Quote:
Originally Posted by octothorp
In regards to the initial article without getting into a debate about the oilsands themselves, it's absolutely crucial that the arts granting organizations continue to operate at arms length from governmental image concerns. Given that sustaining and developing the film industry here is a priority for the province, it would be a disaster for the industry if the government was seen as rewarding or denying funding based on the political messages of the work.
I have no problem with them changing the model to one based on merit as Blackett suggests; lots of other Alberta Foundation for the Arts programs are based on merit. But with any merit-based program, it's even more important to be operating at arms length from the government. If Blackett is the person determining merit, then it's no better than censorship. Merit needs to be determined by (in this case, film) industry professionals, who are unlikely to be any more sympathetic to the oil sands.
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Couldn't agree more.
If the government begins dictating the subject matter of the arts they are funding it begins to impede on some pretty scary stuff. Extreme examples would be North Korea or China.