This enactment creates the position of Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate. It also corrects a reference to the Canada Council for the Arts in the English version of the Parliament of Canada Act.

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate

75.‍01 (1) There is hereby established the position of Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate, the holder of which is an officer of the Library of Parliament.

Selection

(2) The Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons, acting together, shall select the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate from a list of three names reflective of Canada’s diversity, consistent with the principle that the primary official language spoken by the holder shall alternate and submitted in confidence by a committee chaired by the Parliamentary Librarian and also composed of the Director of the National Gallery of Canada, the Commissioner of Official Languages for Canada, the Chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts and the President of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, or their designates.

Tenure of office

(3) The Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate holds office for a term not exceeding two years, at the pleasure of the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons acting together.

Mandate

(4) The mandate of the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate is to promote the arts in Canada, through Parliament, including by fostering knowledge, enjoyment, awareness and development of the arts.

Powers

(5) In carrying out their mandate, the Parliamentary Visual Artist Laureate may

• (a) produce or cause to be produced artistic creations, at the request of either Speaker, especially for use in Parliament on occasions of state;

• (b) sponsor artistic events, including art exhibitions;

• (c) give advice to the Parliamentary Librarian regarding the collection of the Library and acquisitions to enrich the Library’s cultural holdings; and

• (d) perform such other related duties as are requested by either Speaker or the Parliamentary Librarian.

Definition of arts

(6) In this section, arts means drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, photography, videography, filmmaking and digital creations that reflect the diversity of Canada, including with respect to the languages in use and its ethnocultural composition.

Selection

(2) The Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons, acting together, shall select the Parliamentary Poet Laureate from a list of three names submitted in confidence by a committee chaired by the Parliamentary Librarian and also composed of the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, the Commissioner of Official Languages for Canada and the Chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts.