An organization that supports the arts community in Red Deer will be closing its doors at the end of the year. The Red Deer Arts Council says its funding is no longer sufficient to sustain its staff, programs and commitments. “The office and community gallery will be closed permanently by Nov. 27. Remaining programs will be wrapped up by Dec. 31 at latest, and the building will be vacated,” the council said in a news release on Tuesday. “Dissolution of the society and deregistration of the charity are expected to take place in 2027. While all of our programming is facing termination, we are striving to find other organizations willing and able to carry on or restart some of the Arts Council’s most valued programs.” In addition to the community gallery, the council has operated a juried art gallery, now the Kiwanis Gallery at the Red Deer Public Library, for nearly five decades. The council has led Red Deer’s participation in Alberta Culture Days, provided annual scholarships for developing artists, delivered a neighbourhood concert series in communities across Red Deer and took over the Ross Street Patio concert series in 2026. It has supported literary events and worked on The Hub program, where people with disabilities could participate in arts activities. It was also an early proponent and financial supporter of the Red Deer Scene magazine. The society has lobbied for proper payment of artists and developed recommended fee schedules to ensure fair compensation for artists. “The board is grateful to the staff, past and present, and the countless volunteers who have dedicated themselves to creating and building programs and promoting the arts and culture communities in Red Deer and beyond,” the news release states. “The loss of the Arts Council will leave a hole in the community but will also leave an influential legacy that will carry into the future.” The society has existed in its current form since 2010 when it was formed by the merger of the Red Deer and District Allied Arts Council, Cultural Charter Partners of Red Deer and District, and the Cultural Development Association of Red Deer (Culture Link).
