On October 9, the arts equivalent of a Canadian trade delegation left for a 10-day mission to Asia””specifically, to Seoul, South Korea, and the Chinese cities of Shanghai and Beijing””in hopes of new cooperation between arts organizations in the countries. Sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts, the group includes a contingent from Vancouver: Jim Smith of Eponymous, a cultural-management agency behind such local innovators as Vancouver New Music and dance troupe Kidd Pivot; Diane Kadota, head of DKAM, an arts-management company supporting a range of groups such as Uzumi Taiko; Zhao Zhao, a DKAM associate; and Norman Armour, executive director of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival.

According to Armour, Vancouver's strong showing reflects the growing, multidisciplinary powers of the arts on the West Coast. “I think it's an indication of the quality of the work that's being produced, and that it's more and more ready for an international reception and dissemination,” he said.

Oddly enough, Armour notes, the trip comes in the immediate wake of the federal government's budget freeze at the Department of Foreign Affairs, effectively hamstringing that body's programs to promote Canadian art internationally until the funding can be reviewed and, quite possibly, cut for good.

The trip “is about exchange, coproduction, and ongoing, long-term relationships,” he explained, “and about trying to foster those and animate them....It's all about promoting the values and identity and attractiveness of Canada to another country or region....And what will they identify Canada with? In some cases, it's certainly our landscape and certainly some of the values that hopefully Canada still stands for. But more often than not, it's culture.”