Early themes characterizing the arguments for publicly funded government support have shifted away from an emphasis on national and cultural identity, anti-Americanism, and anti-commercialization, to the recognition that the private and public sectors of the arts and cultural industries are interrelated and, as a result, the state still has a role to play in facilitating the success of these industries. The extent of that role is still being debated by contemporary writers.
The History of Public Funding for Arts and Culture in Canada
Early proponents of publicly funded government support for Canadian cultural institutions and programs called for state intervention in the arts and cultural sectors based on three broad arguments: the need to establish and maintain a national identity; defend Canadian culture from “cultural imperialism,” especially in the form of Americanization; and preserve and develop the country’s artistic and cultural heritage while avoiding its wholesale commercialization. Read more…
Duisburg and Oberhausen Become Centres for the Arts for Ruhr 2010
Duisburg was once Europe’s biggest inland port. Now part of its waterfront has become an attractive marina for leisure craft with an amphitheatre and lively bars and restaurants.
Innerhafen at Duisburg
Weisse Flotte (White Fleet) tourist boats offer tours around the Innerhafen (Inner Harbour).
The Innerhafen area is just a short stroll from the city centre where the broad Kongisstrasse is lined with shops. Overlooking it is the white Opera House, home of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein.
Europe’s First Atlas Created by Gerhard Mercator Read more…
Conservatives Express Disdain for Arts and Literature
According to a poll by Innovative Research Group, only 40 percent of Canadians agreed in January 2008 that Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government is committed to defending the institutions and values that make us special as Canadians. A year earlier, 74 percent of Canadians said they thought “government investments in arts and culture are needed so we do not forget our past and national history.” Read more…