Kim Campbell was Canada’s 19th Prime Minister and founded the Canadian Heritage Board. Viggo Mortensen is an actor, director, writer, poet, photographer, and publisher.Both are directors Glenn Gould Foundation.
An American diplomat once quipped that Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and blue jeans contributed more to winning the Cold War than America’s military might.
There is a lot of truth in this statement, and Canada can learn a lot from it.
Simply put, “culture matters.” Culture influences. Culture is essential in relations between people, trade, and diplomacy.
In a recent article, Globe and Mail correspondent James Griffiths showed how Canada lags behind its peers in the number of embassies and consulates abroad. “Canada is at risk of being left behind in a new global competition for influence,” he said.
Declining regions of the world are costly for Canada on many levels, from social to economic. But it is short-sighted to focus only on the number of missions a country carries out without talking about what is going on within them.
For example, Canada had a change of heart in 2017 after eliminating embassy cultural events budgets and cultural attachés. It was Canada 150, a unique opportunity to recapture the magic of our centenary and promote Canadianness around the world. So Canada created a dedicated budget for cultural events. The incredibly meager sum of $1.75 million was split between 174 foreign missions.
A missed opportunity to promote Brand Canada around the world. Where did the spirit of 1967 go?
The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s 2019 report, “Cultural Diplomacy in the Preliminary Stage of Canadian Foreign Policy,” provides a powerful boost to the use of Canada’s cultural capital as a means to restore its waning soft power. We are seeking to become Along the same lines, a 2005 U.S. Department of State report calls cultural diplomacy “the cornerstone of public diplomacy,” calling it “helpful in building a ‘foundation of trust’ with other peoples, and that policymakers can Based on this, we can influence politics, economics, and military affairs.” Agreement. ”
Nevertheless, Canada removed the meager funding for Global Affairs’ small cultural diplomacy program from the 2023 budget, ending the program.
We write as trustees of the Glenn Gould Foundation, an organization focused on promoting cultural diplomacy and Canadian leadership. We both love Canada. One is a former Canadian government leader and diplomat, and the other is a working artist who grew up on the Canada-U.S. border and has worked in Canada with some of Canada’s greatest filmmakers. I support Les Canadiens de Montreal.
In September, Boston Consulting Group released a ground-breaking report, “Global Arts Awards Opportunities in Canada.” The report is a 75-page study that outlines the numerous benefits for Canada of hosting an internationally renowned arts award, ranging from global influence to social and economic benefits. And within the country, national pride and unity will increase.
Our organization’s flagship initiative, the Glenn Gould Prize, is Canada’s only global award for creative achievement, and recipient Philip Glass has described it as the “Nobel Prize of the Arts.” called. It is rooted in the concepts of excellence, innovation and humanitarianism. This is the type of asset Canada can use to establish and enhance its standing in the world.
Just like hosting the Olympic Games, being home to a cultural institution of global significance presents Canada as a leader, a welcome, a place where the best people the world has to offer, and a place where people learn more about this country. Send a message. Other notable examples include the National Center for the Arts and the Toronto International Film Festival, which receive sustainment funding from Canada but not the Glenn Gould Prize.
Wrapping a country’s image with the legacy of great artists changes and dignifies global perceptions. When it comes to diplomacy, conflict resolution, a seat on the United Nations Security Council, or selling our technology overseas, we need to change our lumberjack image and become known as a nation of geniuses, visionaries, and innovators like Glenn Gould. There’s a lot to be said for becoming one. , a timeless global artistic icon.
Becoming a world leader in the cultural sector will benefit Canada’s artists, raise their profile, and support the $60 billion-a-year sector, which employs far more workers than the energy, agriculture, and automotive industries. I will support you. This will promote our exports, increase the value of our intellectual property, and encourage our creators to stay home and work instead of taking vacations to contribute to the GDP of other countries.
Visit our Great Britain and Northern Ireland campaign page to promote British brands internationally. This ambitious campaign harnessed the country’s natural talents and highlighted why it is a great place to visit, invest and trade.
As Global Affairs Canada engages in strategic reform, the time is now to transform Canada’s culture into a competitive advantage that fosters global investment and prosperity for Canadians. Canada is no less.