Officials from five Coquitlam arts organizations that receive taxpayer funding stood before city council this week to ask for more cash to run next year’s programs.
Yesterday (Tuesday), representatives from the Coquitlam Public Library, Place des Arts, Societe Place Maillardville, Coquitlam Heritage Society and the Evergreen Cultural Centre each laid out their accomplishments over the past year and presented their wish lists as part of the 2017 city budget discusssions.
Library chairperson Alice Hale and executive director Todd Gnissios were up first to tell council about its successes and challenges with operating two branches in City Centre and on Poirier Street.
Next year, it plans to add more training and development for staff as well as grow its book, magazine and digital collections, at a cost of $50,000.
The library’s base grant request is $4.9 million including a 2.4% labour increase equal to $115,000.
Over at Place des Arts, the Maillardville hub — which receives about 38% of its revenues from the city, sponsors and donations — wants another $20,000 for a financial assistant, a position it pushed for last year at the request of its auditor. As well, its asking for an extra $15,000 for ActiveNet operating costs and $20,000 more for an artist-in-residence program.
The latter project, said executive director Joan McCauley, will serve up to 1,200 Coquitlam children by teaching multiculturalism through Taiko drumming and south Asian dance, for example, as well as provide teen mentorship.
The three new funding requests — costing $55,000 — will add to Place des Arts’ base budget to bring its total to $937,640 in 2017, she said.
Meanwhile, Luke Balson, executive director of Societe Place Maillardville, has requested an increase of $1 per hour for the organization’s six key staff members while the Coquitlam Heritage Society wants to host its second Coquitlam Heritage Symposium next year, said executive directory Candrina Bailey and Reg Wilford, director of strategic initiatives.
Finally, Douglas Matthews, president of the Evergreen Cultural Centre, which is marking its 40th year, said his venue is so busy that, since July, it’s had to turn away 49 events because of lack of space. Evergreen is asking for another $25,000 for a part-time administrator plus an additional $73,500 in capital costs for a new outdoor digital sign and rehearsal hall flooring. As part of his PowerPoint presentation, Matthews also included two renderings commissioned by the Evergreen Cultural Centre about eight years ago of an expanded facility that includes a playhouse.
City council is expected to give first reading to the budget Dec. 5.
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FESTIVALS
As the city winds down its 125th year, municipal staff are already working on how Coquitlam can mark the country’s 150th anniversary on July 1, 2017.
In a report before council-in-committee last Monday, parks and recreation GM Raul Alleuva wrote the city’s Canada Day festival is the biggest one-day event in the Tri-Cities, which grew to 70,000 visitors this year. Alleuva said the event cost the city $117,000 (including $70,000 in income) and staff already project they will add another $22,700 to the bottom line for the nation’s milestone fete. As in past years, staff will apply for federal funding; its Celebrate Canada grant application is due by Nov. 21.
Meanwhile, Coquitlam staff are also eyeing the city’s festival and events policy. As part of the update, which went before council-in-committee last week, staff will assess event sites, develop guidelines to minimize impact on area residents and review event criteria and licensing procedures.
