Provincial Election Arts Advocacy

Arts and culture workers are major drivers of economic development and community well-being in Ontario, and in the Bay of Quinte region. With economists predicting up to a 5-year recovery period for the hard-hit arts sector, arts and culture workers need increased government support to thrive during and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. In the lead-up to this spring’s provincial election, County Arts has been working to ensure that the needs and perspectives of the local arts sector and arts and culture workers are on the radar of Bay of Quinte candidates.

• We developed and shared a Backgrounder to provide provincial and local context/statistics and sources, and to outline the benefits of, and what’s needed to support, a thriving arts sector in the Bay of Quinte region and beyond.
• We conducted a survey to gather local perspectives on issues relating to the arts and arts & culture workers. 58% of respondents were artists/arts educators and 17% were owners or employees of an arts organization/business located in the Bay of Quinte.
• We shared survey results with and posed relevant questions to all of the Bay of Quinte candidates. We are now sharing their responses to help residents make an informed decision on election day. 
• Using survey results, we formulated arts sector-related questions for inclusion in interviews and a Candidates Forum, which recently aired on 99.3 County FM.

Click here to view our 2022 Election Advocacy package, including survey results, candidate responses, and more!