CDC back in the seat for determining some CBT funds
By Nelson Daily Editor
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily
Even though it was “under subscribed,” City council will once again let the Cultural Development Commission advise on the allocation of up to 35 per cent of the Columbia Basin Trust’s Community Initiative funding this year.
The pilot project in 2010 saw the CDC undertake the allotment of money to the arts, culture and heritage sector, establishing criteria to identify areas such as cultural tourism, public art and art infrastructure projects.
Using an independent jury, the CDC forwarded their recommendations to council.
The resolution in 2010 meant a maximum of $42,300 was available for allocation through the CDC.
“How much did they actually hand out,” asked Coun. Bob Adams
“It was under subscribed,” said City manager Kevin Cormack.
According to letter to council from CDC chair Stephanie Fischer, the under subscribing was due to a number of factors, including: a lack of lead time between the announcement and the deadline for the applications; unclear advertising and guidelines from the Regional District of Central Kootenay; arts organizations no longer have paid staff and were unable to apply.
All applications made to the CDC — with the exception of two — were eligible for and received funding. Unallocated funding was returned to the City to be distributed to other community projects.
It is expected the CDC will be assessing the CBT funding allocation for 2011 under the policy of ensuring priority is given to those projects that “best align with the City’s sustainability and downtown waterfront master plans.”
Those are going to be broad guidelines, not prescriptive, for the revitalization of the lower end of Baker Street, the waterfront and the downtown, said Cormack.
