There was no appetite for the destruction of current arts funding levels among members of city council Monday night.
Faced with the decision to approve or reject a recommendation from the finance and audit committee that would see city grant money to Theatre Northwest and the Prince George Symphony Orchestra (PGSO) reduced by thousands of dollars, council ended up going the other way.
Traditionally, more than half of the $357,350 (55 per cent) available to local non-profit groups has gone to Theatre Northwest, the orchestra and the Community Arts Council.
The Cultural Grants program provided Theatre Northwest and the PGSO with approximately 13 per cent of their annual revenue and seven per cent of the Community Arts Council's income.
The recommendations would have created new three-year agreements that even out those percentages to 10 per cent of the trio's respective annual revenues across the board, freeing up another $27,000 for other projects by 2016.
But putting arts funding on the chopping block didn't sit well with members of council, even if it meant freeing up money for other groups.
"We have to be aware [these groups] are doing quite a bit for our community," said Coun. Albert Koehler.
The timing for the move was off, agreed Coun. Murry Krause, especially on the heels of major cultural and social events coming up in 2015 - namely the the Canada Winter Games and the Prince George centennial.
Coun. Cameron Stolz put forward a motion to not only keep the amount of grant funding static through 2016 for the theatre and orchestra, but also make it more equal, by bringing up the level of funding for the Community Arts Council.
By the end of the agreement, that leaves Theatre Northwest still receiving $113,000, PGSO still receiving $58,000 and Community Arts Council going from the $26,000 they received in 2013 to $43,800 in 2016.
"I like this - it certainly provides the certainty," said Mayor Shari Green.
Council also voted to streamline the grant process, by consolidating the existing three grant streams (cultural, social and community enhancement) into one fund called the myPG Social Development fund, with one application and adjudication process.
The conversation about grant funding isn't over, with Coun. Lyn Hall instigating a motion to have a broader consultation with all groups that would be eligible for grant funding.
"I think we've got the cart in the wrong spot," said Hall, referring to a timeline set out in the committee report that identified a time after a decision on the funding had been made at council to inform the affected groups on the process.
The decision to increase the funding for the arts council also leaves less money remaining for the other non-profit organizations that would apply for an annual grant.
City manager Beth James said she'd would work with the recreation and cultural department to create a process that would likely be similar to what's currently on offer for the community services master plan public consultation.
