The Canada Council for the Arts has welcomed budgetary news that a major federal funding initiative for culture – including $25 million a year for the Council itself – has been extended for the next five years. In December last year, Canadian Heritage Minister, Liza Frulla, announced that funding for the Tomorrow Starts Today initiative, first announced in 2001, would be extended for the 2005-2006 fiscal year. The federal budget, announced today, widens the extension a full five years, leaving the Canada Council ‘delighted’. ‘This is wonderful news, not only for the Canada Council, but also for the thousands of artists and arts organisations who receive Council funding,’ said Canada Council Chair, Karen Kain. ‘I think this will allow the arts community to breathe a little easier, and we greatly appreciate the government’s efforts in making this happen.’ Tomorrow Starts Today is the Canadian Government’s $500 million plus investment in culture, and covers strategic initiatives for access to the arts; emerging artists; built heritage; the digital economy; and the export of cultural products and services. Though the Tomorrow initiative – and its newly announced extension – have given Canadian arts a much needed boost, the Canada Council itself has seen no increase in its base appropriation since 2000. Keenly aware of rising costs, Kain was quick to highlight the extension as the ‘first step’ toward solving broader arts funding problems. ‘The number of artists and arts organisations in Canada has increased dramatically over the past two decades, and far too many deserving projects have had to be turned down because of lack of funds,’ she said. ‘We are pleased that the government recognises the challenges we face, and appreciates the value the arts bring to Canadians and their communities.’ ‘It’s a good start.’ In 2003-2004, the Council provided support to more than 4,000 individual artists and arts organisations in hundreds of communities. For further information, CLICK HERE.