Culture and recreation groups are being asked to pay an extra $188,592 in fees next year, the first of a three-year plan to up revenues. The first across-the-board hike to fees in more than 20 years is expected to generate $253,206 by 2011.
If approved when it goes to council in two weeks, arts groups can expect to pay more to rent the arts studios that have been a mainstay at St. Albert Place since it opened nearly 25 years ago. Hikes are also proposed for Arden Theatre rentals.
The city wants to recoup 65 per cent of the cost to run the arts studios through fees (which in turn are raised by the user groups through membership dues and other fundraising). The remaining 35 per cent would be subsidized by taxpayers.
Here's a look at proposed increases. The cost to each group is based on their estimated usage of arts studio space.
Potters' guild
$13,081 (current)
$15,000 in 2009
$20,000 in 2010
$23,565 in 2011
Painters' guild
$1,817 (current)
$2,200 in 2009
$2,700 in 2010
$3,366 in 2011
Floral arts society
$346 (current)
$1,000 in 2009
$1,500 in 2010
$2,072 in 2011
Quilters' guild
$908 (current)
$1,800 in 2009
$1,900 in 2010
$2,072 in 2011
Paper arts
$318 (current)
$1,000 in 2009
$1,700 in 2010
$2,330 in 2011
The Arts and Heritage Foundation would, for the first time, be required to pay for studio space to run Profiles Public Art Gallery's arts eduction program.
$5,400 in 2009
$10,800 in 2010
$13,812 in 2011
Arden Theatre
It's going to get more expensive for local not-for-profit groups to rent the Arden. Annual fee hikes of 15 per cent are proposed for 2009-11. The local and non-local rates will only increase five per cent since they're already within the market range.
The new fees will add $1,400 to the Arden Theatre in 2009, $2,400 in 2010 and $200 in 2011.
The complete finance and audit committee report can be found here (Nov. 3 meeting). Council will review this again in two weeks.
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