Municipal Funding Halved for Penticton Art Gallery

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Penticton Art Gallery

The director of the Penticton Art Gallery in the B.C. Interior is reeling after learning that city council has voted to slash the gallery's municipal funding by more than half.

Penticton's council, in its March 15 budget deliberations, unanimously decided to grant just $55,000 of the $130,000 the gallery had requested for 2023.

Since 2017, the gallery has received annual municipal support ranging between $100,000 and $125,000. 

Paul Crawford, also the gallery's curator, says he was "absolutely gobsmacked" by the decision, which he says came without warning.

"At least give us a heads up," he says. "If they don't think arts and culture are a priority ... let's be honest about it."

The gallery is located in a scenic spot on the shore of Okanagan Lake in Penticton, a popular tourist destination in B.C. wine country with a population of about 35,000 people. 

City staff said funding fluctuates annually and there is a "reduced financial need" because of increased federal and provincial assistance during the pandemic.

But Crawford says pandemic-relief subsidies were one-time grants that failed to make up for revenue losses over that period. 

The municipal grant is the largest single subsidy the gallery receives. Its annual operating costs are about $800,000. 

Crawford says this year's municipal funding is less than the gallery received 17 years ago, when he began work there.

He says he will cancel some upcoming exhibitions in favour of less expensive regional shows, but will not consider layoffs.