As of August 20, buskers will be allowed to sing, play and juggle anywhere in downtown Calgary without a permit.

“I think it’s a major step forward for our city,” says Beth Gignac, the city’s manager of arts and culture. “We’ve been advocating this for some time.”

The area open to busking will extend from 17th Ave. S.W. in the south to Prince’s Island in the north, and from city hall in the east to 14th St. S.W. The only rules for buskers will be that they can’t use amps, stay in one spot for more than an hour or juggle fire.

Currently, buskers have to either buy a permit from the city or perform at one of two designated areas in Olympic Plaza and Eau Claire. The city plans to open downtown to unrestricted busking until the end of December. If the idea is a success, it will be adopted permanently.

“I’m personally thrilled,” says Karen Sim, a violinist and singer who busks at Olympic Plaza. “(Busking) adds to a real sense of community.” Sim says the restrictions on busking, which allowed the city to fine people for performing on the street without a permit discouraged street performers. She argues that busking is good for everyone, because it draws people into the street and benefits nearby businesses.

The city plans to kick off the period of open busking with a public forum on the subject on August 20 at 1 p.m. in Olympic Plaza. Gignac and Sim hope to get as many buskers, local business owners and members of the public as possible to attend. If more people come, Sim says, it’s more likely that open busking will be made permanent.

“(Busking) gets families and everyone in Calgary to come into what has been a very closed, corporatized centre,” she says. “To really make it work, we need to get as many buskers as possible out there.” (A.M.)