TAMRMS#: B06
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Amplify Festival
Notice given by: Councillor Hansen
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BUDGET POSTPONED MOTION:
recommendation
That Amplify festival is funded for $75,000 in 2020, $60,000 in 2021 and $50,000 2022; and that it transitions into a self-sustaining program (cost recovery). Funding source would be an increase in taxes.
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POSTPONED MOTION ADMINISTRATIVE BACKGROUNDER
Administration’s Understanding of Intent Motion:
It is administration’s understanding that the motion is to provide decreasing funding for Amplify for the next three years starting with $75,000 in 2020, then $60,000 in 2021 and $50,000 in 2022; and transition to a self-sustaining delivery model effective 2023 and beyond. It is understood that City funding will not be provided to support this program beyond 2022.
Operational or Organizational Impacts if Motion is Approved:
This funding would allow Amplify programming to continue, as per the business case, while Department staff assess the core youth programming that Community Services provides, including asset and cultural development.
We will spend the next three years creating a plan for, and transitioning to, a comprehensive creative youth development program. We will work with stakeholders, both internal and external, to create this plan to ensure that we are using the best practices that already exist while also tailoring the plan for St. Albert. We will also look for synergies with other youth programs such as BAM and other Youth Outreach programs as part of this engagement, to address social needs in the community. The long-term goal is to provide the most effective programming for nurturing and supporting the development of a vibrant creative class in St. Albert.
The Amplify Youth themselves will also be actively involved the development of this plan. Administration will engage with local agencies and partners in St. Albert including the Arts and Heritage Foundation and the St. Albert Public Library who also currently offer cultural development programming. We will also engage with provincial and national organizations such as the Provincial Arts Service Organizations and Music Canada Live as well as post-secondary institutions such as MacEwan University and others.
The resulting plan will address the needs of St. Albert youth using the arts and creative industries to develop and nurture our young artists and achieve positive vital social and personal development outcomes for our youth and our community. In the event that it is determined that the Amplify approach is not self-sustaining, a plan to wrap up Amplify and transition to an alternate youth cultural development delivery model will be created.
Financial Implications of Motions:
As Above
Background:
The Amplify program began in 2013 as a City initiative directed by Council and has evolved over the past 6 years to support youth in our community. The program has a strong mentorship focus and is coordinated by a contract staff person, providing guidance, coaching and support for the Amplify Youth Committee (aged 15-24) in the development and delivery of year-round arts programming, culminating in a two-day Festival in the Fall, connecting and engaging youth through arts and culture.
The Amplify program is in alignment with the City’s Youth Development Policy which states “The City of St. Albert believes that investing in youth is essential to building a strong community for generations to come and that providing a range of services and supports for youth is essential to developing the assets for youth to flourish” (Council Policy C- CS-17- Albert Youth Development). Additional research also supports the social value of arts programing in the community and are in alignment with the community vision.
Research compiled by 2019 Vital Signs - Edmonton Social Planning Council tells us:
§ Where the arts thrive, there is also likely to be a vibrant, thriving economy. Neighbourhoods are livelier, communities are revitalized, tourists and residents are attracted to the area.
Alberta Culture and Tourism 2018 Survey of Albertans tells us:
§ 84.5% feel arts and cultural activities are important in contributing to quality of life
§ 87.3% agree arts and cultural activities makes their community a better place to live
Research compiled by the Canadian Arts Presenting Association tells us:
§ 82% of Canadians believe engagement with the arts leads to good health and well-being
The Strategic Counsel, Building a Case for Business Support to the Arts, 2015 indicates:
§ 92% of Canadians believe that exposure to arts and culture is important to individual well-being.
The Youth Development Policy support a dual role for the City and the community in developing youth. The Draft Amplify Report for 2019 demonstrated the success and positive impact of the program. During the next 3 years Administration will work with internal and external stakeholders, and partners to explore innovative options for a self-sustaining model for a creative youth development program. We will focus on a collaborative, integrated model to empower and support youth in our community and a creative way.
A Business Case detailing the request for ongoing funding for Amplify is included as Attachment 1.
A copy of the draft final report for this year’s Amplify Festival is included as Attachment 2.
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Report Date: November 21, 2019
Author: Kelly Jerrott
Department: Community Services
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble