Nation, Race, and the Cultural Political Economy of Art for Social Change Philanthropy in Canada

This dissertation critically examines the institution of "art for social change" (AFSC) philanthropy in Canada, particularly its engagement with issues of social injustice. It situates AFSC philanthropy within Canada’s racialized and colonial histories, arguing that discourses of Canadian identity, such as multiculturalism and diversity, are mobilized in ways that de-historicize and de-race the contradictions underlying AFSC philanthropy. The study analyzes how intersecting dynamics of nation-building, racism, settler-colonialism, and capitalist development shape philanthropic policy and practice, advocating for a focus on nation and race in the study of AFSC and broader philanthropy.