Stagnant funding hurts arts council’s big picture

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This article was published 01/10/2024 (365 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Arts Council hopes to more than double its city funding four years from now but municipal budget constraints could paint a different financial picture.

The arts council’s latest corporate plan notes its City of Winnipeg operating grant hasn’t grown much in recent years, rising to $4.65 million in 2024 from $4.08 million in 2014.

“A fair allocation to the arts in Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council would be approximately twice as much as that made in 2024,” the report states.

In fact, the arts council says Winnipeg will spend fewer dollars on art this year than it did a decade ago, once inflation is taken into account.

The organization’s corporate plan proposes the city hike its annual grant to reach $9.34 million in 2028.

“The investment was flatlined for a very long time … Right now, we’re working with 2019 levels. So, just to get to what was possible to do with $4.6 million in 2019 … (in) 2024, that’s different,” said Dominic Lloyd, the arts council’s programs and arts development manager.

Lloyd said a larger city investment would allow the organization to create more programs and support more artists. Though he noted the city faces budget constraints, Lloyd said such an investment would pay off.

“I think everybody understands what the results of investment in the arts is, both socially and economically, and the city has to balance all of its different priorities,” he said.

Lloyd said the organization is also discussing a new model for public art funding with the city, with results expected soon.

Winnipeg provided the arts council $500,000 per year for public art from 2004 to 2018, then reduced the amount to $250,000 in 2019, $125,000 in 2022 and $0 in 2024.

Coun. Vivian Santos, chairwoman of council’s community services committee, said it would make sense to include public art as part of future infrastructure projects.

However, Santos (Point Douglas) said the organization’s request for the city to double its annual operating grant must be weighed against other funding priorities and financial limits.

A recent finance report predicted the City of Winnipeg will end this year with a $19.2-million deficit for its tax-supported budget.

Santos said many cities that are increasing their arts funding have also imposed higher property tax hikes than the 3.5 per cent annual increase Winnipeg’s mayor has promised to keep through 2027.

“If we’re looking to fund a lot of these projects … we would have to reach out to the community and ask them, are you prepared to pay close to 10 per cent, 15 per cent in your property tax increase? We want to remain affordable,” she said.

Santos stressed there is value in funding the arts.

“It’s a public good, just like (many) other things that we provide at a subsidized cost, like libraries and museums and pools and recreation,” she said.

The community services committee discussed the arts council’s corporate plan on Tuesday but did not call for any specific changes.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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