Despite concerns that arts funding would potentially be on the chopping block in the 2025 budget, the first budget tabled during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s term includes additional funding for the arts.

Arts organizations were concerned that the government’s announcement that it was asking all departments to find savings of 15 per cent over the next three years would result in decreased funding available for arts programs.

Titled Canada Strong, the 2025 budget, tabled by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne on Nov. 4, “focuses on building our strength at home to ensure Canada does not just withstand global shifts but prospers from them.”

As part of that focus, the budget outlines a series of investments in the arts, to the tune of more than $500 million over four years. In the third chapter, titled “Empowering Canadians,” these investments are outlined under the heading “Connecting Canadians Through Cultural Experiences and Community Celebrations.”

Among the new allocations are $21 million over three years to the Department of Canadian Heritage for the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Program, $46.5 million over three years to Canadian Heritage for the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, and $6 million over three years for the Canada Council for the Arts.

Complete details can be found in Chapter 3.3, “Protecting Canadian Culture, Values, and Identity.” the budget’s chapter 3.3.

The budget does not include any direct mention of publishing-specific programs, such as the Canada Book Fund.

To meet the savings requirements, Canadian Heritage will “refocus its cultural programming to meet the evolving needs of recipients and ensure program effectiveness,” and “reorganize its internal services and program administration to consolidate efforts, reduce overlap, and modernize workflows,” the budget says.

The Canadian Arts Coalition, which had launched a letter-writing campaign this year in support of arts funding, responded to the budget positively but noted there is still more work to be done to support the arts in Canada.

“The recognition of the arts  expressed in this budget, along with the listed investments demonstrate that arts and heritage remain part of the national conversation, which we deeply welcome, and offer a foundation upon which further commitments can be built,” the organization said in a statement. “We congratulate the Government on the positive initiatives in Budget 2025, and we commit to working constructively with ministers and parliamentary committees to continue to strengthen arts and culture in Canada.”