For the first time in 20 years, the Manitoba Arts Council is getting more money to help support the growth of the arts and culture sector in the province.
The Manitoba government announced Friday it will provide $13.7 million in funding for the arts council this year, representing an eight per cent increase.
“This is an incredible show of support for arts and culture and the value they have in our community,” said Katarina Kupca, board chair of Manitoba Arts Council, of the additional $1 million in funding annually.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Manitoba Arts Council board chair Katarina Kupca speaks at a news conference Friday at the Centennial Concert Hall alongside Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Glen Simard. She said the new funding shows the value of arts in the community.
Every year, Manitoba’s public art funder provides approximately $8.4 million in operating support to more than 100 organizations as well as $3.5 million in project grants to organizations including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Opera and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.
The council also provides grants to 550 individuals and smaller arts organizations. The increase in funding has allowed the arts council, for the first time in two decades, to open up its operating program, Kupca said.
Eighteen more organizations will now receive annual operating support, including the Killarney Turtle Mountain Arts Council, Manitoba Underground Opera, Sick + Twisted Theatre and the FascinAsian Film Festival.
The increase allows for new initiatives such as the community impact program, which supports volunteer-run, community-based arts and cultural organizations, as well as enhanced support for individual artists, Kupca said.
“We’re making this investment today because we know that supporting the arts is great for the community, it’s great for young people, it’s great for the economy, but it’s also a question of who we are as Manitobans,” said Premier Wab Kinew at Friday’s media event at the Centennial Concert Hall.
Kinew said that artists help shape the province’s identity, and a robust arts scene will help keep young people in Manitoba.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Premier Wab Kinew said that artists help shape the province’s identity, and a robust arts scene will help keep young people in Manitoba.
“I have to think that part of the offer that we’re making to our kids and grandkids is, not only is there going to be a great future for you when it comes to jobs and the economy, but there’s also going to be that exciting, creative scene that brings a life in this province,” he said.
The Manitoba government also announced it is increasing funding to the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation by $500,000, for a total of $3 million. That funding will support the Centennial Concert Hall as well as many of Manitoba’s performing arts organizations.
jen.zoratti@winnipegfreepress.com
Jen Zoratti
Columnist
Jen Zoratti is a columnist and feature writer working in the Arts & Life department, as well as the author of the weekly newsletter NEXT. A National Newspaper Award finalist for arts and entertainment writing, Jen is a graduate of the Creative Communications program at RRC Polytech and was a music writer before joining the Free Press in 2013. Read more about Jen.
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