Your $ this Month
Hello all!
Just letting you know that your Patreon funds this month are going to a small comics press.
In short: The Nova Scotia government has slashed Arts funding to the effect of devastating almost every Arts institution in the province, including music, theatre, publishing, heritage, tourism, you name it. This is in service of an austerity budget meant to mitigate the provincial deficit. The deficit is a problem that the Tim Houston government largely created: "from 2016/17 to 2026/27, total provincial spending will have increased by a projected $8.8 billion. Despite serving only half of that period, the Houston government is responsible for more than two-thirds ($6.1 billion) of that increase."
There are many organizations I care deeply about who will be put in crisis over this. Many of them were scrounging for scraps as it was.
The Cabot Trail Writers' Festival
Celtic Colours International Festival
Anything happening in a rural community
No conservative government cares much for the Arts. No government at all really does. They don't really see the value when you could be making big bucks fracking for uranium or whatever. The Arts sector is undervalued and underestimated, when in reality, if I may quote the article I just linked to:
Last year’s Artworks national study on the economic and social dividends from Canada’s arts and culture sector demonstrated very clearly that the arts and culture sector is one of the most important economic drivers in Canada. The arts and culture sector contributed $65 Billion to Canada’s direct GDP in 2024 ($131 Billion if adding indirect and induced dividends) outpacing the overall growth in the economy. According to Statistics Canada, in 2023, the Nova Scotia arts sector brought in over $2 Billion in GDP and was responsible for gross economic output of over $3.5 billion. The sector accounts for more than 16,000 jobs–employing more people than farming, fishing, and forestry combined. Exceptionally in Nova Scotia, the majority of those jobs are located in rural areas.
So, this month, you are supporting comics. Just not mine.
This is a fundraiser for Conundrum Press. It is one of those very special small publishers who fill in the gaps necessary for Canada to own its place of pride as a producer of great comic artists. You foster new talent, you open doors to diverse perspectives, you take chances, you build a good name among artists and readers alike, and you end up with a culture of comics worth talking about. That is what small presses like these do, they are a very important part of the fabric. And after 30 years of work, I do not want to see them fail now.
Add to the fundraiser, if you like. But definitely check out the comics they have to offer. And thank you, as always.
-kate
Comments (9)
Contributed.
Sometimes it seems like artists are the only ones who understand art's true value. Happy to contribute in any small way.
I'm totally okay with this
Conundrum Press is so great. Good job signal boosting their Crowdfundr.
Such a good cause. Thank you for all you do Kate
Hate that you have to do this but love that you're doing it. And thank you for listing all the causes!
Ahh, the folks at Conundrum are so great; I’m very sorry to hear they and other organizations are being hit so hard.
Thank you for doing this! I was just explaining to friends yesterday that you do things like this - they were only familiar with your H!aV work and I was glad not just to introduce them to your longer narrative work but also to explain how you've been using your platform to do good in the world, too. I've had to cut back on my patreon commitments but I won't let yours go because I believe in your work and your causes, and I am happy to support both, as you see fit. I'm in Ontario now and hearing a lot of my friends concerned about funding for the arts here too, so I think it's Canada-wide and deeply concerning. One of the things I love about Canada is that it has supported its artists. It should support its artists (and everyone else too, really)! But in the event of governmental shortcomings, I'm glad that there are good people trying to help. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you Kate. I am beyond disgusted with the Houston government and indeed all Conservative governments across the country who seem determined to line certain pockets at the expense of the most vulnerable.