I think that you're raising some good points.
Lack of predictability is a real problem. Festivals and events are a cultural subsector I know well. Festivals that received letters from Canadian Heritage in May or June, a few weeks before their event, were able to see the extent of the drop. They weren't expecting it. When you're used to receiving a specific amount of money and then you get a different amount a few weeks before the event, it's obviously a shock.
This essentially translates into less culture. There's less culture if you have to cut back on programming. I also know that, this year, some festivals have made the painful choice to reduce operating hours. For example, a festival that was held over 10 days decided not to present any events on Mondays and Tuesdays. That obviously means less activity, less tourism and fewer savings for adjacent businesses. It also means fewer artists and craftsmen at work, which has wider repercussions.
There are two types of festivals: those that are presented free of charge and those that charge admission fees. Increasing admission fees obviously reduces accessibility to culture. It's an issue. Festivals that are presented free of charge and rely on sponsors and subsidies are faced with impossible choices. Last year, we asked members to tell us how much more they'd cut in 2022 to put on an event as compared to 2019, and the answer was 25%.