In the calm aftermath of launching their strategic plan for the next three years, Canadian Artists Representation/ le front des artistes Canadiens Ontario ( CARFAC Ontario, Studio 440) Executive Director Kristian Clarke, joined us for an afternoon chat about what the future holds for the organization and how they envision their role in advocating for artists’ rights in Ontario. They are in an exciting position as the team who keeps CARFAC Ontario humming along looks forward to programs and initiatives that will truly transform how the organization does its work. Kristian has been flying solo at the helm of CARFAC Ontario for more than six months and is thrilled to see a membership increase of more than one hundred per cent in the last six years. There are still many artists to reach, approximately 15,000 in Ontario alone so they have plenty to keep them busy.
CARFAC Ontario has always been an advocacy organization by and for artists in the visual and media arts. Its founding story is a piece of Canadian history representing the beginning of an organized voice for professional artists. CAR was the brain child of artists including Greg Curnoe and Tony Urquahart who in 1968 questioned why reproductions were being made of their art by the National Gallery of Canada without any fees being paid to the artist. They had essentially been asked to sign away the rights to their work and along with others like Jack Chambers, they disputed the request and began a formalized system of representation for artists rights. Seven years later CARFAC Ontario was formed and the organization now finds itself at the centre of conversations with the provincial government about Status of the Artist legislation in Ontario.
In 1998 CARFAC National was given the power to negotiate collective agreements with all federal institutions on behalf of Canada's artists. As it stands, CARFAC Ontario, with a number of other groups, are working with the current government to reform Canada’s copyright laws and institute provincial Status of the Artist legislation. CARFAC Ontario’s website suggests that this “could prove to be one of the greatest opportunities for visual and media artists to protect their rights and improve their status” and have committed to actively advocating on the behalf of artists for this cause. They have also designed a primer with information about the legislation and how artists can become involved available on their website.
Beyond the very clear connection CARFAC Ontario has with the artistic community, Kristian is interested in expanding their relationships to a wider cross-section of of the population. As Kristian explains “in the past we have focused on targeting artists for membership, but I think it’s important to increase our visibility by making the broader population aware that CARFAC Ontario is the association for the visual and media arts. Whether you’re an artist or not, people should know that if they have questions about this industry, they should come to us.”
Guaranteed success in the role of resource provider requires staff members that are not only proficient in their own areas of expertise, but are open and receptive to the public and capable of sharing a wide array of information. Kristian feels this has been achieved - “I have been extremely lucky, even though we’re like most not-for-profit organizations in that we are under-resourced, I have a staff that are very efficient and talented.” This staff includes Associate Director Sara Kelly, Communications Coordinator Adriana Alarcón, and part-time staff member Greg Manuel who is the Artist’s Health and Safety Workshop Coordinator.
The health and safety workshops are one of CARFAC Ontario’s new programs that clearly struck a chord with the community – the enthusiastic response from funders to implement a program such as this identified a gap that wasn’t immediately detectable. As Kristian explains; ”I think the Ontario government is really concerned about improving standards within the workplace. They have a hard time reaching self-employed individuals and because almost all of our members are self-employed and generally work in unsafe environments, they latched on to this type of programming.” CARFAC Ontario partnered with an organization called Environmental Defence, who advocate on broader environmental issues. The workshops also forged a connection with the Toronto District School Board and they are now working together and hope to create a classroom manual for Art Instructors to ensure safe use of potentially toxic and dangerous art materials. CARFAC Ontario will have a permanent health and safety resource section on their website where artists will actually be able to purchase materials and get information about safer substitutions for ones they may currently be using.
Not only concerned with the practical side of health and safety, the organization also mandates advocating for the support of a cultural and political environment where artists are valued as crucial citizens. “I think it’s vitally important that the provincial government in coordination with municipalities develop a cultural planning strategy and incorporate artists as integral components to society through the creation of proper housing facilities and providing tax breaks to landlords who accommodate these individuals. The onus is on the government to make sure that artists, and culture in general, aren’t seen as frivolous but as vital. The whole idea of a cultural class is gaining momentum and has driven the agenda of a lot of bureaucrats as they begin to see the importance of the arts in community building.”
Go to www.carfacontario.ca to learn about all the benefits of becoming a member . You can also drop by suite 440 or call staff for information at: 416-340-8850.
CARFAC Ontario Staff (back) Executive Director Kristian Clarke; (front left to right) Associate Director Sara Kelly, Communications Coordinator Adriana Alarcòn, and Workshop Coordinator Greg Manuel.
