From the Arcan-L listserv:

"Make the case for culture to ordinary Canadians..." at http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2008/09/11/arts-panel.html

In the realm of the digital: at http://www.cbc.ca/spark/, episode 44 includes an interview with Brewster Kahle on "why, for the sake of our culture, we need to digitize works of print, audio and video;" and Ed Burtynsky discusses "photographs that will last 10,000 years."

(courtesy of Cheryl Avery, Univeristy of Saskatchewan)

In light of recent announcements of cuts to cultural programs, the CBC article raises an excellent point about arts funding. How does one justify the needs of artists during an election when there are perhaps more pressing needs? Does someone who lost their manufacturing job really care about having touring artists travel the world to show off Canadian culture? Although, I haven't looked, I doubt any of the party leaders have announced any arts or culture funding.

I haven't yet listened to the Spark one, but I find everything to do with the Long Now project just fascinating. I"d be interested to know how they think format shifting will be overcome. People think in such short lengths of time that it is refreshing to see projects that will take perhaps fifty lifetimes to complete. Maybe the Long Now people should talk to our politicians....

-Jess