How much do we value art in our community?
That鈥檚 ultimately the question council must ask itself when it considers whether or not to give It Only Takes A Dream (IOTAD) and the Jasper Artists Guild (JAG) a break on rent July 19.
Both groups have asked council to consider waiving rent to help them get back on their feet after operating without a permanent home for years as they patiently waited for the new Library and Cultural Centre to open.
Both groups originally asked council for a break on rent for up to a year in August 2015, but revised their requests in June after signing their leases to move into the new building.
IOTAD is now asking council to waive the first six months of its rent followed by a six-month deferral period, repaid in installments beginning in July 2017, including interest. Details about the organization鈥檚 payment plan are expected to be presented to council on July 19, before council makes a final decision.
If approved, IOTAD would save nearly $10,000 through the first six months.
JAG, which originally requested eight months rent free in August 2015, is now asking the municipality to waive rent for one month, which would save the organization just over $1,600.
It鈥檚 clear from both of their letters to council that the past few years have been extremely difficult.
Without a fixed address Habitat for the Arts has struggled to hold events, struggled to maintain community partnerships and left it unable to apply for grants. In one case the organization had to turn down a $20,000 grant for Culture Days in 2014 because it didn鈥檛 have a physical location.
Over the past three years JAG has had to relocate seven times as it tried to stay afloat during the Library and Cultural Centre鈥檚 constant delays.
As a result it lost a lot of its members and was unable to commit to long-term exhibits.
Both groups recognize what they were asking for was a lot, which is why they have backed down from their original ask, so now the onus is on council to meet them half way.
Yes, the municipality will lose some revenue, but is $11,600 really that much to help two organizations get back on their feet?
To put it in prospective the municipality just doled out $12,500 to support the rodeo, the folk fest and a curling event, all of which make the community a better place to live, so why not support the arts community with the same level of commitment?
We hope council will see the value these organizations bring to the community and give them the rent relief they deserve.
