This pressure affects the entire chain of research, creation, production and distribution. Its most devastating effects are felt at the very root of our sector—that is, among artists. The lack of a genuine safety net perpetuates an unacceptable level of systemic precariousness. In Montreal, the average income for an artist is around $17,400 a year.
We saw just how fragile our ecosystem is during the recent crisis in the cultural sector, which shook the entire chain—from creation to presentation. Unfortunately, the effects of underfunding are still being felt today. Last week, another production from the Centre du théâtre d'aujourd'hui's upcoming season was cancelled due to a lack of funding.
Creative and performance spaces are also bearing the brunt of this vulnerability, as they face ever-increasing financial pressure. In fact, between 2017 and 2024, venue-related costs rose by 53%, while overall inflation stood at around 20%. These costs include the operating expenses of performance venues, as well as maintenance and asset upkeep. This data is at the heart of the report “Nos scènes fragilisées, nos arts vivants menacés" by Théâtres associés. The report was co-signed by 34 performance venues in Quebec, including the Société des arts technologiques, and about ten partner organizations, including the Conseil québécois du théâtre, the Union des artistes and the Association professionnelle des diffuseurs de spectacles, whose representatives you have met over the past few days. The report highlights the urgent need to address the costs of operating and maintaining performance venues, which are rising faster than inflation.
The costs associated with asset maintenance are added to operating expenses and include an unpredictable component. Planning and securing the funding for a major renovation project are complex and time-consuming. Performance venues are forced to carry out emergency repairs using their own resources, which threatens their financial stability. They must adapt to address requirements for universal accessibility, climate change impacts, and safety and inclusion standards. Without predictable funding, they will be unable to modernize their infrastructure and meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
In short, performance venues must prioritize the maintenance of their infrastructure in order to host artists and audiences safely. That is done at the expense of the very core of their mission: presenting a program of performances to the public. The sharp rise in venue-related costs creates a downward spiral that forces these venues to make significant cuts in both artistic and human resources.