The Government of Alberta is hosting public consultation as they prepare Budget 2021. Submissions can be made until December 4, 2020. Information is online at https://www.alberta.ca/budget-2021-consultation.aspx.
The Alberta Partners for Arts and Culture has submitted a response and information as of November 17, 2020. An excerpt of the response is below. To read the full submission visit: http://albertapartnersforartsandculture.com
APAC is an informal coalition of Alberta’s eight Provincial Arts Service Organizations and four Cultural Industry Service Organizations. APAC advocates for a strong, sustainable arts and cultural sector in Alberta and speaks collectively on priorities and opportunities that impact our members. APAC member organizations understand that a strong, sustainable and vibrant arts and cultural sector plays an important role in Alberta’s success, reputation, future growth and the vitality of our communities.
We are mindful of the realities facing our province as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While all parts of our economy have been impacted, Alberta’s arts and cultural sector has been one of the hardest hit industries in the province.
The Canadian Association for the Performing Arts, responding to the Statistics Canada Labour Force survey said, “in proportion to its size, the arts, entertainment and recreation sector is the furthest away from recovery… the sub-sector runs the risk of facing a major shortage of skilled workers when live performance activities (finally) resume.”
A September 2020 survey conducted by Calgary Arts Development found 47 per cent of the 140 organizations responding said they would have to cease operations in the next six to 12 months if current conditions persist. Lost revenue in the current fiscal year, just from the 140 organizational respondents, is anticipated to be more than $20.6 million. Further, these same organizations anticipate losing additional $16 million revenue going forward.
If you extrapolate that to the more than 450 non-profit arts organizations supported by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA), that loss balloons to more than $117 million, about four times the amount of AFA funding in 2019-2020.
