why everyone else can’t suck it up and live without her precious tax dollars? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! If she could have built a career without our tax dollars she would have. But she couldn’t and didn’t.
Memo to Krista:
You don’t get to take our money for 11 years then turn around and mock those who rely on the exact same funding you enjoyed for virtually your entire working life. You’ve had a non-taxpayer funded job for less than a year. You’ve never owned or run a business or created a single job in your life. Get over yourself and be thankful we funded your job training.
Fox News North. Ugh. It’s the worst.
How can we stop these people? Send them some poop in the mail?
Let’s have some facts and figures about government subsidies in coal mining and the IT industry. Jesus.
Well, this should get interesting. This was posted on the Canadian Broadcast Standards Coundil’s website yesterday: http://cbsc.ca/english/documents/prs/2011/…
(edit: council. Haven’t had my coffee yet.)
Nice fact sheet. Obviously Canadians do support and enjoy the arts. But the unanswered question is why do tax dollars need to be handed out to support the arts? If Canadians have more money left in their pockets aren’t they even MORE likely to support the arts with their money? I know I’ve had to pass on concerts and theatre events because I couldn’t afford to go…
Have your opinion and keep your hand from my wallet. Ms. Erickson’s should be congratulated for parting with CBC. You don’t like her change the channel.