Help Boost Canadian Arts and Culture

Regardless of whether or not Harper's cuts happen, the arts in Canada are never in great shape. One of the largest disadvantages that Canadians face in terms of arts and media is a lack of exposure. American stuff frequently comes with huge marketing budgets and, in part because of that, they get alot of free publicity in the Canadian Arts and Entertainment Press. Canadians, on the other hand, tend to have little or no publicity budget and frequently struggle to get media attention.

So, inspired by an election related project I'm working on, I'm taking a small, specific and concrete step to try to help (at least a little).

I've started two different groups on Facebook

Boost: Canadian Film and Television (http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26499944909)

Boost: Canadian Music (http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28783813599)

The goal is to get these group as close as possible to, but not over, 5000 members. 5,000 is the maximum number of members a group can have without Facebook shutting off your ability to send messages.

Periodically I will send out videos posted on YouTube (music videos, film and television trailers etc). Members are then asked to click on the link, watch them, rate them and comment, and then use the "Share" link on Facebook to share them with friends.

This flurry of activity will not only insure that many people see it (the members of the group for a start) but will also give them a quick boost in YouTube's popularity rating, so a great many people not in the group will be made aware of it.

Again, it's a small step but 5-10 thousand views for a video or trailer is significant in terms of the Canadian market. I'm also aware that there are other areas of the arts that needs support even more, but since these are the strongest areas they are the best to do a test run with. If it doesn't work with music, film and television it is unlikely to work elsewhere. If it does, in fact, work then other groups may be added to the roster later.

Other Arts and Culture related groups I've created

Publicbroadcasting.ca (group for my web site - a combination of Arts, Culture, News and Politics)

Publicbroadcasting.ca (page - see above)

Canadian Music (page)

CBC Radio 2

CBC Radio 3 Sessions (group)

CBC Radio 3 Sessions (page)

Events Toronto (group)

Events Toronto (page)

Friends of the CBC

I Want My Radio 3 TV

Canadian Renaissance Project
(obviously not something that is going to fly with the current government, but maybe someday)