• There's been a real lack of positive action and response from the arts community to these existential questions that confront us. And I really wonder whether that's not because they're simply bewildered by what's been going on. They're terrified, most of them. A lot of the conversation that goes on that I'm aware of has to do with the precariousness of existence for the artist. There is no there's no solid ground for them to work on when there's no money. So they're afraid to rock the boat, one thing. But they do tend to talk in circles without ever coming to a point of conclusion that allows them to take action.

My conversation with writer, dance historian and arts policy consultant Max Wyman who I knew when he was on the board of the Canada Council in the early 2000s. I met with Max on March 18, 2025 at his home in Lions Bay, British Columbia which sits on the unceded traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. 

Max is the author of numerous books, including The Compassionate Imagination: How the Arts Are Central to a Functioning Democracy, which he will talk about in this episode. He’ll also talk about quite a provocative article, published on February 21, 2025 in The Tyee called To Save the Arts, Blow Up the Old Ways, which caught my attention, in part because it reminded of my letter to the arts community about the ecological crisis from October 2024. 

Both of our postings ask what I think are fair but hard questions – in difficult times - about the future of the arts sector, and of Canadian culture writ large, so it’s all very timely. I asked Max to stick his neck out and elaborate upon his vision and actions, which he did with finesse and gusto.

Action points

• Artists need to be bolder than they are and take action
• The cultural community in Canada should get behind the notion of a Canadian identity that can be brandished in the face of the attacks that are being leveled at it
• Help create and participate in national displays of art at every level
• Thank about what you have to offer to the public
• Help position arts and culture as central to who we are as a nation, who we are as people, who we are as individuals with a sense of belonging, of being understood and giving a voice.

Episode notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AI

Story Preview

What if Canadian artists held the key to unlocking a stronger national identity and a more compassionate society? Max Wyman challenges the arts community to rise above despair and take bold action, envisioning a vibrant cultural landscape that celebrates unity and shared values.

Chapter Summary

00:00 The Crisis in the Arts Community
01:12 Introducing Max Wyman
02:30 The Call for Bold Action
04:16 Celebrating Canadian Identity
06:02 Reimagining Canadian Culture
08:31 The Power of Arts and Empathy
10:15 Integrating Arts with Policy Making
12:34 Addressing Environmental and Social Justice

Featured Quotes

• We’ve talked long enough and we need to take action.
• The arts are a place where you can come together and see things in their complexity and share them without threat.
• I think the arts and culture are central to who we are as a nation, who we are as people, who we are as individuals.

Behind the Story

Max Wyman, a seasoned writer and arts advocate, draws on his extensive experience to address the existential questions facing the Canadian arts community. His conversation highlights the importance of reimagining the sector’s role in fostering national pride, social understanding, and a compassionate approach to arts and cultural policymaking in an increasingly polarized world.

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END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODES

Hey conscient listeners, 

I’ve been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). 

It’s my way to give back.

In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I I publish free ‘a calm presence' Substack see https://acalmpresence.substack.com.

Your feedback is always welcome at [email protected] and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads, BlueSky, Mastodon, Tik Tok, YouTube and Substack.

Share what you like, etc

I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. 

Claude Schryer

Latest update on July 8, 2025