City Support for Festivals & Celebrations - Policy Review & Recommendations

Appendix B

Support for Festivals & Celebrations: Comparison of 10 Cities¹

city

grants

other expenditures

description of other assistance

per capita²

Grants & In-house Event Delivery

Halifax

$182,000
20 groups

$199k & 3 full-time staff.

Produce 4 large events. Also provide staging & tents for small events.

$1.06

Toronto

$514,000
14 groups

$3.4m net (includes $1.4m for 30 staff ); $140k for Festival Grants to small festivals.

Produce 30 events annually & raise sponsorship funds ($800k in 2000). Charge for police & engineering services.

$1.07
$1.63 with staff costs

Grants & Other Forms of Assistance

Montreal

$1,246,500
56 groups

Over $3m for civic services to free outdoor events; additional $400k for children's festival & multicultural parade; 5 full-time staff.

Provide services to festivals (police, signs, barricades, cleaning, electrical services, park services). Support from other budgets for 4 MSO concerts, pop music series & travelling arts events in parks.

$4.46

Calgary

$223,000
13 groups

$100k plus 2 city staff for Canada Day & Stampede events.

City provides low-cost tents & staging, for events.

$0.37

Vancouver

$384,250
23 groups

$430k in police & engineering services.

Up to $500 for police service costs; cover civic service costs for 4 events, incl. Celebration of Light.

$1.49

Seattle

$51,000US
10 groups

$750kUS for Seattle Center events; plus cost of staff time.

City-run Seattle Center provides facilities, staff time & services for 3 major festivals.

$1.42US ($2.25 Cdn)

Grants Only

Winnipeg

$333,000
10 groups

$180k for 19 downtown festival initiatives.

Additional $ for 19 new downtown festival initiatives through Mayor's & Economic Development offices.

$0.82

Edmonton

$844,000
26 groups

$1.27

San
Francisco

$1,429,000US
39 groups

Grant budget source is hotel tax..

$1.78 US ($2.84 Cdn)

In-house Event Delivery Only

Chicago

$4.6m (US) for 70 city staff
(remaining $8.36m of budget comes from fund-raising).

Produce 8 major free festivals, raise revenues from sponsorships & concessions. Provide technical aid & equipment to other events.

1.59 US ($2.52 Cdn) for staff

¹ Information for 2000/01 ² Estimates only, given inconsistency of data available; includes all identified expenditures (except staff costs, unless indicated).

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city	grants	other expenditures	description of other assistance	per capita²
*Grants & In-house Event Delivery*
Halifax	$182,000 20 groups	$199k & 3 full-time staff.	Produce 4 large events. Also provide staging & tents for small events.	*$1.06*
Toronto	$514,000 14 groups	$3.4m net (includes $1.4m for 30 staff ); $140k for Festival Grants to small festivals.	Produce 30 events annually & raise sponsorship funds ($800k in 2000). Charge for police & engineering services.	*$1.07* *$1.63 with staff costs*
*Grants & Other Forms of Assistance*
Montreal	$1,246,500 56 groups	Over $3m for civic services to free outdoor events; additional $400k for children's festival & multicultural parade; 5 full-time staff.	Provide services to festivals (police, signs, barricades, cleaning, electrical services, park services). Support from other budgets for 4 MSO concerts, pop music series & travelling arts events in parks.	*$4.46*
Calgary	$223,000 13 groups	$100k plus 2 city staff for Canada Day & Stampede events.	City provides low-cost tents & staging, for events.	*$0.37*
Vancouver	$384,250 23 groups	$430k in police & engineering services.	Up to $500 for police service costs; cover civic service costs for 4 events, incl. Celebration of Light.	*$1.49*
Seattle	$51,000US 10 groups	$750kUS for Seattle Center events; plus cost of staff time.	City-run Seattle Center provides facilities, staff time & services for 3 major festivals.	*$1.42US ($2.25 Cdn)*
*Grants Only*
Winnipeg	$333,000 10 groups	$180k for 19 downtown festival initiatives.	Additional $ for 19 new downtown festival initiatives through Mayor's & Economic Development offices.	*$0.82*
Edmonton	$844,000 26 groups			*$1.27*
San Francisco	$1,429,000US 39 groups	Grant budget source is hotel tax..		*$1.78 US ($2.84 Cdn)*
*In-house Event Delivery Only*
Chicago		$4.6m (US) for 70 city staff (remaining $8.36m of budget comes from fund-raising).	Produce 8 major free festivals, raise revenues from sponsorships & concessions. Provide technical aid & equipment to other events.	*1.59 US ($2.52 Cdn) for staff*