New operational fund to strengthen Kawartha’s arts and culture

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Copy article link Save Kawartha Lakes council is expected to make a decision on a staff recommendation for a long-term arts and culture fund when it meets again on Oct. 24.

Earlier this year, council approved the 2023 Arts and Culture Resiliency Fund program framework, and asked staff to provide options for a permanent municipal funding program to support local cultural not-for-profit organizations’ operational costs. Supported by the Cultural Master Plan 2020 to 2030, which identified operational funding as a necessary activity, staff asked that $200,000 be allocated in the 2024 budget to launch this program.

“It’s very difficult for small groups to find operational funding streams,” said Ward 2 Coun. Pat Warren, adding that while there are many government funding sources for capital projects, there is little or no support for such things as insurance.