Home Culture in Canada National Film Board & Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Overview of the National Cultural Institutions

Overview of the National Cultural Institutions

CBC National Film Board The Canada Council for the Arts Telefilm Canada Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSRHC) National Gallery of Canada Canadian Museum of Civilization Canadian War Museum National Library of Canada National Archives of Canada National Arts Centre (NAC) CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) Since 1936, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), one of the world's foremost public broadcasting organizations, has been helping Canadians to appreciate their nation and understand the Canadian experience. It now operates two core national television networks (one in English, the other in French); four national radio networks (two French, two English); radio and television services for the North in English, French, and eight aboriginal languages; two self-supporting specialty cable television services (one English, one French); and an international shortwave radio service that broadcasts in seven languages. Working under the terms of the Broadcasting Act, the CBC provides a wide range of programming that informs and entertains Canadians from coast to coast. Its public programming enjoys a high level of approval: over half of adult Canadians listen to CBC radio and about 9 out of 10 watch CBC television... more. National Film Board (NFB) Created in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a public agency that produces and distributes films and other audiovisual works that reflect Canada to Canadians and the rest of the world. The NFB is a centre of filmmaking and video technology as well as a storehouse for an important part of the country's audiovisual heritage. Hailed over 3,000 times at major festivals, the NFB has won nine Oscars for its productions and an honorary Oscar "in recognition of its dedicated commitment to originate artistic, creative and technological activity and excellence in every area of filmmaking." Recent NFB productions include documentaries, animation shorts, CD-ROMS and interactive videos. NFB founder John Grierson wanted to establish a national cinema that would "see Canada and see it whole: its people and its purpose." This early inspiration, through the work of the NFB, continues to consolidate the Canadian character and give shape to the national dream... more. The Canada Council for the Arts The Canada Council for the Arts is an independent, arm's-length organization created by the Parliament of Canada in 1957 to "foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts." To fulfill this mandate, the Council offers a broad range of grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations working in music, writing, publishing, dance, theatre, visual arts and media arts. Each year, the Council awards some 4,200 grants in all disciplines and some 10,700 payments to authors through the Public Lending Right Commission. The Council also administers the Killam Program of scholarly awards and prizes, and offers a number of other prestigious awards, including the Glenn Gould Prize, the Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prizes and the Governor General's Literary Awards. The Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Public Lending Right Commission also operate under its aegis... more. Telefilm Canada (formerly Canadian Film Development Corporation) Telefilm Canada, a crown corporation, was created by Parliament in 1967. Telefilm's role differs from that of the National Film Board in that Telefilm is a funding agency rather than a producer or distributor. It has financed some 600 feature films and 1,500 television shows and series, helping to build what is now a multibillion-dollar Canadian industry. Telefilm support has also allowed Canadian talent and culture to acquire currency abroad: At international film festivals, works backed by Telefilm Canada have won more than 1,600 prizes in some 35 countries. Of all who appreciate Telefilm's contribution, it is perhaps the audiovisual artists who best understand what it has meant to Canadian culture. Filmmaker Denys Arcand (The Decline of the American Empire) states the perspective from his province in words that hold true from Newfoundland to British Columbia: "The existence of Telefilm determined the existence of a Quebec film industry. Once again, in a province such as Quebec, if there is no Telefilm, there is no film."... more. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) SSHRC is Canada's federal funding agency for university-based research and graduate training in the social sciences and humanities. Created as an independent body in 1977, SSHRC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Industry. SSHRC contributes to Canada's social and economic development through funding for research and training in fields such as health care, social and legal issues, culture and heritage, economics, and the environment. This research, besides being of academic interest, furnishes an important part of the practical knowledge required for sound decisions in matters affecting our standard of living and quality of life... more. National Gallery of Canada Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada holds the country's foremost collection of Canadian and European art. The present gallery building, located on Sussex Drive in Ottawa, is a formidable work of art in its own right--a magnificent structure of rose granite, towering glass, and steel enclosing over 30,000 square metres of balanced space and light. The National Gallery has always devoted itself to making Canadian art better known, sending exhibitions to museums across Canada and around the world. The Gallery's permanent collections of Canadian, Inuit, European, American, Asian, and contemporary art, together with its special exhibitions and creative programming, give the Canadian public wide access to art of an exceptional range and quality... more. Canadian Museum of Civilization The Canadian Museum of Civilization, located across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill, is one of the most distinguished and best equipped museums in the world. Designed by Douglas Cardinal and opened in 1989, the building is notable for its rare combination of massiveness and sweep, which serves to bring the structure into accord with both its riverbank surroundings and the flow of time depicted in its interior. With an archaeological collection dating from 1842, and a tradition of anthropological research going back to 1910, the Museum is an established centre for the study of human life in Canada. Activities are based on four general areas of research: archaeology, ethnology, folklore, and history. Now the nation's largest and most popular museum, the Canadian Museum of Civilization attracts over 1.3 million visitors a year... more. Canadian War Museum Established in 1880, the Canadian War Museum is located in Ottawa at 330 Sussex Drive, next door to the National Gallery. It houses permanent and temporary exhibits about Canada's accomplishments in war and peacekeeping. Artifacts of all types and periods illustrate Canada's past military activities, from its days as a French colony to its modern missions in peacekeeping. Life-size dioramas, displays, and a magnificent collection of war art allow visitors to experience a part of Canada's military history. The museum reveals, in a way that words alone cannot, how Canadians fought and how the fighting affected Canada. More important, it stands as a memorial, and a tribute, to all Canadians who served in war and peacekeeping... more. National Library of Canada The National Library of Canada, at 395 Wellington Street in Ottawa, is home to Canada's published heritage. The National Library's main role is to acquire, preserve, and promote the world's most comprehensive collection of Canadiana for all Canadians, now and in years to come. The Library holds materials such as books, periodicals, sound recordings, manuscripts, and electronic documents. Founded in 1953 as a department of the federal government, the Library now contains some three million items. Notable strengths include Canadian music, newspapers, and official government publications. The Library is also a leading centre for Canadian rare books, city directories, literary manuscripts, and literature for children and for adults... more. National Archives of Canada Founded in 1872, the National Archives of Canada today contains millions of records that bring the past to life, including texts, photographs, films, maps, videos, books, paintings, prints, and government files. The National Archives acts as the collective memory of the nation, preserving an essential part of Canada's heritage and making it available to the public through a variety of means--publications, exhibitions, special events, and reference and researcher services. Public records also provide much of the evidence required to uphold rights, substantiate claims, and maintain justice. The National Archives is located at 395 Wellington Street in Ottawa... more. National Arts Centre (NAC) The National Arts Centre, located on the banks of Ottawa's Rideau Canal, is Canada's leading bicultural theatre for the performing arts. Designed by Fred Lebensold, the triple-hexagon building contains three superb performance halls--the Opera, the Theatre, and the Studio--which together give the NAC a seating capacity of over 3600. By consistently encouraging artistic excellence, diversity, and youth, the National Arts Centre has helped to shape the careers of countless Canadian artists. The National Arts Centre gives the public year-round access to arts and entertainment, offering complete seasons of dance, English and French theatre, music and variety. Prominent attractions include Festival Canada, a summer celebration of the performing arts; and the National Arts Centre Orchestra, one of the finest ensembles of its kind in the world... more.