Finance committee  Yes, absolutely. There is both a domestic and an international focus in this fund. As you know, there was some reduction in funds that support international export in the performing arts, so we are looking at re-imagining how we can better address the distribution of performing a

Finance committee  Isn't it really a question of stimulating the kind of private giving that we're interested in? We want to encourage individuals to give at a more substantial level. I think that's the motivation behind looking at the tax credit between the $200 and $10,000 levels. Certainly we

Finance committee  The rationale behind this recommendation is to acknowledge the fact that the majority of arts organizations are small to mid-sized organizations. This tax credit was formerly 29%. We're asking for a 10% increase for a range of donations between $200 and $10,000. It's trying to ad

Finance committee  No. This recommendation also is part of a recommendation that came from an organization called Imagine Canada, which represents all charities across the social sector. It's not so specific to the arts; it's something that could have a much more significant impact.

Finance committee  Thank you. My name is Shannon Litzenberger and I'm a contemporary dance artist and the executive director of the Canadian Dance Assembly. We're the national association representing Canada's professional dance sector, and we're also a founding member of the Performing Arts Allia

Canadian Heritage committee  Investment in festivals will be rendered less effective if we can't reciprocate those relationships. Festivals are about bringing foreign cultural product to Canada, but if we are not sending Canadian product abroad, how do you expect us to maintain relationships with those forei

Canadian Heritage committee  No, we weren't consulted.

Canadian Heritage committee  We found out via the website.

Canadian Heritage committee  As I mentioned in my presentation, it's simply a lack of a presence of Canadian artists and companies abroad. So we're much less visible on the international scene and, again, unable to reciprocate trade relationships in culture on the world stage.

Canadian Heritage committee  Could I add to that? As you can imagine, Canada is geographically distant from much of the foreign market, and so it is particularly important that this investment be made for Canadian companies and artists. Also, it is a reciprocal policy that when festivals like Luminato invi

Canadian Heritage committee  Because dance companies are not connected to another major commercial cultural industry the way music is to the sound recording industry, for example, we can only generate revenue from live performances, so access to as many markets as possible is critical.

Canadian Heritage committee  There aren't any programs accessible through Canadian Heritage, but as I mentioned, the Canada Council for the Arts have introduced a pilot program with a very small budget, acknowledging the fact that they were not accorded new revenues to support that activity.

Canadian Heritage committee  I was speaking about the Canada Council for the Arts.

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee, for inviting me to speak to you today. I'm the executive director of the Canadian Dance Assembly, the national association representing Canada's professional dance sector. Our membership includes over 350 professional dance org