By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

Council approves final years of bridge funding for Southern Alberta Art Gallery

Oct 20, 2016 | 12:49 PM

LETHBRIDGE – City Council decided on Monday (Oct. 17) to continue its financial support of the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG).
 
In 2014, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) reduced its grant funding, which resulted in the SAAG losing roughly 10-per cent of its operating budget.
 
Ryan Doherty, SAAG Director/Curator, said since it’s already running a tight budget, there was no option to cut staff or programs. The gallery then reached out to Lethbridge Council for a one-time allocation totaling $248-thousand, split up over four years to bridge funds until the AFA grants return.
 
At Monday’s council meeting, the gallery was approved for the last two years of that funding, equaling $70,000 in 2017 and $36,000 for 2018.
 
Doherty explained that the first two years of funding has helped in a number of ways, but really allowed them to explore new funding strategies, like the Live Art, Love SAAG initiative aimed at raising $1-million over three years. 
 
“It really helped with our organizational budget, but we needed to focus it on maintaining that support from the community and growing that support with hiring consultants and doing some readiness reviews for our campaign. Now, for the next two years, [we’ll be] maintaining this campaign, which has already been a success.”
 
The City funding will continue assisting the gallery to maintain its consulting program through the Ross W. Marsh Consulting Group, steward new donors and keep up Live Art, Love SAAG.
 
While Doherty says AFA grants most likely won’t change within the next two years, he remains hopeful that things will turn around in the next cycle.