A new $6-million funding announcement will support Alberta artists and organizations as early as this December.

The new fund has been launched to support the development of arts in the province. Dubbed the Alberta Creative Development Initiative, it is a partnership between Canada Council for the Arts and The Alberta Foundation for the Arts. The infusion of cash will be available to artists and organizations in all disciplines for project-based work such as studio research, professional development, capacity building or initiatives that raise the public profile of an organization. For individuals, proposals for projects, budgets and images or examples of previous works will be juried by a panel of arts professionals from Alberta and beyond, with grants of up to $20,000 awarded to successful applicants.

For artists vying for the much-needed funds, it will be a competitive process. When asked if the additional funding will help the cultural sector in Alberta mediate some of the traumas associated with our economic boom, program officer Stephen Williams remarked, “public funding of the arts is intended to support the lives and practices of artists. Do I think this program will solve the problem? No, but it will go a long way.” Which raises the question: why don’t Alberta artists raise more of a ruckus about arts funding issues?

Interested artists and organizations can contact Stephen Williams, program officer at stephen.williams@canadacouncil.ca or check out www.affta.ab.ca/creative-development.shtml or www.canadacouncil.ca.