Coalition

Concerns

The concern that is being brought forward to the government focusses on artists who use appropriation in their work. These artists are neither protected nor supported by the copyright laws that are meant to protect all artists. Yet they win national and international awards, their work is described in the pages of national and international art books and art journals, and they are exhibited and collected across the country and around the world.

Many artists today work with a contemporary palette. This palette can seem unfamiliar to the viewer. Artists now often work from within popular culture. The materials they use comes from such diverse sources as film, television, radio, advertising, news, text, character etc. It can be referred to as appropriation, collage, multi-media, cast off material, found material, borrowed material etc. It always involves Artists using already-existing source material and transforming this material into new work, with new interpretations and new meanings.

The coalition that has come together to express their concern are asking the government to consult again with artists and those in the cultural sector. The coalition wants the law to accurately reflect and support these valid and important forms of contemporary Canadian art. And to protect the artists who make this art.