Canadian Heritage Committee on Nov. 1st, 2006

[Viviane Gray]

We do, but not directly. We do it through the academics. We have a very strong connection with academics all across Canada. They come to us to do research, because of the long history that we have in the collection and the information for the collection. We're involved with them at all levels—teaching, seminars, workshops. In that way, we provide the history, because we have the content, we have the collection, and we have the connections as well. But we don't directly do publications. I wish we did.

In Australia they have the most amazing publications on aboriginal art, which show images of the artists with their work.

[Tina Keeper, Liberal, Churchill, MB]

Is that work that's done by the government?

[Viviane Gray]

I'm not sure. I didn't really look into it, but you need money to do all these things, and I wish we had it.

[Tina Keeper, Liberal, Churchill, MB]

Do you see a deficit in your program because you're not able to do that component?

[Viviane Gray]

Yes. For example, somebody asked a question about the Inuit Art Foundation. They get a contribution grant to publish a quarterly, which is internationally known. It's an amazing magazine. I wish the same kind of contribution would go into first nations. It's difficult for them. It's even difficult for the Inuit Art Foundation to get money from Canadian Heritage. They don't fit the programs. In fact, two years ago we tried to get the Department of Canadian Heritage to take on some of the support for the Inuit Art Foundation. Because of their economic aspect--they sell, they marketing art--it didn't fit into their programs. So it came right back to Indian and Northern Affairs, which is fine by me, because we enjoy having them with us, but there should be more support all around.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Thank you.

Mr. Angus, do you have any more questions?

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Do we have any more questions on this side?

Mr. Warkentin.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I will follow up on Ms. Keeper's comments and questions with regard to the collection. When was it established that this would be a collection only of emerging artists? Do you find it difficult to find out who's an emerging artist and limiting it to those people? I'm just curious, and I think Ms. Keeper is probably touching on some of the questions that maybe all of us would ask. How can we put a collection together of significant pieces from just-emerging artists and not include those people who are maybe more established artists?

[Viviane Gray]

We do also include more prominent artists. It's just that the prominent artists know they have a better chance of getting acquired elsewhere-- people like Alex Janvier and Norval Morrisseau. Remember, it's the artist who defines this criterion. They want to give a chance to the new artists, just as they had in 1960. Now they're prominent 40 years later. The artists you see, we saw collecting in 1982, people like Jane Ash Poitras, Joane Cardinal-Schubert, and Carl Beam. There are so many artists. They are now prominent. So that's how it goes. It takes time.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

So part of the mandate would be just to launch the careers of artists.

[Viviane Gray]

Of new artists, yes.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

So that's a significant part of that.

Would there be value in looking at how...? It has obviously been an effective program. What other measures would be necessary to encourage more young emerging artists to be involved?

[Viviane Gray]

At our department, or elsewhere?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

It could be through your department or elsewhere. I just know that in many of the aboriginal communities in my riding, it's a very important part.

[Viviane Gray]

I'd like to see more education outreach done for communities, especially remote communities. They're the ones that should be seeing this collection, whether it's the actual objects, a slide presentation, or an artist coming in to give a talk. Everybody knows Ms. Keeper, and people like her are role models. Visual artists can also be role models, and they're needed in schools. I'm an artist as well, but my function is more as an administrator of an art collection. When I go back to my community, though, the school wants me to come and talk. It could be my holiday, but that doesn't matter; I have to do it because it's my community.

So I would like to see more outreach and more money put into education. You can't get those funds from the Canada Council or the arts grants organizations because this deals with education. Schools don't know where to go.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

By having it on the Internet, you're certainly going to address some of it, and we thank you for that.

[Viviane Gray]

But it takes money to put more—

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Absolutely, and I think you have certainly mentioned that.

Thank you very much.

[Viviane Gray]

You're welcome.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Thank you.

Mr. Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Just out of curiosity, how many people visit the collection on an annual basis?

[Viviane Gray]

We have an art gallery, so we get a lot of visitors there. We also show works in our main lobby at 10 Wellington Street. We get a lot of people. I get a request at least twice a week to come down and give a tour. On the average as well, just for people to come in and see...they don't actually see the collection, because it's hard on the collection to touch it, to see it, to move it. They have access to everything on our database, and we get quite a few requests, not just from the department but from outside as well.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

I'm not sure I understood. Is it by appointment?

[Viviane Gray]

It's by appointment, yes. We're a small staff.