October 30, 2012

TORONTO – Canadian performers voiced their disappointment today at the government’s failure to support the Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) which has been a critical voice for arts and culture for more than six decades. The CCA announced today that it would be closing its doors after 67 years, due to cuts by the Harper government.

“The Canadian government has silenced a strong voice for Canadian culture and is ignoring an opportunity to capitalize on an important Canadian cultural industry initiative,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s National Executive Director. “Our entertainment industries promote Canadian culture, create thousands of jobs and stimulate the economy.”

Since its inception, the Canadian Conference of the Arts has worked on behalf of Canada’s artists and arts organizations, tackling such issues as taxation, status of the artist, cultural funding and arts education. The CCA lost roughly 75 percent of its operating budget as a result of the termination of the Arts, Culture and Diversity Program earlier this year by the federal government.

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 22,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.  

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Contact: Carol Taverner, ACTRA, 416.644.1519, ctaverner@actra.ca