Everyone's a critic: Manitoba's culture scene gets reviewed

For the first time in almost 25 years, the provincial governmentis eyeingthe role culture plays in our society and asking Manitobans for their take.

Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Rochelle Squires announced Thursday the government has launched apromised return-on-investmentreview into Manitoba's arts scene.

• PC government will establish 'return on investment' test of social and cultural projects

Over the next three months, the province will host community meetings and forums with cultural groups, arts organizations and arts-loving Manitobansto find out what shape Manitoba's cultural policy should take.

The former NDP governmentmade a similar pledge in 2015, but was booted out of office before its Creative and Cultural Industries Reviewcould come to fruition.

Squires said she is anxious to hearwhat Manitobans have to say about their priorities when it comes to culture, but wouldn't commit to increasing funding for the arts in Manitoba.

"It is one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in Manitoba at 2.9 per cent of GDP and being responsible for about 22,000 jobs and that is very significant," Squires said. "That is a sector we definitely want to grow."

Squires stressed the fiscal pressure on the province isa top priority.

In 2016, the Manitoba Arts Council received almost $10 million from the province in operating and bridge grants.

"Culture is in everything we do, it is part of our identity," Squires said. "When we have something to brag about and we have people stay in Manitoba to put down their rootsand raise their families and stay, work and play in Manitoba, that is how we know we have a dynamic cultural industry."

Squires said the results of the review will be made public this fall.

Submissions can be made online, in-person at the public meetings, by email toimaginecreative@gov.mb.caor by mail to ManitobaSport, Culture and Heritage.

• Click here to read the province's discussion paper on arts and culture

The deadline for submissions isJune 30, 2017.