P.E.I. hires new officer to oversee grants to artists

The P.E.I. Department of Culture has released some details on how it will deliver grants for artists, including an increase in the total budget for grants and a new officer to oversee the process.

The government promised a new plan after the P.E.I. Council of the Arts dissolved last month after its funding was cut.

• P.E.I. Council of the Arts dissolving due to lack of funds

The council was getting $200,000 a year from government, with $94,000 going out in grants to artists.

Under the new plan, the budget for grants to artists will increase by $36,000, according to a government news release, bringing the total to $130,000.

MichelleMacCallum joins Department of Culture

The grants will still be adjudicated by juries.

Those juried grants will be coordinated by a new hire in the Culture Department. Michelle MacCallum will join the department as arts community liaison officer.

The next deadline for grants was Sept. 30. The government says that deadline will be extended as the government prepares a new application process.

Process remains independent

MacCallum will also be working on a new cultural strategy for the province.

"Michelle's mandate will be to be the voice of the sector even though she is paid inside government," said Culture Minister Doug Currie.

MacCallum is filling a vacant position, said Currie, and her salary will come out of a different budget line from the arts council funding.

Currie said the independence of the juries will be maintained.

"Artists in the community will see we are being very respectful of that process," said Currie.

Currie said the arts are significant part of the Island economy, and the government has targeted it as an area for growth.

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