December 14, 2021 – The Goverment of Canada’s Economic and Fiscal Ipdate from the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, outlined a new funding program for the Performign Arts Sector with $60 million for the new temporary Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund.
“This temporary program will aim to fund new or enhanced sector-led and -delivered initiatives that improve the economic, career, and personal circumstances of individual Canadian workers in the live performance sector.”
Support for Workers in the Live Performance Sector
Restrictions on gatherings and the closure of venues has meant that tens of thousands of workers in the live performance sector continue to face significantly reduced incomes. Despite the gradual easing of public health restrictions across the country, many of these workers continue to face financial hardship. The lag in the sector’s recovery is also due to sector-specific factors like the time it takes to finance, develop, and rehearse the performances these workers rely on for income. The government is committed to ensuring Canada’s recovery includes a vibrant live performance sector.
The government is proposing to establish a new $60 million Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund. This temporary program will be administered by Canadian Heritage and will aim to fund new or enhanced sector-led and -delivered initiatives that improve the economic, career, and personal circumstances of individual workers in the live performance sector.