The growing responses to Taproot's listening work in the lead up to the municipal election on Oct. 20 reveal that some voters support the city spending public dollars to support the arts.
Earlier this year, Taproot launched our listening campaign at several in-person and virtual events, and we posted a 2025 election question on our site. We have been gathering responses ever since, and at last count, more than 900 people have provided them. The listening was built around a simple question: "What issues do you care about as you consider who to vote for in the 2025 municipal election, and why?"
Roughly 80 people said the arts are important to them, with many asking for more or continued municipal funding to go to the Edmonton Arts Council. The City of Edmonton established the council in 1995. It provides grants to artists and arts organization, procures public art, and more.
One respondent said funding the arts creates economic resiliency. "How will city council members support an increase in EAC funding? Arts funding is a great way to support local and create more local pride (and) identity in a push back against the existential threats from our neighbour to the south," they said.
One person suggested that the next council should reduce the police budget and increase arts funding. "These issues impact me and my communities directly in relation to our safety and our livelihoods," they said.
Another person tied the state of the arts and housing to civic identity, noting that beautiful housing and art both help wellbeing. "Support for the arts and increasing protection of built heritage go hand in hand with the importance of beauty. These are not just nice-to-haves, and we do not need to reinvent the wheel."
Three respondents expressed support for public art, which has been a divisive topic in Edmonton, but one of them felt its execution could be better.
"Commissioning and installing these works doesn't always finish the job," they said. "The lack of lighting on (public art at the Kathleen Andrews Transit Garage) is a tragedy. For so much of the long, dark year it is impossible to see or enjoy this work. That is a waste of the original and considerable financial investment. My vote goes to those who provide additional support and leadership in the area of making Edmonton's art more accessible, and its care more complete."
Taproot has worked to explain some key developments for the arts, including city funding for the organizations that help create it, since the 2021 municipal election.
The Edmonton sign, created by artists Michelle Sound and Crystal Lee Clark, and design agency Vignettes. This work was funded by $255,000 from the city's Downtown Vibrancy Fund and $15,000 from Prairies Economic Development Canada. (Supplied)
Funding
Taproot reported on the EAC's new leader and funding strategy in November. A key change to the strategy is a pause on multi-year funding until at least 2026. Shirley Combden, who was the interim executive director at the time, said the organization has had a stagnant budget since 2021 and that she expected that to remain true for the near future. The EAC received $18 million from the city in 2024. For comparison, Edmonton's other agencies, boards, and commissions received different amounts, including the Edmonton Police Service ($559 million), Explore Edmonton ($92 million), and Edmonton Public Library ($71 million). The council receives additional funds from city programs and other sources, bringing its total revenues in 2024 to almost $28 million.
The council's 2025 Economic Impact Report notes that the city also voted to remove $550,000 from the public art reserve per year in 2025 and 2026. Arts funding per capita in Edmonton was $13.64 in 2019 and in 2024 was $11.76, the report notes. Meanwhile, the Toronto Arts Council spent $25 per capita in 2018. The report's authors also argue that the arts are an economic driver, because EAC-funded organizations employ 1,400 people, and had a total of $171 million in "economic effects" in 2024. Edify has further unpacked the report and the state of arts funding in its October issue. The story notes that COVID-19, inflation, and a lack of funding growth has forced organizations to adapt.
The city also funds the arts with various grants, like the Chinatown Vibrancy Fund.
Meanwhile, the provincial government has increased the budget for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts by $4.5 million each year for the last two years. Its 2025 to 2026 budget is $34.6 million.
Arts organizations feel the pinch
While most arts organizations fundraise in some capacity, there have been life-or-death campaigns in recent years.
In March, the Harcourt House Artist Run Centre succeeded in raising $3.5 million to purchase its home when it received a $1 million grant from the federal government.
The Grindstone Theatre, which teaches and programs various forms of comedy and live entertainment, has embarked on a similar campaign, though not to purchase property. The theatre is asking for monthly donations to keep it alive. The Save the Grindstone campaign is similar to Sustain Fringe, which the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival launched in 2024.
Last year, CKUA raised the $3 million it needed to stay on air. An FAQ page posted during the campaign argued the station limits expenses and described the massive workload involved in fundraising campaigns.
Over to you
For more on Edmonton's 2025 municipal election — from where candidates stand to voting info — visit edmonton.taproot.vote. There you can complete the Taproot Edmonton Survey and immediately see which candidates for mayor and council in your ward align with your views.