The Canada Council 21st Annual Report 1977-78 The Canada Council The Canada Council, an organization created by Parlia- Financial Resources ment in 1957, promotes the arts in Canada. It functions through a wide-ranging program of financial assistance Annual grants from Parliament are the Council’s main and special services, offered to both individuals and source of income. These grants are supplemented by organizations. The Council also has some responsibility income from a $50 million Endowment Fund established for promoting Canadian culture abroad and provides the by Parliament in 1957. The Council has also received sub- secretariat for the Canadian Commission for Unesco. Up stantial amounts in private donations and bequests, usu- to March 3 1, 1978, the Council was also responsible for ally for specific purposes. For fiscal 1978-79, the Council encouraging graduate studies and research in the human- has a budget of some $49 million. ities and social sciences. This part of its mandate has been transferred to a new public body, the Social Sci- ences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Organisation The Council is headed by a 21-member board appointed by the Government of Canada. The board usually meets four times a year to set Council policies and make deci- sions within the terms of the Canada Council Act. These policies and decisions are implemented by a staff headed by a Director and an Associate Director, both appointed by the Government of Canada. In the development and application of its policies and pro- grams, the Council and its staff rely heavily on the advice and cooperation of artists and arts-related professionals from all parts of Canada, who are consulted both individu- ally and in juries, committees and advisory groups. The Council also works in close cooperation with federal and provincial cultural agencies and with the Cultural Affairs Division of the Department of External Affairs. The Council reports to Parliament through the Secretary of State, and is called from time to time to appear before parliamentary committees, particularly the House of Com- mons Standing Committee on Broadcasting, Films and Assistance to the Arts. Its accounts are audited by the Auditor General of Canada and reported to Parliament. 2 The Canada Council Members Executive Staff Gertrude Laing, Chairman Charles Lussier, Director Michel Bélanger, Vice-Chairman Timothy Porteous, Associate Director Nini Baird F.A. Milligan, Associate Director for University Affairs David Owen Carrigan Claude Gauthier, Assistant Director and Treasurer Dorothy Corrigan Jules Pelletier, Assistant Director and Chief of Manage- Guita Falardeau ment Advisory Services (retired December 30, 1977) (until November 1977) David Bartlett, Secretary-General for the Canadian John W. Grace Commission for Unesco (until December 1977) Alan Armstrong, Secretary of the Council Colin M. Jackson (deceased March 2,1978) (from September 29, 1977) Marjorie Johnston (until May 1977) Douglas T. Kenny (until January 1978) Eva Kushner Eric McLean (until July 1977) Mavor Moore Sean B. Murphy (from December 8, 1977) Roland Parenteau Paul B. Park John C. Parkin Christopher Pratt Robert Rivard Thomas Symons Norman Ward Investment Committee Frank E:Case, Chairman Michel Bélanger Allan Hockin John C. Parkin (representing Mrs. Gertrude Laing) Raymond Primeau 3 The Canada CCUnCil Contents 2 The Canada Council 6 Chairman’s Foreword 9 The Humanities and Social Sciences: A Summing-Up Humanities and Social Sciences 22 Levels of Support, 1973-74 to 1977-78 23 Special M.A. Scholarships 24 Doctoral Fellowships 28 Leave Fellowships 32 Research 45 Publication 46 Conferences and Travel 49 Special Grants and Studies 49 Advisory Bodies and Selection Committees The Arts 54 Levels of Support, 1973-74 to 1977-78 55 Visual Arts and Photography 59 Film 62 Video Writing, Publication and Translation E Music and Opera 88 Theatre 91 Dance Multidisciplinary Work and Performance Art :: Touring Office 97 Other Grants 98 Advisory Bodies, Juries and Selection Committees 104 Explorations Program Other Programs 110 Killam Program 111 Grants for International Representation 113 Cultural Exchanges 118 Prizes 12 1 Commemorative Awards 124 The Canadian Commission for Unesco Finances 128 Introduction 129 Financial Statement 144 Securities as at March 3 1,1978 Appendix 150 Canada Council Publications 5 Chairman’s Foreword The Humanities and Social Sciences From the audience side, almost anyone who attended a professional concert or play, listened to Canadian music This is the last Annual Report of the “old” Canada Coun- on radio, read a Canadian book, or watched ballet on tele- cil, which carried responsibility to foster and promote the vision, was taking part in a cultural experience which study, enjoyment, and production of works both in the arts would not have been available in the same way without and also in the humanities and