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A message from Samantha Sannella, President & CEO of Toronto's Design Exchange in response to recent Canadian federal government cuts to cultural funding.
Dear Members and Friends, The DX was pleased to take 10 emerging designers to London for 100% Design – a premier juried tradeshow showcasing the best design from around the world. The booth was a great success and attracted immense attention from buyers and press. Other counties that showcased design included France, Norway, Germany, Korea, Thailand and the UK. Funding for our booth was provided by the DX, Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Trade Routes) and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Trade and Development – International Trade. As well, each designer paid a fee to enter the booth and was required to travel to London (at their own expense) to work at the tradeshow for 4 days. Due to the recent cut in federal funding for international trade in cultural goods and services, this will be the last DX mission overseas with federal funding. Over the past 5 years, government funding has decreased by 98% at the DX. While I certainly understand the need to prioritize budget expenditures (we are experts here at the DX), I do not understand the shortsightedness of our federal leaders. Cultural goods and services help brand Canada. Our artists and designers are great ambassadors for Canada and their contributions to the foreign opinion of Canada cannot be underestimated.& nbsp; History illustrates the importance of art and design to culture and I am perplexed that while it is so visible (and documented), the federal government continues to overlook it. Design – every environment, every object, and every experience – can drive an economy contribute to a better quality of life and preserve the environment. Mr. Harper, are you listening? If you are, I am steamed. Regarding your recent speech, I don’t know any rich artists or designers. In fact, the artists and designers that I know are struggling to pay their bills like the rest of the ‘ordinary’ folks in Canada – and most have other ‘ordinary’ jobs to help them survive. Additionally, people who work at the non-profits who help the artists and designers are often overworked and underpaid and service the community because of their passion and love for it, not for the money – and most are paid dismal salaries for the amount of work they perform. Moreover, if your government leaders embraced design as a key differentiator in manufacturing, then perhaps we would not be losing the manufacturing jobs of those ‘ordinary’ people. Perhaps you should set an example as the leading role model in Canada and embrace the art and design community so that Canada is not just a country that exploits its environment by digging up minerals, cutting down trees and squashing oil out of sand. Is that the message we want to send to our neighbors and the legacy that we really want to leave our children? Sam
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