Cultural Human Resources Council

About The CHRC

On this page:

• What is the CHRC?
• What CHRC does
• CHRC Board of Directors
• Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee (PATAC)

Canada’s Cultural Sector is a distinctive major employer

The impact of Canada’s cultural sector is significant. In 2019, a workforce of 798,000 created a $56B contribution to GDP – 3.4% of Canada’s workforce, more than hospitality, forestry and agriculture combined. And this workforce is distinct, comprised of creative, highly educated people (about 30% self-employed) working with over 100,000 non-profit and for-profit establishments. The cultural sector was hit hard by the pandemic and has yet to fully recover, with thousands of workers forced to leave the sector. If there was ever a time to invest in the human resources of Canada’s creative sector, the time is now.

The Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) plays a critical role

Dedicated to the well-being of the human factor in Canada’s diverse professional cultural community, CHRC is the first place to go for human resources solutions and thought leadership.

Created in 1995 to strengthen the Canadian cultural workforce, CHRC is a unique national service organization whose membership and collaborations reflect the diversity of our nation’s arts and cultural disciplines and industries.

CHRC has a rich history of providing leadership, research, training, innovative solutions, and resources to the Canadian cultural industries in Live Performing Arts; Writing and Publishing; Visuals Arts and Crafts; Film and Television; Digital Media; Music and Sound Recording; and Heritage. Working in both official languages, CHRC also works on cross-sector issues such as Cultural Management, Career Management and Export Marketing, and strives to be at the center of vision and forward thinking in cultural human resources development.

Priorities to advance the sector

Following sector consultations, CHRC’s new strategic priorities reflect a dedication to the well-being of the human factor in the professional cultural community. As the first stop for human resource solutions, we will continue to offer resources to organizations and individuals across the sector. Representing the growing diversity of the country, CHRC will enrich its role as a convenor, researcher and thought leader, providing informed opinion to both sector organizations and those addressing policy change at the national level.

Our work is guided by the following core principles and beliefs:

• The cultural sector is a national resource for Canada that needs to be nurtured and protected for the public good.
• Value Canada’s rich diversity of communities and practices in arts & culture.
• Those who work in the cultural sector for the benefit of all deserve a healthy and safe environment and that by removing barriers, resources can be available to meet needs.

Download CHRC's advocacy one-pager

What CHRC does

With general membership and board members drawn from within the cultural sector, CHRC’s work is guided by the sector and by the priority needs identified by sub-sector studies and baseline labour force survey data. Further information on these documents may be found in the History of CHRC document.

Specifically, CHRC undertakes:

Project Development

CHRC manages and facilitates projects to address specific cultural human resource issues such as succession, training, compensation, HR management/planning, career planning and competency development.

Career Development Tools

CHRC produces career development tools such as:

• The Art of Managing Your Career (for self-employed artists and cultural workers)
• Careers in Culture
• Export Marketing of Cultural Products and Services

Internship Support

CHRC manages Internship Programs that bridge the school-to-work transition for young artists and cultural workers.

Job Recruitment

CHRC maintains an online opportunities board called CultureWorks for artists and cultural workers to post resumes and find opportunities, and for cultural employers to find qualified cultural workers.

Course Content

CHRC has developed several course content documents for a variety of sub-sectors including visual arts and crafts, live performing arts, film and television, music and sound recording, writing and publishing, digital media, and heritage. The creation of these course content documents was overseen by industry experts to ensure that they address the most up-to-date skills and knowledge needed by industry.

Networking

CHRC shares information and resources, resolves problems cooperatively and influences decision makers on HR issues, through a vast network of national and provincial arts organizations, artists and cultural workers and a through a broad network beyond the cultural sector that includes universities, colleges, training institutions and other sectoral councils.

Information and Research

CHRC commissions, collects and publishes research (for example: Face of the Future - a study on human resource issues in the cultural sector, a Compensation Survey for Cultural Managers, and a Survey of Women in Film and Television). CHRC also communicates HR information through newsletters, this web site, press releases, meetings, roundtables, forums, seminars and conferences.

Advocacy

CHRC speaks as a recognized and respected voice on behalf of artists and cultural workers across the country to decision makers and the public.

CHRC Board of Directors

2024 - 2025

Executive Committee
Richard Hornsby – Chair
David Swail – Vice-chair, Secretary
Victoria Steele – Treasurer 

Digital Media
Barbora Racevičiūté
Independent Media Arts Alliance

Film, Television and Broadcasting
Donna Noonan
DNoonan Design

Heritage
Vacant

Live Performing Arts
Veronique MacKenzie
Independent Artist

Music and Sound Recording
Richard Hornsby
Musician, Educator, Arts Administrator

Visual Arts & Crafts
Kathleen Morris
Canadian Crafts Federation

Writing and Publishing
David Swail
Publisher's Council

Appointed
Barbara Nepinak, Indigenous representative
Victoria Steele, Treasurer

Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee (PATAC) 2024/25