The past two months at Calgary Arts Development have been among the most intense we’ve experienced in the 3+ years of our existence. So much to do, so little time, such big stakes. If you’ve been wondering where we are, or why we haven’t had much to say on our blogs, it’s because we’re moving so fast on so many things, that we really haven’t had the time. I’m happy to say that we’re nearly through this difficult period, and I have some news to report.

Art Space Development

In 2007/2008, Calgary Arts Development piloted the first Art Space Investment Process (ASIP) as one means of implementing our Art Space Strategy and Capital Plan (published in April 2007). The resulting list of 15 projects was presented to City Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Community & Protective Services on November 5th as advice from Calgary Arts Development as they work to make long-term, strategic investments in infrastructure of all kinds, including cultural infrastructure.

Over 100 community members attended that meeting, witnessing and actively participating in a key step in the process of the recommended projects finding their way onto the Culture, Parks, Recreation Infrastructure Investment Plan (CPRIIP) list. As those who were there can attest, we still have some ways to go before the outcomes are clear. But here’s the good news: amidst all the ambiguity and potential roadblocks, there is one thing we know for sure: City Council, City Administration and CADA are all on the same page as we work to address outstanding issues. There is a spirit of collaboration, supported by a clear desire for City Council to find solutions the challenges in front of us.

Calgarians need to know that our city is fortunate to have processes like CPRIIP, and a Council that is committed to making balanced investments in infrastructure (that include cultural infrastructure). We have to work through key issues regarding eligibility for the CPRIIP list for projects that aren’t already Civic Partners, and other issues related to the kinds of projects that are able to be funded by the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) (Note that MSI funds are NOT from the municipal tax base, and can only be used for specified capital projects. It has been erroneously reported in some media outlets that these projects are part of the reason that municipal tax rates are being increased). In some ways it is yet another mountain to climb, but at least there is a mountain, and we have an expedition underway. So... Onward!

Community Investment

City Council and City Administration have been working hard to build what will be Calgary’s second three year municipal budget. If you’ve been within a mile of a newspaper these past weeks, you know this is a thankless task. As part of the Civic Partner budgeting process, Calgary Arts Development was provided the opportunity to submit a budget request for both our programs and our internal operations. As most working in the arts sector are aware, and as the general public is increasingly aware, Calgary’s municipal support for the arts sector is still some ways behind other major cities in Canada, but it is also behind other elements of the broader cultural sector in Calgary. Our budget submission was based on our “value of culture” arguments, in addition to the following specific issues:

• CADA’s board has set a 10 year goal to reach $10M annual investment in the arts through CADA programs. This level of investment would put Calgary within reach of the top 3 cities in Canada (currently Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver).
• Municipal investment in the arts sector has a direct payback to City Council through parking fees generated by arts activity, property tax paid by the 8000 professional artists living in Calgary, and the tax benefits generated through downtown businesses and tourism activities that rely on a vibrant arts sector.
• Current municipal investment in the arts is about half the current investment in the large institutional attractions, though the arts sector as a whole exceeds attendance, geographic reach and revenue of these attractions. This is a structural imbalance in the municipal budget that we intend to work creatively to address over the next 10 years.

On Friday, November 7th, a report was published containing City Administration’s recommendation to City Council to increase CADA’s Programs budget by $430,000 annually, with a $135,000 annual increase to our operations. It is worthy to note that only the Calgary Public Library and the arts are being recommended to receive an increase to base budgets above inflation. Given the extreme challenges being faced by City Council and the City Administration to prepare a budget that meets the high expectations of citizens, it is an achievement worth celebrating to have received this recommendation. The team in City Administration’s Community & Protective Services department is led by Dr. Erika Hargesheimer (GM), Kurt Hanson (Director of Recreation) and Beth Gignac (Manager, Arts & Culture). These people have, through the development of the 2004 Civic Arts Policy and the creation and ongoing support of Calgary Arts Development Authority, helped us move towards one of our overarching goals: to create an environment where arts organizations and artists thrive, and where Calgarians receive cultural, economic and social benefits. If you have an opportunity, please thank them for their work (turn a “thankless task” into a “thanksful task!”) on behalf of Calgarians.

On November 12th, City Council’s Finance and Corporate Services Committee will be considering the report from Administration (accessible through this agenda) that contains the recommendation discussed above. I will be in attendance to answer any questions City Council may have about the recommendation. The public is also welcome to attend these meetings. After many long months working through the budget process, I hope that if you do find the time to attend the meeting, you are able to recognize the real achievements this sector is making because of the work of a supportive City Council and a creative Administration. Under the circumstances, it would be very easy (and in fact, it could still happen) for City Council to simply say: we can’t afford it. Right now, they’re not saying that, they’re seeking a way to move forward responsibly. I hope you agree with me: this is a refreshing change and offers tremendous encouragement for the long term future.

In conclusion, I want to point you to a recent op-ed in the Calgary Herald “Instead of complaining, try hugging your alderman” by Naheed Nenshi (November 6, 2008). While you’re at it, grab a beleaguered member of Administration and shake their hand too!

Final note: here’s my favorite passage from Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel “Everything is Illuminated:

I bought you some books in Lutsk, he told her, shutting the door on the early evening and the rest of the world.

We can’t afford these, she said, taking the heavy bag. I’ll have to return them tomorrow.

But we can’t afford not to have them. Which can we not afford more, having them or not having them? As I see it, we lose either way. My way, we lose with the books. (p. 81)