On February 18, 2021, we convened a powerhouse group of Canadian experts and funders to share information about Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund as well as Canada’s COVID-19 response.

Since 2017, the Canadian government has been investing in the digital and online capacity of its arts sector through the Canada Council’s $88.5m Digital Strategy Fund.

Given the advent of COVID in 2020, the timing and nature of this investment looks like it was absolute genius. But what impact has the fund actually had, and what can the Australian arts sector learn from the Canadian experience? Could it inspire something similar in Australia?

For this 90 minute Arts Front discussion, Feral Arts have invited some of the key players in the delivery of the Digital Strategy Fund to reflect on the successes and the challenges. Our Canadian host and facilitator Inga Petri from Strategic Moves will be joined by Program Manager at the Canada Council’s Digital Strategy Fund Marc Fournel, CEO of the Atlantic Presenters Association Laurie Gillis, artist and founder of ArtsPond Jessa Agilo, Tammy Lee, co-founder of Culture Creates and Randy K. Miller, Acting Director Arts Presentation and Training  Department of Canadian Heritage.