Creative Calgary presents bold vision for arts to council candidates
Posted Sep 11, 2017 4:53 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Art supporters are calling on those running for Calgary mayor and city council to support the community in a big way ahead of October’s municipal election.
Creative Calgary gathered on the front steps of city hall Monday afternoon to present an open letter to candidates.
Member of the advisory for Creative Calgary, Irfhan Rawji, said they’re asking for a commitment.
“Work with Creative Calgary post-election to dedicate 0.7 per cent of the city’s budget to arts funding,” he stated. “If we do that, we will be able to close the funding gap that the arts have historically had in this city and it will allow us to be a leader in arts funding in the country.”
Rawji added this could also help in a potential bid to become Amazon’s new corporate headquarters.
“One of the four points they made is that they were looking for a city that was thinking big and thinking creatively,” he said. “Unfortunately, Calgary can’t make that claim. By making this investment and this commitment we can. We can use that tool to help us grow our economy, build knowledge jobs and build a city that we all aspire to.”
Rawji said currently about 0.3 per cent of the budget goes toward operating grant funding for organizations like Theatre Calgary and the Glenbow Museum.
