How Should Alberta Support Its Artists?
Official title: Status of the Artist engagement
Why This Matters
Are you an artist in Alberta? This shaped how the province now supports creative workers. The feedback led to the Month of the Artist and a new Artist in Residence program. If you've struggled to make a living from your art, others shared those same concerns.
What Could Change
This consultation already led to concrete changes. Alberta now proclaims January as Month of the Artist. The province launched an Artist in Residence program. Annual awareness campaigns now highlight artists' contributions.
Key Issues
- How can government better recognize artists' contributions to Alberta?
- Should government honour pay scales and minimum standards when hiring artists?
- How can training and professional development for artists be improved?
- What additional support do diverse arts communities need?
What Happened
Over 2,000 artists participated through in-person sessions and an online survey. 81% supported encouraging public awareness of artists, 73% supported arts training, and 72% wanted government to honour artist association pay scales. The feedback directly informed the creation of Month of the Artist in Alberta (January), the Alberta Artist in Residence program, and annual public awareness campaigns.