The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the creation of the Alberta Focus Fund—a $25 million investment over five years—to help artists and arts organizations across Alberta access the support they need to create, collaborate and connect with audiences, to the benefit of communities across the province.
The investment responds to what artists and organizations across Alberta have been expressing: there is tremendous creativity and potential in the province and, with additional support, even more of it can be realized and shared.
The Fund is designed to make a tangible difference across Alberta’s diverse arts ecosystem. It will support more artistic projects and strengthen the capacity of arts organizations through the Canada Council’s existing programs. It is expected to benefit artists and art organizations in many disciplines and in all parts of the province, namely Indigenous, Deaf and disability and racialized artists, as well as artists and arts organizations in rural and remote areas and official language minority communities.
The Canada Council’s efforts in Alberta over the past few years are grounded in a vision for a thriving arts sector in all parts of Canada. Work is underway to identify and respond to the varied realities of artists and arts organizations in other regions across the country.
About the Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts’ mandate is “to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.” Through its grants, services, prizes, initiatives and payments, the Canada Council supports a dynamic and diverse arts and literary scene. These activities generate a meaningful cultural, social and economic impact for over 2,000 communities in all parts of the country and beyond. The investments and leadership of the Canada Council help advance public engagement in the arts from coast to coast to coast while also contributing to the international recognition of artists and arts organizations from Canada.