social sciences. At the end Canada Council support somewhere in the process. In of the fiscal year, legislation came into effect to divide this 1977-78, the Council spent about $2.00 per Canadian cit- mandate through the establishment of the Social Sci- izen, and I think the results represent good value for ences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. money. The present Canada Council is thus primarily an arts During the year the members of Council were preoccu- council, and it seems in some measure anomalous to pied with three basic problems which were reflected one report here on activities which no longer fall within our way or another in many of the specific applications which terms of reference. Nevertheless, the Council looks back came before us. These were planning for the future, the with some pride on its record of research support in the constant problem of funding present programs, and the humanities and social sciences, and on the expansion of issue of independence and accountability. these disciplines in both scale and depth, which reflects in part the Council’s contribution. Planning for the Future It is perhaps symbolic that the academic disciplines have The Council’s programs in support of the arts have grown achieved the maturity of their own Council after twenty- incrementally over twenty-one years, as needs were rec- one years of association with the arts. This Annual Report ognized and funds were found. They are by and large features a special article offering an overview of the good programs, judging by the way they are received by Canada Council’s stewardship during that period. The the arts community and the country at large. Neverthe- new Council has a solid basis, both of policy and of less, in times of social and technological change, are they accomplishment, on which to build. We wish it well. the most effective programs that we cari devise, within budgetary constraints, to foster and promote the prod- The Arts uction and enjoyment of the arts? The tabular material in this report summarizes the activi- TO stimulate discussion of this question, the Council pub- ties of the Council in support of the arts over the year: the lished a green paper, “Twenty plus five: The Role of the hundreds of jurors and assessors, and the thousands of Canada Council in the Arts”. The title reflected the twenty large and small sums paid to individual artists, companies years experience acquired by the Council and the notion and organizations across the country. During the year the of a five year planning period. It was not, as was mistak- Council made about 3,000 grants, and purchased about enly assumed in some quarters, a policy paper. The inten- 650 works for the Art Bank, which in turn increased its tion was to use the document as a basis of consultation rentals by about the same number. with the arts commun@ and the wider public. What the report cannot show is the creative activity and This process was begun, but unfortunately had to be audience enjoyment fostered by these grants. The num- abandoned owing to lack of funds. The Council’s initiative ber of artists assisted greatly exceeds the number of had assumed some increase in the resources available, grants, for the Council contributes to orchestras and but the report appeared at a time when government poli- dance and theatre companies employing many artists. cies were turning the other way, and by the end of the Indeed, the effect of Council grants extends beyond those year the Council found itself hard-pressed to maintain usually regarded as artists, to include technicians, print- essential tore support of activities already in existence. ers, sales people and many others associated with the important sector of the economy which turns on the arts. 6 Chairman’s Foreword Although the process of review was not completed, the Over the past three years, federal support of the arts green paper was effective in beginning a constructive through the Canada Council has decreased in purchasing debate concerning future directions of the Canada Coun- power terms. The graph on page 53 tells the story. The cil. This consultation with the arts community and the pub- outlook, at least for the near future, is even less encourag- lic at large Will have to be pursued in some form or other ing. What we must somehow achieve is a recognition, to ensure that the Council continues to respond to present both by governments and by the Canadian people gener- and pressing needs. ally, that the arts are essential to an acceptable quality of life, and are consequently a necessary and desirable Money charge on the society. The arts, and the Council as their servant, are in some Independence and Accountability measure the victims of their own success. In the past twenty-one years we have seen phenomenal growth, both The willingness to fund ‘national unity’ through the arts, in creative activity and in audience.