All the candidates running for mayor of Montreal should be required to read a new study just released by the Conseil des arts de Montréal.

The poll conducted by market research firm Léger reported that 91 per cent of the respondents say they appreciate the contributions Montreal artists make to the city. Eighty-seven per cent want arts events to be available close to where they live, and 80 per cent said the arts improve their quality of life. Eighty-six per cent of the people polled said they feel professional artists make a positive contribution to our society.

The abridged version of the 47-page report is that Montrealers really care deeply and passionately about the arts scene in their city. Now you might say, “Well, I already knew that,” and you’d have a good point. I’ve been going on about this very thing for years and years, bending the ear of any editor, producer, politician or neighbour at the bar willing to listen.

Arts matter in Montreal in a way they don’t in most other cities not named New York or Paris. Every time I speak with filmmakers or actors from other countries here to work on a movie or TV project, they inevitably talk about being blown away by how cultural Montreal is. I........

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