Prior to the Cultural Development Fund, there was the IPOLC-PICLO program, which was very beneficial. It was the best thing in arts and culture—it came via the Canada Council, but it was focused on professional arts. The Cultural Development Fund is invested in the link between arts and community. The current project for touring arts in the communities is very important. We had an excellent session in Montreal a couple of weeks ago with regional associations, where we saw all kinds of links. There are many ways of integrating arts and culture into health and youth at risk; schools are very important. We have a culture-in-the-schools program in Quebec that is well-funded and works very well. But it doesn't work so well in the English sector. In fact, we were given some money from the Minister of Education to figure out where the problem is. The Cultural Development Fund has enabled us as professional artists to expand beyond our normal preoccupations with creative art into working with art and community and looking into spheres such as education and health. It's been extremely helpful.
On April 3rd, 2012. See this statement in context.