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A Message from AFA Chair Cynthia P. Moore
I am pleased to share that the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) Board of Directors has approved its 2024-25 annual budget. This budget is based on an increased provincial allocation of $30.1 million.
In Budget 2024, Alberta’s government increased funding to the AFA by 18 per cent. They then committed to further increases until 2026-27 with the annual allocation reaching a record-level $39.1 million. We are pleased that this additional funding will allow us to provide further support to artists and arts organizations across the province.
Our board has taken time to consider the best way to implement the funding increase this year. This will set an important foundation for future years. With increased funding annually over the next three years, we will be able to support the arts community in a measured and impactful way.
This year, our focus is on increasing support for individual artists. We expect to fund nearly triple the number of individual project grants. The maximum eligible amount has been raised to $18,000, commencing with applications received prior to the September 1, 2024, program deadline. We are excited to invest these additional resources in many creative projects and the professional development of our artistic community.
At the same time, we are restoring funding to some other AFA grant programs, Arts Presenting and Arts and Education, to pre-pandemic levels. It is also important to note that the AFA will be maintaining funding this year for organizations receiving multi-year operating grants. We recognize that many of these organizations may have been hoping for an increase. We will continue to look at ways we can best support Alberta’s entire arts sector through ongoing engagement with the arts community.
Additional resources will be provided to the AFA Art Collection to increase access and public circulation. With this support, we will continue to grow this important cultural legacy and make it available to a greater number of Albertans.
The AFA remains committed to supporting equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) through our programs and services. Last year, for the second year in a row, the AFA used its Organization Activation Projects grant to support projects focused on EDIA. We look forward to hearing about the impact of these initiatives as they rollout this year.
In closing, I would like to thank the Honourable Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women for the opportunity to serve as the Chair of the AFA. She is a tireless advocate for the cultural sector. I look forward to working with her and all of those engaged in Alberta’s artistic community.
Kindest regards,
Cynthia P. Moore, Chair
