Welcome to my inaugural Arts and Culture Newsletter - a chance for me to keep you up-to-date on the work I’ve been doing as the NDP Critic for Arts and Culture in Alberta, and an opportunity for me to ask questions to folks working in the creative economy.

Budget 2024 and AFA Funding

This month the Alberta UCP government released their budget for 2024. I had the opportunity to ask the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Status of Women questions pertaining to funding for the Arts. Although Minister Fir touts that funding for Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) increased, we know that budget promises don't make up for the amount the UCP government has cut from this program. Had the UCP continued funding AFA at the same rate as the NDP 2018/19 budget allocation, there would have been an additional $27 million added to AFA over the last 6 years. The 2024 budget only provides $4.5 million. We still have a long way to go to restore funding to this important program.

Kids Activity Grant Program

On Wednesday, April 10 in Question Period I asked the UCP government why children who want to pursue their artistic passions aren’t afforded the same level of support as kids in sport. Disappointingly, Ministers Schow and Fir neglected to answer these questions. They failed to address why kids who take classes for art, music, dance and other creative pursuits are treated differently. I followed up by asking why the government’s program is so limited in scope and why some families are excluded from these affordability measures.

You can find the link to the full text of my questions here on page 1001: https://docs.assembly.ab.ca/LADDAR_files/docs/hansards/han/legislature_31/session_1/20240410_1330_01_han.pdf

Bill 211 - Creative Economy Advisory Council Act

I have the opportunity to present a Private Members’ Bill in the spring sitting of the 31st Legislature. Over the last several months, stakeholders expressed a need for direct communication with government on the sustainability and growth of the creative economy. The goal of Bill 211 is to provide a “seat at the table” for individuals from a variety of areas in the Arts sector to make recommendations directly to the Minister. The creative industries that would form the advisory council includes: cultural heritage, live performance, visual and applied arts, written and publishing works, audiovisual and interactive media, sound recording, and architecture and design.

We would like to hear your feedback on Bill 211 - in the next edition of this newsletter we will share a draft of the bill. In the interim, please reach out to my office with feedback and/or questions. You can reach us at [email protected] or 403-244-7737.