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Question 12: Values and CultureWhat are the best means for Canada to make its culture and experience known
abroad? |
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| Contributor: | NationalBalletofCanada |
| Date: |
2003-04-30 17:12:41 |
| Answer: |
Submission to the Dialogue on Canadian Foreign Policy, April 2003.
Prepared by The National Ballet of Canada
In 1995 the Government of Canada established three pillars of Canadian Foreign Policy:
Protecting national security and contributing to global security.
Increasing prosperity in Canada and globally.
Promoting Canadian values and culture abroad.
There is a small budget within the Department of Foreign Affairs which supports the third pillar, the promotion of Canadian culture. Regrettably the resources allocated in support of the third pillar make the achievement of its underlying goals difficult, and hamper the opportunity for Canadian cultural organizations to contribute to the second goal of prosperity through strong trading relationships.
Background
Beginning in the early 1970's Canada's leading classical ballet company, The National Ballet of Canada, toured outside Canada in almost every year until 1995. In 1995, coincident with the new foreign policy, funding from the federal government for international touring effectively became so limited that it could only be accessed by small companies and individual performers. Apart from a single week appearance in New York City in 1998, The National Ballet has not been able to tour outside Canada since 1995.
During its 20 year era of global touring the company appeared every year in major US cities, in Europe and Asia. Our dancers represented Canada in countries around the world, providing our embassies, consulates and Canadian companies unique opportunities to foster trading relationships while showcasing the best of our artistic talent and quality of life. The company earned a reputation as one of the top five classical ballet companies in the world, and dancers like Karen Kain, Veronica Tennant, and Frank Augustyn became recognized as stars far beyond our borders. Rudolph Nureyev "adopted" the National Ballet toured with us, and created some of his most lasting works on our company.
The National Ballet is now in a unique position to foster both the second and third pillars of Canada's foreign policy. We have a new young generation of extraordinarily talented artists, many trained here in Canada, who deserve the opportunity to have their work seen outside Toronto. They are like Olympic athletes, who are never allowed to compete in the Olympics because their government will not send them to the Games. A number of our dancers do appear as guest artists with the leading companies of the world, and sadly we lose some of the best and brightest to ballet companies that offer the opportunity for international exposure which we can no longer give.
The company's demographic make-up has changed to reflect the wonderful cultural diversity of Canada. Less than half our 55 dancers are Canadian born, ten are from Asia, seven from Eastern Europe, and the remainder are immigrants from Africa, Western Europe, Australia, USA, the Caribbean and the Middle East.
How Canada Gains from Cultural Touring
Canada is able to demonstrate its unique quality of life, embracing many young artists from a multiplicity of ethnic backgrounds, who are selected for talent alone, and perform together as a classical ballet company rivaling the greatest in the world.
Canadian works of art whose vision and perspective are unique to us, and yet universal in their appeal and accessibility gain profile beyond the confines of our own borders.
Consulates and embassies in strategic cities are able to use touring company's performances to attract, entertain and inform our trading partners about the opportunities available for business relationships in Canada.
Canadian companies wishing to expand their markets gain an attractive and elegant means of entertaining potential customers in strategically important cities.
In the current global circumstance it has perhaps never been so important for Canada to expand its trading horizons to Europe and Asia, as well as foster non-political ties with our huge trading partner to the south. The National Ballet offers a high profile means to achieve these ends.
How Canada's Artistic Community gains from International Touring
We are able to retain artists of stature, rather than losing them to countries and companies that offer them the opportunity to perform on a global stage.
Our young talented dancers are exposed to the best in the world, and are able to grow artistically to new levels of excellence.
Our audiences recognize the excellence of what is available in Canada, as it is recognized and applauded abroad.
The lost opportunity that our inability to tour presents for the most talented dancers Canada produces is truly tragic. The career of a dancer is by its nature short. Reaching the top of ones' profession in Canada should not force our young artists to emigrate to reach the top of their professions in the world. They should be allowed the chance to "bring home the gold".
In summary it would require a relatively small increase in the funding by DFAIT of the third pillar to make it possible for our national arts organizations to be able to present their work in the major capitals of the world. The benefit to Canada would be incalculable.
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