On November 14th, the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) released an update about their new funding model, outlining how they will utilize the increase in funding committed by the Government of Canada. Here at the CCF/FCMA we want the Canadian contemporary fine craft community to be well prepared for the transition to this new model, and we encourage you all to view the CCA’s new video and read their full update here.

We also recommend that artists and organizations interested in the new funding model read through the CCA’s current strategic plan. It is very informative about what the council will be supporting, and what it expects from the arts community. Within the plan, they outline four main commitments:

• Increase support to artists, collectives and organizations striving for artistic excellence and greater engagement in the arts by an increasingly diverse public.
• Amplify the quality, scale and sharing of Canadian art through digital technology.
• Renew the relationship between Indigenous artists, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences, for a shared future.
• Raise the international profile of Canadian art and artists.

Artists and organizations should also be aware of the new CCA online portal – set to launch this December. Once a profile is created in the portal, applicants be informed of all the funding opportunities they are eligible to apply for within the new funding model. Profiles must be created 30 days in advance of applying for any grant.

The CCF/FCMA has continued to converse with the CCA to ensure we are prepared for the transition to the new funding model. We are pleased to report that our annual operating grant has been extended at the current level for an additional year, taking us through to the end of 2017-2018. We will continue to work with all of our members to prepare for the transition to the CCA’s new funding model, ensuring that our plans are a reflection of the wants and needs of our membership.