Normally, we distribute money through a jury process. Artists or organizations apply to the Canada Council and juries made of specialist artists are assessing each demand. They decide how and what money will be received.
During the pandemic—last year and the year before—a lot of money was added by government to support the sector that was in a very difficult situation. We established a balance between supporting what we call core-funded clients of the Canada Council.... These are the organizations that normally receive operating grants from the council. That money was basically top-up money. We counted on the previous assessment and we gave a portion of their regular grants to those organizations.
During the pandemic, we also insisted that the Canada Council would continue to use the juries to support what I would call the independent scene. Those are the artists and collectives of artists across Canada who are still trying to work and to create. I'm very proud to say that we reached the highest level of support during the pandemic. In fact, as I said in my notes, more than 50% of the artists receiving a grant were first-time recipients. They had never before gotten money from the Canada Council.
I think we succeeded in casting a very wide net in order to cover the entire sector and make sure that there would still be a lot of artistic and literary creation during the pandemic. Actually, all Canadians will see that work now that it will be presented.
I hope that answers your question.