Cooperation initiatives led by Quebec within international organizations
On a multilateral level, the Government of Quebec is contributing to strengthening international collaboration, mainly within two international organizations: UNESCO and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF).
In those organizations, the Government of Quebec supports initiatives and gives preference to issues it considers to be a priority in relation to Quebec's International Policy, the purpose of which is notably to strengthen Quebec's capacity for action and influence, promote Quebec's identity and culture and contribute to the global international solidarity effort.
International Organisation of la Francophonie
The Government of Quebec is a full member of the IOF, which includes 75 states and governments (56 members and 19 observers). As the fifth financial backer of the IOF, it actively supports carrying out IOF programming. The IOF's various cultural programs help support production, distribution and dissemination in areas like the performing arts, digital arts, media, multimedia and media arts, literature and music.
The Government of Quebec also supports the actions carried out by the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie(AUF) in its 2014-2017 cultural programming. As an operator of la Francophonie, the AUF brings together higher education and research institutions, totalling 812 member institutions in 104 countries. As a result, it represents one of the largest university associations in the world.
UNESCO
The Government of Quebec also contributes to strengthening international collaboration within UNESCO by fostering the emergency of dynamic cultural sectors in developing countries through its contribution to the IFCD. Along with other contributors, it encourages carrying out projects to:
- develop policies and strategies that have a direct impact on the creation, production and distribution of diverse cultural expressions, as well as access to them;
- strengthen institutional infrastructures that are deemed necessary to support viable cultural industries on the local and regional scale.
In 2015, the Government of Quebec's contribution was provided by the Ministere de la Culture et des Communications (MCC), the Ministere des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie (MRIF), the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quebec (CALQ) and the Societe de developpement des entre prises culture lies (SODEC) .
By supporting measures as part of IOF and UNESCO's IFCD programs, the Government of Quebec is working towards the following objectives:
International Organisation of la Francophonie
- Promote and enhance the status of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions;
- Assist states in developing and reviewing their cultural policies;
- Support the structuring of cultural industry channels;
- Support the movement of artists, thanks notably to the fund supporting the circulation of artists;
- Support the dissemination and marketing of cultural products from the south;
- Support the production, promotion and marketing of audiovisual work from southern countries.
UNESCO
- Meet the needs and priorities of countries where projects are carried out;
- Contribute to obtaining concrete, measurable, realistic and lasting results;
- Have a potential structural impact leading to the emergence of a dynamic cultural sector;
- Encourage South-South and North-South-South cooperation
IOF
In 2015, the Government of Quebec spent $CAD 3.1M on carrying out IOF (non-operational) programming. With a total programming budget of $CAD 58.8M (€38.8M), an estimate 12% of IOF programming funds are dedicated to culture. As a result, Quebec's funding for IOF cultural programming is estimated at $CAD 403K.
AUF
The Government of Quebec allocated $CAD 560K to the AUF in 2015 to carry out its (non-operational) programming. An indeterminate portion of that amount was dedicated to cultural programming.
UNESCO
Since it was founded, the Government of Quebec has contributed a total $CAD 250K to the IFCD. In 2015, the Government of Quebec allocated $CAD 50K to the IFCD. More specifically, four Quebec ministries and organizations contributed:
- MRIF: $CAD 20K
- MCC: $CAD 20K
- CALQ: $CAD 5K
- SODEC: $CAD 5K