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Village Squire, 1978-12, Page 66P.S. Tough times are here for people in Canadian arts V . BY KEITH ROULSTON These are times of turmoil in the arts in Canada. The unheard of was heard of A few weeks back when Canadian artists took to the streets to protest government cutbacks. . Our artists just aren't normally very political in that sense of the word. Then there's the censorshiD in the schools issue which was hit very close to home in our own region. Then there's the loud, sometimes vicious debate over foreign artists in our television and movies. My, my, my, and we thought we had no artistic community in Canada. Probably the area of greatest concern these days is the government's cutbacks in the matter of funding for the arts. These have come in two ways: by cutbacks or freezes in the grants given to theatres, publishers and orchestras as well as, to individual artists, and in cutbacks to the C.B.C. In a business where working 30 weeks at year at S190 a week was ccosidered a big success, the prospect of cutbacksin fields such as theatre is indeed. a terrifying one. The cutbacks couldn't have come at a much worse time. The government had just opened the door to a new awakening of Canadianism through the policies which gave increased money to the _ arts, particularly in the last dozen years ,or so. The small, experimental theatres which had sprung to life in the late 1960's were finally becoming something more than mere shoe -string operations, though still far from the plush buildings such a�is¢ the O'Keefe Centre and Royal Alex • theatre which specialized' in bringing in. shows from England or the United States at prices no Canadian theatre would dream of charging; Now that they have finally gotten decent facilities, these theatres find themselves without enough ' money ' to present plays in them. The doors of theatres across •the country aren't likely to simultaniously slam shut in the next few months. Most theatres will struggle on at least for another year. What they are doing is cutting back. Where bast year they did seven shows, this year they may only do five or six. Where last year those shows may have had 10 or 12 actors, this year they will Only have six or seven, or better yet two or three. The one-man show, is becoming a common thing in theatres all across the country. Soon it may no longer be a curiosity but a necessity. What it means is that fewer actors are 64 Village Squire, December 1978 finding jobs, because there are fewer roles to be filled: With fewer productions set designers and costume people will find it harder and harder to make a living. There ate fever plays being done and with the caution that is infecting theatres in hard times. fewer still new plays which means writers find the nearly impossible situation in making a living. from theatre is even more impossible. Nov: there are some good things about • 'tile cutbacks. There is a need from time to time to weed out the weaker elements of any profession. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that those wh6 get weeded out are the 'ones who should be.. Promising young artists may be discouraged enough to quit even if some of those who would have made better vaccinum -cleaner sale - men can take the hardship. Government cutbacks v: ill also encourage an attempt to put more commercialism into the arts. There is no reason why .all theatre in Canada has to be -subsidized. Sortie form of native commercial theatre should be possible at least in large centres like Toronto and Montreal. Unfortuantelyy with government cutbacks 'the theatres that are likely to be hurt the most are most likely to be those that most need subsidies: those in smaller towns and cities. 'and those dying truly original and ristcy work. Some of the huge theatrical companies that could exist on box-office revenue get. and will continue to get Targe hunks of the total subsidy pie. It's the little theatres- that will be hurt she worst. There's no doubt that the results of the cutbacks can be tragic. There is no time v.hen v.e need the arts more than in our present national crisis. We need a sense of ourselves to'see us through our economic and political problems. a sense that is provided not by the politicians but by the v.riters and actors and nmusicians_ and visual artists. What 'we don't need is more unemploy- ment and :government cutbacks are guaranteed to put a lot of good young artistic people our of work. They are classified as self-employed so will not go on unemployment insurance. They may. if they're lucky find other work but %%11\ waste the talents of a good actress as • %.aitress or even a saool teacher if she is • more skilled as an actress? And v: by have .an actress take up a job that could go to someone ‘'.-ho would make a better v. aitress or teacher? of subarts \. ill ah, a's require some form the church `InUl�cient tithes a rich noble or years the serve as patron. Itrrccent government has provided formssupporti.f. But sonte form ,Of'support for most t e arts is needed. Without it• there c. „n' dry classics of art. music or theatre from the centuries to c„m� 0tlt .'cetnury tir enjoy 'in X con , scpt,tic Cs HIGHWAY 21 SOUTH, GODERICH See our large selection of Ciritmas GIFTS L '1 r-. s. INCLUDING THE 1978 CHRISTMAS SPOONS AND - CHRISTMAS BELL, COLLECTORS FIRST EDITION.