ABOUT
Download the explanatory document as a PDF
WHO WE ARE
We are the Department of Culture, a growing community of Canadian citizens who are artists, arts professionals and cultural workers concerned about ensuring the social and cultural health and prosperity of our nation in the face of a Federal Government that is aggressively undermining the values that define Canada.
We are you: the painters, architects, dancers, writers, actors, designers, filmmakers, sculptors, performers, photographers, ceramicists, directors, curators, musicians, archivists, fashion designers, producers, weavers, choreographers, editors, librarians . . .
WHAT WE STAND FOR:
The Department of Culture was founded on the following objectives to:
- ENCOURAGE A MULTIDIMENSIONAL VISION OF CULTURE that emphasizes living interactions between the artistic, cultural, social, political and economic aspects of society.
- PROMOTE A VIEW OF CITIZENSHIP in which all Canadians are active participants in the creation of culture rather than simply as passive receivers of it.
- ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENTS, AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS ARE ACCOUNTABLE for their social and cultural agendas.
- SUPPORT THE CREATIVE AGENCY OF ARTISTS to make political change through all forms of artistic production.
WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR
This is not a fight about money. This is not a fight for the inherent value of cultural expression. This is not a fight about this or that ideology. This is not a fight about what percentage of GDP should go here or there. This is not a fight to save our national reputation. This is a fight for all of the above. It’s about how all of these things serve each other - arts, healthcare, sports, education, agriculture, the environment, and immigration. We are battling the false dichotomies espoused by the Conservative government and their ilk. This is a movement to fight for progressive social and cultural values through artist-initiated actions that employ the skills, experiences, collaborative methods and imagination that define artists’ work. When it comes to the current government specifically, we don’t like their priorities, we don’t like their values, we don’t like their secrecy, we don’t like the many cuts to our allies and we don’t like the cuts to the arts.
OUR CURRENT CAMPAIGNS
SWING TEAMS
The Department of Culture is supporting Swing Teams of committed artists and individuals to collaborate and intervene directly in the election and, in a very public, serious, fun and spectacular way, to target vulnerable Conservatives in the so-called swing ridings in which the sitting MP holds a slim majority. If a Conservative MP has a seat, a Swing Team will try to take it away, if a Conservative looks close to getting a seat, a Swing Team will ensure that they never get to sit down. The Swing Teams will not necessarily work to promote other parties but rather through their actions, they hold other parties and candidates answerable for their social and cultural agendas. The Department of Culture will make Swing Team kits available on our website that can be used as templates for all ridings across the country.
GONE IN 30 SECONDS
Canadians are invited to produce and submit a 30 second video spot in a national contest in response to the Conservative government’s dramatic dismantling of arts, cultural and social programs since 2006. Submissions will be posted on our website and reviewed by a panel of celebrity judges. There will also be a viewer’s choice award. Please consult our website at http://departmentofculture.ca/30seconds/.
DONATIONS
The Department of Culture is gratefully accepting donations online. You can donate securely using your credit card by clicking on the yellow button at the upper left of this page.
Alternately, we are accepting donations by cheque. Please make cheques payable to “Council for Cultural Interactions of the GTA” — NOT “Department of Culture.” Please note that we cannot issue tax receipts.
Cheques may be dropped off in person or mailed to:
Department of Culture
100-1087 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON, M6J 1H3
Thank you for your generous support, this campaign wouldn’t be possible without the assistance of donors like you.
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE:
Franco Boni, Izida Zorde, Heather Haynes, Darren O’Donnell, Gregory Elgstrand, Sara Graham, Graham F. Scott, Naomi Campbell, Anthea Foyer, Robert Labossiere, Michael Wheeler
