Good morning.
I thank the committee for allowing the Réseau indépendant des diffuseurs d'événements artistiques unis, or RIDEAU, to share its views and ideas on the current situation and to discuss with the committee how best to move forward.
RIDEAU has 170 members, the presenters and managers of 350 performance venues and festivals in seven distribution networks throughout Quebec. In normal times, it offers 3.5 million spectators 14,000 performances annually.
Show presenters play a central role in their communities by allowing citizens to have access to a professional, affordable, rich and diversified cultural offer throughout the year, throughout the territory of Quebec.
Our sector is certainly going through its worst crisis ever. In March, it will be one year since almost all the theatres have been closed throughout the province. Obviously, the survival of several organizations is threatened.
The distribution activities of the RIDEAU members generate annual revenues estimated at $155 million. The business model on which distribution is based in Quebec includes only 5% to 15% of revenue from grants. The remainder comes from income generated largely from ticket sales, rentals, donations and sponsorships. In March, Quebec's multidisciplinary presenters will have lost approximately $130 million in income they normally generate.
In August, employment for presenters of arts, sports and similar events was down 58.2%, and for performing arts companies it was 49.1%. This indicates how dramatic the situation in the performing arts still is, and that the recovery is likely to be very long and slow.
The numbers tell us that the performing arts and sports sub-sector has never really recovered from the first wave of the pandemic. In October, employment in this sub-sector was even lower than in April. Compared to the same time last year, employment is now 32% lower, representing 48,000 fewer workers in the performing arts.
At present, the motivation of the work teams is at its lowest. Workforce retention is difficult. Surveys tell us that until a vaccine has been widely administered, the public will not return to the concert venues.
One of the needs targeted during the crisis is predictability. Beyond the lack of the missing financial resources, what the performing arts sector is currently suffering the most from is the lack of predictability. For a multidisciplinary presenter, the development of a series of performances involves several activities that usually take place over several months or even a year. The marketing of a show alone extends over several months. Small-scale management such as we have been experiencing since the beginning of the crisis is therefore extremely difficult and exhausting.
We also know that the recovery in our sector will be a long one. This leads us to the conclusion that whatever support measures are put in place, they should be in place for at least two years to allow the sector to plan its recovery over as many seasons.
Distribution is one of the shortcomings of the $500-million emergency fund to support cultural, heritage and sport organizations. Unfortunately, for the multidisciplinary presenters, this program has completely missed its target. By giving more grants to those who already had a lot, it completely obliterated the idea that it was the less subsidized presenters that were most weakened by the crisis. The latter have seen their autonomous revenues shrink by 90%.
In terms of the best support measures, we believe that unilateral measures should be avoided, as was the case when the emergency fund to support the cultural organizations I just mentioned was allocated, including the amounts allocated through the Canadian Heritage and Musicaction programs.
The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy was a flagship measure for arts presentation organizations. Its extension beyond June 21, 2021, for the performing arts sector seems to us to be fundamental as the recovery will be long. This is consistent with the need for predictability expressed by the community.
In keeping with this need for predictability for organizations, it is becoming urgent and necessary that the two-year investments in the Canada Arts Presentation Fund made by the federal government in Budget 2019, which runs until March 31, 2021, be made permanent.
In terms of structuring measures, we first recommended a program to compensate for losses associated with ticket sales, such as the program currently being provided by the Quebec government. This is the biggest issue facing presenters.
Second, tax incentives for sponsorships and donations would also help large companies get back on their feet. In addition, support for the boldness and circulation of shows will certainly be essential.
Lastly, we propose that funding be allocated to professional coaching and training for our managers, who must navigate through choppy waters in the coming months and years.
Thank you.