New source of funds for arts programs

Organizations wishing to initiate Aboriginal arts programs have a new source of funding to access.

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is offering $100,000 to be allotted by March 31, 2007. The maximum amount of money one organization can apply for is $10,000. Al Chapman, with the Arts Branch of Alberta Community Development, is hoping that Alberta Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development will add $50,000 to the pot.

"This is a pilot project (for this year) and there may be a lot of tweaks, but we're looking at funding again for (2007-2008)," says Chapman. Alberta is joining other provinces that already have specific Aboriginal art funding in place.

Sherri Chisan, program coordinator with Blue Quills First Nation College, operated by Seven First Nations, near St. Paul, is hoping to access dollars from this program. It won't be the first time Blue Quills has applied for funding from AFA.

"We went through their regular channels and were successful," says Chisan, but she believes having dollars accessible for Aboriginal arts programs only, is a good move.

"It invites (Aboriginal) people to consider AFA for funding. Quite often Aboriginal people are marginalized when it comes to general funding through general programs."

The province's decision to include an Aboriginal component with AFA is part of the government's focus to build Aboriginal self-sufficiency.

This money is targeted for new initiatives or plans to take existing Aboriginal arts projects to a new level. Chapman anticipates that if projects are phased in, the Aboriginal funding can be applied for in the following year for phase two. He also notes that successful projects can access operational dollars through the regular AFA channels or may be able to get funding from other organizations based on the fact that AFA is already supporting the endeavour.

AFA's decision to offer Aborginal funding for arts follows focus group meetings held throughout the province in 2006. Those meetings indicated that the funding had to be "flexible," says Chapman, available to organizations that have not yet been incorporated, although in the process of becoming incorporated.

Suzanne McLeod, of the Siksika Nation, has been hired as Aboriginal coordinator.

Grant money will be awarded through a jury program, with a panel of three jurors weighing the merits of the project and making funding recommendations to the AFA board. The jury won't be empanelled until applications have been received. That way, points out Chapman, if the majority of applications are from one part of the province, jurors can be chosen who will understand the needs of that area. Jury nomination forms are on the website (www.affta.ab.ca) and McLeod has been collecting names in the course of her travels.

An entire project or part of the project may be funded. Application deadline for funding was Dec. 1.

"(AFA's Aboriginal funding) is a start. I anticipate there's room for growth," says Chisan. "I'm happy (the provincial government) is doing this work, recognizing the need, and stepping up to the plate."