Busking pilot project approved
Jasper鈥檚 streets will once again be alive with the sound of music, after council unanimously approved a busking pilot project, May 2.
This is the third pilot project approved by council to allow buskers to perform in the downtown core.
The first pilot project was held over two days in conjunction with Alberta Culture Days in 2015, but was deemed by council to be too short to include it as part of its bylaw on commercial use of public space.
Instead, council required busking to be piloted for a second year in 2016.
The results from last year鈥檚 pilot project were presented to council by Habitat for the Arts in February, which requested another pilot project for 2017 to tweak a few more things.
New for 2017, buskers will be required to perform one song from their set list to audition for a busking permit. The performance will be recorded and sent to other judges to be evaluated using a 15-point system. Judges will have 24 hours to evaluate the performance.
According to the selection committee guidelines, buskers will be evaluated on three categories, including skill and proficiency, audience enjoyment and stage presence. Those with an average score of 11 will pass the audition and receive a busking permit.
Buskers will also have to abide by the Habitat for the Arts value statement and have to sign a permit, which sets out 19 conditions they have to adhere to.
For example, buskers will only be allowed to perform between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. in a period that is assigned by Habitat for the Arts. Buskers will also have to display an identification badge issued to them.
Buskers also run the risk of having their permit revoked by Habitat if their performance doesn鈥檛 match their application. The municipality also reserves the right to terminate the pilot project at any time with notice through a resolution.
