Continued Support of Arts & Culture

Since 2010, the City of St. John's has spent an average of $760,000 annually on programs, services, facilities and grants directly related to the arts and culture community. 
 
In addition, since 2010, the City has made substantial capital investments in arts related facilities, including the Quidi Vidi Village Plantation with an investment of over $2 million, as well as improvements to the LSPU Hall valued at over $500,000.
 
The City provided $100,000 to support the ECMAs, held last year in Torbay, as well as a $50,000 grant to CBC for sponsorship of a Beaumont Hamel Special.
 
In 2016, the support to the arts and culture sector will see over $1 million allocated to this community through the provision of direct programs, services and grants.
 
Highlights from Budget 2016-18, in support of the arts community include:

• Continued support of the Quidi Vidi Village Plantation as an arts incubator.
• Continuation of the Music at Harbourside Park series and the recent expansion of this program into Bannerman Park and the Quidi Vidi Village Plantation.
• Ongoing development of public art such as the mural program. A recent example is the mural at Scanlan’s Lane.
• NEW one time funding of $130,000 for arts and culture events directly related to First World War celebrations. The total allocation for FWW grants was $200,000 of which $130,000 was given to groups who support the arts such as the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and the RCA Theatre Company.
• NEW one time allocation of $300,000 towards the purchase of local art for the new St. John’s Convention Centre is over and above our regular grant program. 
• Under the community grant program, retention of art and culture funding. There is an additional community grant under which organizations such as the LSPU Hall and the Kiwanis Music Festival are supported.  These community grants are not subject to reduction.

Please note that the gross allocation of grants has been reduced. This is not a 50 per cent reduction to a particular group. All grant applications are evaluated annually; the deadline for applications is Friday, January 29, 2016.