CANMORE – Public art in the Town of Canmore received a favourable push forward with a funding boost.
Town council, which unanimously approved the rewriting of the public art policy after municipal staff recommended it would better align with the cultural master plan, created a new funding model for the public art program.
The Town’s existing policy has a contribution of $3 per capita for permanent and non-permanent residents, which has been the rate since at least 2010. The cultural advisory committee recommended it be increased to $5 per capita to assist the art trust fund.
“We’ve done really great work with that $3 per capita. … $5 per capita will make a big difference when it comes to acquiring public art,” Mayor John Borrowman said.
Art and culture plays a significant role in both Canmore and the entirety of the Bow Valley.
With numerous art galleries and artists in the community, the increase will look to continue showcasing the importance of art and culture.
“It shows as a community we value things cultural and that’s great,” Coun. Esmé Comfort said.
Sixty per cent of the funding would be used for purchasing, commissioning, installing and maintaining the art. The remaining 40 per cent would go into a soon-to-be established arts grant program in 2022.
A staff report to council noted the Town’s public art collection is appraised at $358,000, meaning a minimum of $35,800 would need to be held in reserve for maintenance.
The second approved recommendation will have 0.5 per cent of the average of the five-year annual tax contribution to municipal infrastructure – with the exception of utilities and below ground projects – be subject to arts allocation at the time of budget preparation.
According to the report, the $3 per capita allocation is about $54,000 for 2021, meaning the change to $5 would lead to an annual budget of $90,000. The dedication of 0.5 per cent would see an additional $13,000 available and lead to a 0.19 per cent tax increase in 2021.
The report highlighted the art trust fund is estimated to have $289,000 at the end of the year.
“I think this will be a very robust pot of money for us to do some really great things for the arts sector in Canmore,” Coun. Joanna McCallum said.
A cultural advisory committee was also created to replace the Canmore public art committee to help provide advice and recommendations to council as part of the Canmore cultural master plan.
The newly named committee will continue to be committed to arts and culture in Canmore and help Town staff and council acquire and manage the public art collection. It will also have added responsibilities to help “steward the plan into the future,” and establish temporary public art sub-committees.
“The cultural advisory committee can assist in the fostering of partnerships, innovation, and commitment for developing a creative economy, creative places, creative people, and creative identity,” the staff report stated. “The cultural master plan is meant to be a living and evolving document that remains relevant, shifting with changing cultural trends and community values, demographics, and aspirations.”
The committee will be formally appointed in October when the public arts committee is disbanded at its annual meeting.
“It’s a really good transition. We’ve done really well over the years with the public art committee in acquiring and building a great body of public art,” Borrowman said. “I see this as taking the town to the next level and I appreciate the thought that went into the make-up of the committee. It’s a really good cross-representation.”
The committee will consist of a member of council, a member of a Treaty 7 Nation or Region 3 Metis, up to three public members, one professional cultural worker and one member under 35 in the cultural community.
“It’s very well thought out. … The make-up of the committee is a good idea and hopefully we get those specific people we need to represent all those demographics,” Coun. Vi Sanford said.
Chris Bartolomie, the Town’s supervisor of arts and events, highlighted the importance of having a diverse group of people on the committee to have as many viewpoints as possible at the table.
“If you’re always talking to people of your own opinion, you’re never going to grow as a committee or a community,” she said. “It’s our intention for the public art program to embrace community as a whole, and in order to do that, you have to invite community to the conversation.”
