City councillors spoke up for the Shuswap District Arts Council (SDAC) and in support of a service agreement that will bring increased funding to the organization.
On the agenda for council's Jan. 27 meeting was a motion authorizing the city to enter a new five-year funding agreement with the Salmon Arm Arts Centre. Under the agreement, the city provides annual funding as follows: $60,000 for 2025, and $60,000 plus the B.C. Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase in 2026. Subsequent increases up to 2029 would include the prior year's amount plus the BC CPI.
City administrator Erin Jackson noted that in previous years the city's agreement with the arts centre, operated by SDAC, were for three years. In 2022, the agreement was for $43,430.28, with an additional $5,000 in funding for the arts centre's annual Salmon Arm Pride Project. The agreement ended in 2024 with the arts centre receiving $55,737.60 – $48,237.60 plus $5,000 for the pride project plus a $2,500 contribution towards an inaugural powwow event held last August at Marine Peace Park. Jackson explained the additional funding was factored into the $60,000 sought for 2025.
Speaking in favour of the agreement, Coun. Louise Wallace Richmond described the arts council as a "willing, capable trusted partner for the City of Salmon Arm aligned with our own cultural master plan."
"I think there’s great value for the community in terms of offering free community events that folks can attend, and I would encourage my colleagues to support this increase, both the increase and the renewal for five years."
Coun. Sylvia Lindgren said $60,000 isn't a lot of money, and asked if there are other streams of funding available to the arts centre. Wallace Richmond answered funding is also received from the BC Arts Council, and through the Salmon Arm Art Gallery Endowment Fund with the Shuswap Community Foundation.
"It’s been an impressive period of growth for the art gallery," said Wallace Richmond. "When I was there many years ago it was about a $100,000 budget. It's significantly more now because it’s built a lot of capacity."
Wallace Richmond said the arts centre currently receives around $400,000 annually.
Mayor Alan Harrison said he liked the inclusion of pride and powwow funding in the total, but he wasn't ready to support the increase as requested.
"We're coming up to a very difficult budget, and there is no doubt that the arts centre provides a very valued service to the community – they do a fantastic job," said Harrison. "But I don’t want to set an increase precedent here that might be expected throughout the budget."
Harrison suggested a motion to amend the 2025 increase to $56,000, "and that 2026 would be $56,000 and continue with 2027, using BC CPI which is built into each year." The mayor explained the $56,000 was from the 2024 total provided to the arts centre.
With the motion on the floor, councillors began voicing opposition. Recognizing the upcoming budget cycle "will be difficult," Wallace Richmond said the arts community has made a dedicated effort to become not a hat-in-hand type of organization, but a valuable partner to the city that has taken exceptional care of the arts centre building.
Coun. Kevin Flynn said he would have preferred $58,000 for 2025, and that the agreement be part of the budget process. However, while not being the "biggest supporter of arts and culture," Flynn argued the $60,000 "is a good use of taxpayers' dollars."
After council voted against the motion, Harrison said he would support the original motion, which received the unanimous support of council.
