What does it mean to be an Albertan? What does it mean to be Canadian? What connects all people who live in this country? These are just some of the questions that individuals have left to ponder since Premier Danielle Smith announced the October referendum earlier this year. These questions are explored in an article written by Simon Mallett, the Executive Director at the Rozsa Foundation, and was posted to the Rozsa Foundation’s website in May. The post makes a compelling case for why art could have a major impact on the results of this upcoming vote.
The Rozsa Foundation is a private Calgary-based organization which works to support the arts throughout the province by being a source of funding, training, and storytelling. The foundation has spent more than three decades strengthening and advocating for Alberta’s art community.
After listening and engaging in conversations with fellow creatives about the referendum, Mallett was prompted to use his platform to speak on the topic and encourage artists to use their skills to make a case against Alberta sovereignty.
“Alberta musicians, storytellers, visual artists, and cultural organizations must stand together and use our voices and our craft to say that we are Canadian, we are proud of it, and we are not willing to let that go.” wrote Mallet in his article.
Mallett also argues that art best illustrates how the province's distinctive history and culture is deeply interconnected with the rest of the country.
“Art has the unique power to make people feel what policy papers cannot: the warmth of belonging, the cost of loss, the beauty of a shared identity. A song, a painting, a play; they do not argue for unity, they demonstrate it.” wrote Mallett.
Mallett sat down with the Gauntlet to discuss the piece and what advocacy means for him. He describes how his specific position working for a private organization that is not funded by the provincial government gives him the privilege to freely voice opinions on the referendum.
“I feel like we as an organization we’re in a position where we can advocate for the arts to step into this space of encouraging conversations around the need for Alberta to remain part of Canada,” said Mallett.
When it comes to Alberta separation, there is a level of uncertainty about how this possibility will affect industries in the province such as art. Mallett asserts that the danger of voting for Alberta sovereignty is that the specific ways in which it will impact artists are virtually unknown. Mallett predicts that separation could affect how much funding artists and art organizations receive from the government. He also says there is also risk of “talent drain” if a large number of skilled creatives in the province decide to take skills and expertise elsewhere.
“I'm not sure anyone can necessarily fully anticipate the negative fallout that would emerge from separation, and I think that is what separatist agendas are leaning on,” said Mallett, “For the arts, there are all these sorts of downstream effects, some of which we can't anticipate.”
Though Mallett has strong opinions on the referendum, he also encourages creatives who are for separation to voice their opinions and engage in public discussions. Mallett understands that the art community is not a monolith and what he truly desires is for all artists to use their talents to engage with others.
“Even if you are a pro-separatist, I would encourage folks to use their art to express why; that might also be super illuminating to those of us who feel differently,” said Mallett.
In times of great political division and uncertainty, younger generations begin to look towards the future with dread, believing that they have no influence or ability to make changes. Mallett disagrees, describing how he sees value in any and all forms of expression and sharing one's perspective.
“I would often say that the one thing that every person has, regardless of where they're at in their artistic development or in their life, etc., is their voice,” said Mallett. “You never know who's listening, you never know who's watching, and you never know who you might influence.”
This upcoming referendum is often portrayed as the war of the demographics: urban vs rural or young vs poor. As Mallett suggests, a potential way to bridge these perspective gaps between various populations could be to encourage curiosity, empathy and mutual communication between parties.
