The provincial government announced it will be investing $2.8 million into New Brunswick’s hard-hit arts sector as part of the budget announced on Tuesday.
Though it’s nowhere near the $12.5 million ArtsLink NB and other arts organizations asked for in January, ArtsLink executive director Julie Whitenect says they are pleased with the announcement.
“This is a program that’s not seen an investment since I believe 2014 so it’s been a long time and the sector has not been recovering as quickly as some sectors hit by the pandemic,” she said in an interview on Thursday.
Philippe Beaulieu, president of the AAAPNB, an organization representing francophone artists in the province, agrees.
“We’re accustomed to not getting what we ask for; most of the time we don’t get anything. But this time, 2.8 million, it’s a step in the right direction,” he said on Thursday.
He’s hoping this will be a reoccurring investment, as there was an increased demand for arts grants before the pandemic, and with many artists having left the industry, there is a need to rebuild long-term.
“The 2.8 million this year cannot be a one-shot deal. It has to be a recurring investment for the next five, six years,” he said.
Beaulieu said that with three out of 10 jobs having been lost in N.B.’s arts sector, the funding doesn’t fix everything but does provide some hope.
It’s not yet known how the money will be distributed.
Whitenect is hoping the money will be invested in bolstering the current programs in place, like existing supports for the publishing and the film industry.
Beaulieu says inflationary pressures impacting the arts and entertainment budget for many is a major concern.
“One thing that we’ll have to work on really hard is to get the public to come back to the performing arts, to fill up the seats,” he said.
Whitenect is optimistic the demand for performances and artwork is there.
“I’m hopeful that at this point people are just so eager to do something that they once again turn to the arts as a way for them to reconnect with their community.”
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 100 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in base metal and utility stocks, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 103.40 points at 24,542.48.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 192.31 points at 42,932.73. The S&P 500 index was up 7.14 points at 5,822.40, while the Nasdaq composite was down 9.03 points at 18,306.56.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.44 cents US on Tuesday.
The November crude oil contract was down 71 cents at US$69.87 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down eight cents at US$2.42 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$7.20 at US$2,686.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up a penny at US$4.35 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 200 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were also headed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 205.86 points at 24,508.12.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 336.62 points at 42,790.74. The S&P 500 index was up 34.19 points at 5,814.24, while the Nasdaq composite was up 60.27 points at 18.342.32.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.71 cents US on Thursday.
The November crude oil contract was down 15 cents at US$75.70 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down two cents at US$2.65 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$29.60 at US$2,668.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents at US$4.47 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was little changed in late-morning trading as the financial sector fell, but energy and base metal stocks moved higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 0.05 of a point at 24,224.95.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 94.31 points at 42,417.69. The S&P 500 index was down 10.91 points at 5,781.13, while the Nasdaq composite was down 29.59 points at 18,262.03.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.71 cents US compared with 73.05 cents US on Wednesday.
The November crude oil contract was up US$1.69 at US$74.93 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was up a penny at US$2.67 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$14.70 at US$2,640.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up two cents at US$4.42 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.
