Canada Council commits $25M to Alberta arts
Federal funding over five years will support artists, organizations across the province including Indigenous and rural creators.
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The Canada Council for the Arts announced $25 million in federal funding for Alberta's arts community through a new Alberta Focus Fund, to be distributed over five years.
The fund will support Alberta artists and art organizations through the council's existing programs, with dedicated support for Indigenous, deaf, disability and racialized artists, as well as artists and organizations in rural and remote areas and official language minority communities.
Federal Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture Marc Miller said the funding reflects growth in Calgary's arts infrastructure and ensures "the federal government is doing its fair share" to get money to Albertan artists. "Making sure the money gets to Albertan artists, so they can show what Alberta does best in Alberta, but also around Canada and frankly across the world," Miller said.
The fund took three years of collaboration between the council, provincial counterparts and funders to develop. Operational details will be announced in the fall, with the fund rolling out this year.
Vertigo Theatre artistic director Jack Grinhaus said the injection is significant as the theatre approaches its 50th anniversary season next year. "$25 million is going to go a long way to getting that happening," he said. "This shows that the federal government is as serious about this as we are, and we're actually now working together."