The Canadian cultural sector faces changes, including in how the federal government sees its role regarding arts and culture. Now more than ever, there's a need for greater cohesion in the arts, culture and heritage sector.

This is the message from Alain Pineau, national director of the Canadian Conference of the Arts. The CCA was founded 66 years ago to represent Canadian artists and cultural professionals.

Now the CCA has learned of a federal government decision to end 45 years of financial support. The CCA board believes the need remains for an overarching cultural organization bringing together all the communities of arts, culture and heritage in Canada. So the CCA has taken up the challenge to develop a new business model to make it financially independent by 2014-15.