Canmore Considering Plan to Double Public Art Funding

The Town of Canmore is considering an overhaul of how it plans, funds and manages its public art program.

The recommendation was presented to council on Jan. 20 as part of a draft Public Art Plan. Council has not yet adopted the plan and will consider accepting it at a future meeting so administration can use it as a guiding framework for future planning and decision-making.

The report outlines both financial and administrative changes, which consultant Alexandra Hatcher of Alberta-based Hatlie Group, who led the report, described as adaptable to changing municipal realities.

“The framework is then agile, scalable, and responsive to the community. It can take into consideration social and political contexts as well as the fiscal environment. It is a holistic and systems-based approach providing process and parameters rather than prescriptive solutions,” said Hatcher.

The policy development process began by identifying the people, organizations and groups affected by the public art program, as well as those who influence decision-making. Consultants interviewed administration about internal processes and held discussions with the Cultural Advisory Committee, nation-based Indigenous public art coordinators and artists from the Stoney Nakoda Nations. Those discussions revealed consistent themes.

“We heard that public art in Canmore should authentically reflect the land, the stories, and the people, fostering a sense of place, belonging, and community while balancing creative expression,” said Hatcher.

Those themes helped shape the non-financial components of the plan, which outlines five strategies intended to guide public art decisions moving forward: nurturing a sense of place, amplifying Indigenous cultures past, present and future, supporting innovative placemaking, strengthening collaboration and improving program management.

An accompanying implementation guide, formalizes a seven-step lifecycle process for public art projects, from site selection and artist calls through installation and long-term maintenance, and introduces annual work planning and performance indicators to better align projects with funding, staff capacity and the plan’s five guiding strategies.

Another addition to the public art decision-making process is the cultivation of the Public Art Cross-Departmental Team, known as PACT, an internal staff group intended to co-ordinate projects across departments such as engineering and parks. Eleanor Miclette, the Town of Canmore’s manager of economic development, said the creation of the team responds to lessons learned from past installations.

“Often public art, during a major art installation, was something that was thought up within the team, not always in consultation with parks, who will maintain it, or engineering, who has to do the technical side of things. Part of creating that internal process is also working with the capacities within other teams to take on that additional work and what the technical skills are that are required,” said Miclette.

Under the current funding model, the Town contributes $5 per resident each year to the Art Trust Fund. Additionally, they set aside 0.5% of its tax-supported spending on major construction projects, such as buildings, parks and streets, to the public art fund. If approved, the plan would increase the public art funding set aside from major Town construction projects over $1 million from 0.5% to 1%, subject to annual budget approval.

“1% is very common across municipalities throughout North America regardless of size,” said Hatcher.

Under the proposed model, eligible construction projects would include new municipal buildings, park developments and major streetscape improvements. Utilities, land purchases, moveable equipment and maintenance budgets would remain ineligible. However, any allocations from the Art Trust Fund would continue to require council approval during the budget deliberations for the town’s annual budget.

Overall, council members responded positively to the presentation, expressing support for strengthening oversight and long-term planning. The Public Art Plan will return to council at a future meeting for consideration.