Future festivals could be saving hordes of money, pending the outcome of two council motions on June 22.
Ald. Ric McIver, who has been pushing for festival changes for three years, is proposing festival costs be reduced by up to 25 per cent this year. The money will come from unused taxes.
“There is money in the budget in 2010 and 2011, although it hasn’t really been decided how that will be spent. I don’t want to wait. We need to start encouraging festivals right now,” McIver says.
Ald. Druh Farrell wants to review the “structure and rationale of the current city charges,” which are not included in the event policy draft, which is to be reviewed by council by the year end. “It’s unreasonable to expect a city department would receive a profit from festival activities,” she says. She points out that Calgary Parking Authority charges festivals for full occupancy of their meters as an example of unreasonable costs.
Council will also review changes to the outdoor concert bylaw. “The chief (of police) has agreed to provide more flexibility in determining how many paid police are required at events,” McIver says. ”I’m hoping that will lead to lower costs without compromising public safety.”
Comments: 3
appleman wrote:
on Jun 18th, 2009 at 10:38am Report Abuse
ray wrote:
In my opinion, Stampede gets old pretty fast and, contrary to popular belief, there is life before and after Stampede. I don’t know anyone who goes to Stampede anymore…seems to me it’s a money grab and is aimed at out-of-towners, not Calgarians.
Please, please, can we have something else? Please don't kill the smaller festivals that are becoming such an exciting attraction. The city should be helping, not hindering! It is so fun to go out to a local festival and enjoy different food, different music, different cultures, giving us reasons to get out of our houses, enjoy our city, be entertained and dance. Our favourite music doesn’t happen in bars…it happens on the streets and in the parks at a festival with the sun shining or with warm evening breezes blowing. There is a tremendous community feeling at a street festival. With encouragement, these little festivals will gather steam and soon we won't have to go to Edmonton, or Vancouver or Toronto or Montreal for cultural events and festivals.
There are several small festivals that are beginning to build up a following. Please don’t let them move out of Calgary. But I guess, if they are forced to, I’ve always wanted to live in Montreal.
on Jun 19th, 2009 at 9:32pm Report Abuse
karl roth wrote:
come on city of calgary arts authority esplain to your masters how this works.
on Jun 21st, 2009 at 7:24am Report Abuse
Post comment: (Login or Register)