Calgary Arts Development is creating a $1.1-million arts relief fund, as other funding agencies in Western Canada continue to look for ways to meet short-term needs of arts groups and artists struggling amidst the COVID-19 crisis.
Details of how the funds will be dispensed in Calgary have not been announced.
Patti Pon, CEO of Calgary Arts Development, which funds 169 groups and hundreds of artists, said the fund was created by reallocating funds from grant programs that have not been disbursed yet.
“We know that the need and the demand far exceeds anything that we could come up with," Pon told PostMedia. "That’s why we tried our best to be as explicit as we could that this was a response to the immediate and urgent need as a result of COVID-19. Hopefully, that starts to narrow the focus a bit and make it possible to try and stretch that money as far as we can.”
Meanwhile, the Canada Council for Arts says it is working with Canadian Heritage to develop short-term measures to help the cultural sector weather the crisis.
The council has extended some grant deadlines and has also suspended funding for projects dependent on domestic and international travel. It has posted information about the federal government's efforts to assist Canadian workers. For information, go the council's information page.
Simon Brault, CEO of the Canada Council, advises artists and arts groups to document lost revenues due to cancellations and postponements.
"We appreciate the devastating impact that measures of isolation and social distancing will have on the arts and culture sector, which are directly dependent on audience attendance and domestic and international travel for their creative, production and dissemination activities," Brault said.
"Cancellations and postponements of performances, festivals and other events, as well as the closure of museums, cinemas, libraries and other cultural venues, will weaken a great many organizations and compromise thousands of artists and cultural workers who find themselves without work and in many cases without income."
The Alberta Foundation of the Arts is seeking input on how the crisis is impacting artists and arts organizations in the province and is also adjusting grant reporting and intake timelines.
Meanwhile, the B.C. Arts Council has decided to prepay half of last year's operating grant amounts as early as April to organizations with upcoming grant deadlines. As well, it is offering a one-time supplement in early April of up to $15,000 to help sustain organizations.
Source: PostMedia, Canada Council for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, Alberta Foundation of the Arts, B.C. Arts Council