City of Winnipeg looking to change public art funding

Public art is seen outside the Millennium Library in Winnipeg on April 14, 2025. (Charles Lefebvre/CTV News Winnipeg)

The City of Winnipeg is looking at creating a new program for public art funding in new builds.

The city’s executive policy committee will hear a proposal for a public art program that would include a percentage set aside in all construction budgets to incorporate public art.

“The advantage of implementing a pooled percent-for-art program is the flexibility it provides,” states a report to the committee. “This enables council to direct public art funding to a specific initiative outside the capital budget should an opportunity arise. This also provides the opportunity for the program to be reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, at the beginning of each multi-year budget cycle.”

A downside to the program, however, is less predictable funding for art, with the report noting contributions will fluctuate depending on eligible investments.

The report is recommending 0.25 per cent for a public art allocation, to a maximum of $250,000 per project.

“While all eligible projects will contribute to public art funding, not all projects will receive public art installations,” the report said.

Similar public art funding projects are in place in Calgary and Toronto.

Public art was previously funded through an annual grant to the Winnipeg Art Council, but it was eliminated in the 2024 budget.

The proposal will be talked about when the committee meets on April 22.