News Release
Province and generous donors support live events
Alberta’s non-profit organizations got a financial boost for their live events through the second phase of the Stabilize Program.
About $5.6 million in community support went to 60 organizations, including matched funds from 68 pledges, to offset financial losses due to the pandemic and sustain their future. Alberta’s government gave $2.8 million in total funding through the Donation-Matching stream, which matched donations of $25,000 to $100,000 dollar for dollar. Albertans generously donated a total of more than $2.8 million to non-profits, with some donating above the maximum amount for matching funds.
About $1.7 million went to 56 non-profits that host live experiences or that own and/or operate live-experience venues through the Adapt and Innovate stream of the Stabilize Program. Successful applicants were awarded a one-time grant of up to $75,000, with 50 per cent of the funds matched by another source. These funds are now helping empower arts and culture non-profits to rebuild, reopen and offer live experiences.
“I am deeply grateful to the Albertans who stepped up to make sure valued arts and culture experiences stay strong now and into the future. Their donations combined with provincial dollars will give a much-needed lift to our live-experience sector and will help the province’s economic recovery.”
Ron Orr, Minister of Culture
The Stabilize Program was created in 2021 as part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan to support live experiences and landmark cultural events in the province hit hard by the pandemic.
Quick facts
The Stabilize Program offered up to $37 million in one-time funding over two years to the live-experience sector.
Announced on Feb. 17, the Stabilize Live Music Grant supported the music industry’s recovery, providing grants up to $25,000 to 64 projects by live music businesses and grants up to $1,500 to 420 musicians and other live music professionals.
In 2019, Alberta’s live-experience sector contributed $698.9 million to the province’s gross domestic product and supported 14,060 jobs.
Between 2014 and 2018, the live experience sector grew by 17 per cent.
Live-experience events generate economic activity through out-of-town tourism at an average of $10 million in economic impact for larger events.
According to Statistics Canada, every $1 million in output from live performance businesses generates about 17 direct and indirect jobs in the province.
Related information
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