Some Calgary artists played dead on Monday to try to raise awareness about cuts to national funding for the arts.
Protestors gathered at City Hall to say that Canada's arts and cultural scene is on its deathbed.
The federal government recently cut 45 million dollars of funding and the artists say they already struggle to make a living and they worry it'll get even worse if the Conservatives win a majority government.
The protesters want people to save the arts and vote for any party but the Tories.
Local theatre director Jamie Dunsdon says the conservatives have undermined the value of the arts in the community.
"I think it's because we have politicians like Mr. Harper telling us that we don't value arts which isn't true, every day citizens do value arts. It's on the walls of our dentists' office, it's on the radio. We do value arts, we just need the funding and we need politicians to recognize that we need the funding and the support," said Dunsdon.
The Conservatives say they've boosted arts funding since coming into office.
They also say they've simply shifted some of that money into other programs, including sports and recreation.
