Going into what will be its first full year of operations, Canmore’s brand new artsPlace is hoping to receive $200,000 in funding from the municipality in 2016.
Executive director Jeremy Elbourne was in front of the budget committee earlier this month to provide details about the funding requisition and what the Canadian Mountain Arts Foundation, which operates artsPlace, hopes will happen with respect to programming expenses and revenues next year.
“The strategic plan given to you is broad by necessity,” Elbourne told council. “It is one that allows us to be responsive to the community and is one that allows us to build on what we are learning.
“In order for us to grow, we need to make sure we have a solid financial base.”
He told council that part of CMAF’s mandate for running the facility is to establish a sustainable and balanced financial model that would place less of a burden on municipal coffers.
Having a solid financial base includes introducing a membership program, allowance for gift, foundation and corporate sponsorships, while profit-oriented programming revenue streams are developed throughout the next year. There are also provincial operating and project-based grant programs that can be applied for.
“Without a doubt, however, the most important element of the model on many levels is the $200,000 grant from the Town,” Elbourne wrote in his grant request rationalization. “Not only does it represent 20 per cent of our overall revenue, but it gives us the confidence to move forward with a diversity of programming and represents a very solid demonstration of community support as a catalyst for other sources of funding.
“While community support through program participation is a key strategic indicator, the value of sustainable and predictable funding cannot be overestimated, especially as we enter a year of uncertainty and discovery. While it will always be our aspiration to succeed, predictable funding from the Town of Canmore will give us the luxury to perhaps fail a little as we test and learn and as the community discovers the very real value proposition we represent.”
The $200,000 from the municipality is accompanied by $70,000 in provincial funding next year, $11,520 in federal funding, $142,625 in fundraising and membership, $270,785 in programming, $61,000 in events and $48,708 in other revenue for a total of $804,638. Expenses budgeted are almost exactly the same as predicted revenues for a $804,518 budget.
Elbourne said it is the intention of artsPlace to compliment what is happening in the community and not compete. With that in mind, he said they have partnered with Avalanche Video to show movies. As artsPlace is licenced to show videos, bringing Avalanche alongside the programming allows that local business to promote what they offer in a world where video stores are an endangered species.
Other partnerships so far include Canmore Community Cruisers and Highline Magazine, which will celebrate its first exhibit at artsPlace – Perspectives on Mountain Culture – on Saturday (Nov. 21) at 7:30 p.m.
Elbourne said public engagement since the opening at the end of September has been off to a good start with 3,300 people through the front doors during opening weekend.
“Considering we have only been open for a month and a half, we are happy with how things are going,” he said. “Not everything has been a roaring success. Some programs have been cancelled, while others are doing better than expected.”
He told council the $200,000 requisition is what he would expect to ask for on an annual basis moving forward, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
The five year strategic plan for artsPlace sets out to achieve brand recognition, appreciation and participation. That translates into goals of 90 per cent of adults in Canmore knowing the artsPlace name and role, 75 per cent of residents recognizing and appreciating the positive influence of the arts in their community and 33 per cent of adults in a 40km radius participating in a paid event or program at least once a year.
