Arts groups focus more on Canadian acts to cope with shrinking loonie

SASKATOON – Saskatchewan festival and theatre-goers may notice more Canadian talent on the schedule as local arts groups cope with a shrinking loonie and changing consumer habits.

Director Kevin Tobin says the Saskatoon Jazz Fest will celebrate its 30th anniversary this summer with more Canadian content than ever before because a low dollar means it’s more expensive to bring in American talent.

The Craven Country Jamboree may also feature more local talent to cope with the high dollar.

Director Kim Blevins says two of the three headline acts they’ve booked for this summer will be paid $1 million, “and that’s American dollars.”

Concern for the arts industry has peaked across Canada after the New Brunswick Maritime Countryfest cancelled its entire festival because much of its talent came from the U.S.

Tobin says a Jazz Festivals Canada programming meeting in November focused heavily on the effects of the dollar.

He says they are monitoring global markets and the price of oil, because each has its own unique affect on Canada’s economy.

Tobin says they are also searching for more sponsors to maintain their level of free and cheap shows and will have to become more creative with their revenue streams and generating community support.

Broadway Theatre artistic director Kirby Wirchenko says while nearly all of their artists and movie distributors are Canadian, a flattening economy, caused in part by the dollar, changes the way people consume art and the type of talent he brings in.

During leaner times, people are more likely to cut out luxury expenses like movies, restaurants and concerts.

“People used to call the movie industry recession-proof … because movies used to be seen as a cheap form of entertainment,” Wirchenko says. “Nowadays, if you were to go out to a major chain theatre, a movie night can cost you $30, $40, $50, but you might have Netflix at home for $10.”

Because people don’t want to take risks, they are also less likely to spend money on unknown artists, so Wirchenko says that affects what he chooses to bring to the theatre.

For now all three groups hope to keep ticket prices down to avoid scaring off customers.

“If dollar continued to plunge we may have to revisit that, but at this time we’re committed to making sure our fans get the best value for their dollars,” Blevins says, Craven site improvement projects may be put on hold to avoid rising costs.

“Are we happy about it? No, but it’s something that’s outside of our control and all we can do is try to cushion the blow as much as we can.”

(CKOM)