Photo credit: Government of Alberta

By rdnewsNOW staff

Provincial Politics

Province touting record-level funding for the arts

Jul 25, 2025 | 4:40 PM

The Alberta government says it’s maintaining record-breaking funding for the arts sector in Budget 2025 with a $4.5 million investment to support artists through the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

Provincial officials say the arts are an essential contributor to Albertans’ quality of life, fostering positive health and well-being, and driving economic development. By championing a vibrant arts sector through public art galleries, visual and performing arts and arts service organizations, the government says Alberta’s unique culture and history are preserved and shared in communities across the province.

The province says it’s further strengthening direct support for artists and expanding access to the arts, by bringing total arts funding to a record $36.1 million. This is said to include a responsible, steady $4.5 million increase for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) as part of the government’s multi-year commitment that aims to grow AFA funding to more than $43 million annually by 2027-28.

“Alberta is home to thousands of gifted artists who are a vital part of our economy, with arts industries contributing more than $1.3 billion in GDP each year and supporting more than 18,000 jobs,” explains Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, in a press release. “Our government is proud to sustain the highest level of arts funding in Alberta’s history, strengthening communities and enhancing quality of life for all Albertans.”

“I want to express our appreciation for the Alberta government’s commitment to increasing funding to the AFA for the second consecutive year,” adds Cynthia Moore, chair, Alberta Foundation for the Arts. “This year, our focus has been to raise the level of AFA funding support for arts organizations. With this additional funding, we will be able to significantly impact more than 400 Alberta organizations.”

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“This follows the extra funding that we were able to give to more than 700 individual artists last year,” continues Moore. “We are proud of our role in investing in Alberta artists, art and cultural materials.”

Alberta’s government says it provides grant funding to the arts sector through the AFA in three important ways:

• Operational grants to arts-based organizations that create and provide access to art experiences and generate job opportunities for artists and cultural workers.
• Project grants to non-profit organizations, including schools, to increase capacity and/or accessibility for arts-related activities.
• Project grants and awards for individual artists that can support art production or creation, research, marketing, or training and professional development.

“Alberta Ballet is best known for its artistry on the Jubilee stages in Edmonton and Calgary,” states Chris George, president and chief executive officer, Alberta Ballet. “What is less known is how funding from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts fuels Alberta Ballet’s growing impact across the province. With this support, Alberta Ballet is building a stronger arts ecosystem and lasting connections in cities throughout Alberta.”

“For Shumka, this increase in funding means more than just financial support. It’s an investment in creativity, in cultural heritage, and in the people who bring stories to life through dance,” shares Tasha Orysiuk, artistic director, Canada’s Ukrainian Shumka Dancers. “As we look ahead, this support helps ensure that the legacy of Shumka, more than 60 years strong, continues to evolve and inspire future generations. Thank you to the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for believing in the power of the arts, and for recognizing the value that organizations like ours bring to the cultural fabric of Alberta.”

Since April 2025, the province says the AFA has already approved $19.1 million in grant funding to 223 arts organizations and 192 individual artists.

Alberta government quick facts

• The 2025 budget for Arts is $36.1 million, including $34.6 million for the AFA. Funding for the AFA increased by $4.5 million.
• In 2024-25, the AFA provided $20.4 million through 656 grants to organizations as well as $5.2 million through 446 individual arts grants to support their activities.
• In 2024-25, the AFA increased the maximum eligible amount for its project grant programs for artists to $18,000 and nearly doubled the total number grants awarded to artists.
• In 2023, the visual and applied arts and live performance industries contributed approximately $1.3 billion in GDP and sustained over 18,000 jobs in Alberta.