On March 2, 2021, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, in collaboration with Simon Brault, CEO for the Canada Council for the Arts, announced details of the implementation of $181.5 million in new funding for the live arts and music sectors for 2021-2022. These funds were first announced on November 30, 2020, as part of the 2020 Fall Economic Statement.
This new funding will support the planning and presentation of COVID-19 safe events in the arts and music sectors – including both live and digital – and provide work opportunities in these sectors. It includes the one-year renewal of an additional $25 million initially provided in Budget 2019 to help stabilize the overall environment for the arts and music sectors through the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program ($7 million), the Canada Arts Presentation Fund ($8 million) and the Canada Music Fund ($10 million).
For its part, the Canada Council for the Arts will distribute $116.5 million, as follows:
The Department of Canadian Heritage will deliver $40 million in new funding to stimulate short-term contracting of workers in the live events sector, through the Support for Workers in the Live Arts and Music Sectors Fund.