Edmonton – Laurie Blakeman, Alberta Liberal critic for culture, says recently announced cuts to the Community Presenting Grants will practically eliminate professional cultural events outside the big cities.

19 municipalities are no longer eligible for the Community Presenting Grants program, including St. Albert’s celebrated Arden Theatre and other highly regarded theatre programs across the province.

Apparently the public funding is being shifted to the ministry of municipal affairs, but Blakeman says that theatre groups will have a harder time getting grants from that ministry than one devoted to cultural pursuits.

“I don’t even see a mechanism that would allow these theatres to apply for grants under the Municipal Sustainability Initiative,” Blakeman says.

Many of Alberta’s smaller cities and towns host touring shows, creating opportunities for people outside Edmonton and Calgary to enjoy professional theatre, dance and music. Without the Community Presenting Grants, these tours won’t be able to operate.

“What the arts community needs is sustainable funding they can depend on,” Blakeman says. “Instead, this administration has cut funding from a vital program without consulting stakeholders, without giving them a chance to plan, and without setting up some kind of alternative.”

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