Cultural facilities may benefit

 

The Alberta government has announced a new cultural policy, following its’ public consultation on the matter last summer.  Developing capacity for cultural events and activities and enhancing access to cultural experiences and opportunities are main goals of the new policy.   Potential new funding for the arts and cultural facilities was part of the announcement.

“Culture contributes greatly to our quality of life and is the lens through which the rest of the world views our province,” said Premier Stelmach. “We are proud of Alberta’s unique and vibrant culture, and we want it to continue to grow and flourish. We’re prepared to take a leadership role and work with stakeholders to make that happen. Next year alone, we’ll be increasing our investment in arts and culture by about $12 million.”

According to an Alberta Government news release, “The Spirit of Alberta – Alberta’s Cultural Policy”, was developed with input from Albertans. It recognizes culture in the broad sense, which includes the arts, our heritage, the natural environment and recreation. The policy sets four basic goals:

1. Ensure Albertans, throughout the province, have access to a wide range of cultural experiences and opportunities.
2. Enhance community capacity to support and promote cultural activity.
3. Encourage excellence in the work of Alberta’s artistic and cultural professionals and organizations.
   
4. Foster growth, sustainability and investment in Alberta’s cultural industries.

A number of strategies are identified for implementing the policy.  Access, capacity, excellence and a focus on cultural industries are said to be the keystones of the strategies.  Amongst other things, the policy promises to give attention to ensuring ‘stable and predictable’ funding for cultural facilities and foundations, to provide support to municipalities for historic conservation and heritage education, and to provide funding for communities to plan, build and upgrade cultural and recreational facilities.  Funding for individual artists, major performing arts companies and community performing arts organizations is also identified amongst the strategies.

According to an Alberta Foundation for the Arts study from 2005, just over 3,500 Albertans owe their full-time job to the operations of the arts sector with total salaries equaling $106.8 million.  An Econometric Research Limited study from 2004 estimated that Albertans receive a 12:1 return on every dollar spent on the arts.

 “Culture plays an important role in our province’s social and economic well-being,” said Hector Goudreau, Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture. “This is a policy for all Albertans. We want to ensure that all citizens, regardless of who they are or where they live, have opportunities to experience and participate in culture.”

Read the Alberta Government press release here

Read a pdf brochure on the new Cultural Policy here

Comments

Add New Search RSS

Write comment

Name: Email:  do not notifynotify Website: Title: UBBCode:         -color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge     Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.20

3.20 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."