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2 WINNIPEG ARTS COUNCIL

1ANNUAL REPORT 2016

2 • Message from the Chair

4 • Introduction

8 • NATIONAL PUBLIC ART AWARD

10 • PUBLIC ART

18 • GRANTS PROGRAMMING

22 • ARTS DEVELOPMENT

24 • WINNIPEG ARTS COUNCIL AWARDS & THE MAYOR’S LUNCHEON FOR THE ARTS

26 • CAROL SHIELDS WINNIPEG BOOK AWARD

28 • THANKS

30 • GRANTS AWARDED

37 • AUDITOR'S REPORT & STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

47 • Mandate, Vision, Values, and Strategic Themes

48 • Staff, Board & Assessors

© 2017 Winnipeg Arts Council

Design by Mike Carroll

Printed in Canada by Kromar Printing Ltd.

COVER: Nuit Blanche, The Deep Dark, Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett. INSIDE FRONT COVER: Nuit Blanche, Cloud, Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett. INSIDE BACK COVER: Nuit Blanche, Quadriga, Max Streicher. All photos by Cole Moszynski.

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JANE JACOBS, the renowned urbanist, cap-tures my sentiments in the above quote. I am so pleased to have the opportunity to chair the Winnipeg Arts Council. Being the Board Chair allows me to work with a small and dynamic group of staff and a conscientious and impressive group of directors; I learn something from each of them. Although our budget is limited, our vision and our reach are infinite.

It is the artists and arts organizations that en-sure we remain focused and diligent in our duties. We thank them for their excellence and commitment to their work and to our community.

There are many partners, public and pri-vate, who are committed to the arts, and we continue to collaborate on a variety of projects. We will be developing these rela-tionships further as we move forward with our revamped framework for planning over the next few years. Our major partner is the

City of Winnipeg, which provides our core funding and with which we work closely in our public art installations. We are grateful that Mayor Brian Bowman has shown strong support at events as well as giving a very encouraging and upbeat speech at the 2016 annual Mayor’s luncheon (a terrific event held every spring). In 2015, we also experi-enced the first increase in our core funding in ten years. We thank Mayor Bowman and his Council for that.

There have been many highlights throughout 2016, too many to mention, but the Winnipeg Arts Council receiving the inaugaral Award of Excellence in Public Art from the Creative City Network of Canada was one notable acknowledgement of Winnipeg’s vision and leadership in the arts.

I thank all of the artists, jury participants, sponsors, groups and individuals who volun-teer and work in the arts. You all help to make Winnipeg a better place. I would especially like to thank Carol Phillips, who leads the Winnipeg Arts Council with a steady hand and a deeply held commitment to the arts.

Jim AugustCHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

We need art, in the arrangement of cities as well as in the other realms of life, to help explain life to us, to show us mean-ings, to illuminate the relationship be t ween the life that each of us embod-ies and the life outside us.

—Jane Jacobs


FACING PAGE: Nuit Blanche, Window Dressing, Parameter Press: Abi Auld, Andrew Lodwick and Suzie Smith. Photo by Cole Moszynski.

3ANNUAL REPORT 2016

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IS WINNIPEG ONE of the best places in the world to be an artist? Here, at the Winnipeg Arts Council, we work for the moment when it can be said, Winnipeg is the best place in the world to be an artist! One ex-ample: Winnipeg is one of the few munici-palities in Canada to offer grant programs to individual artists.

The City of Winnipeg exhibited its pride and confidence in its artists and arts orga-nizations by increasing investment in the Winnipeg Arts Council in 2015 and 2016. The additional $562,000 over those two years directly resulted in increased funds to the arts, plus additional support for the implementation of new programs. Later in this Annual Report, you will find a complete list of 2016 grant recipients in all categories, plus, of course, the cost of program delivery. The increase in funding benefitted individ-ual artists, and most organizations received some gain.

In the course of two years, an addition-al $340,000 in grants was awarded to Winnipeg’s artists and arts organizations. Along with more creation, presentation and professional development grants to Winnipeg artists, Project Grants to collec-tives and new or emerging arts organizations were expanded, and there were increased awards to established organizations in the multi-year grant category.

Additionally, Arts Development programs and projects were enhanced by $60,000. For the first time, the Winnipeg Arts Council took a partnership role in Nuit Blanche, with new funding and program involvement. This meant the addition of three major curated works, along with fresh opportunities for new projects and emerging artists. On a beautiful autumn night, thousands crowded the streets of central Winnipeg attracted by the glow of the artworks.

Connecting communities and assuring acces-sible arts experiences throughout Winnipeg are constant program objectives for our Arts Development activities. More new programs under that banner include Mass Appeal and City Builders Camp for Youth. Music mag-ic happens when players who have never played together and audiences materialize—it’s Mass Appeal! City Builders explore the urban environment through art and ideas guided by artists and designers. Aspects of Winnipeg are revealed in new and surpris-ing ways. New dollars have supported the consultation and foundation work that has been accomplished for the Indigenous Arts Leadership Fellowship, in preparation for the program’s launch in 2017.


FACING PAGE: Nuit Blanche, Bodegoes Patio. Photo by Mike Schneider.

5ANNUAL REPORT 2016

There have been more opportunities for cit-izens to participate in the arts through Art Matters Conversations. In 2016, we wel-comed Gary Shteyngart and Mira Nair, both reflecting on their careers through the lens of the artist-immigrant. Art Matters videos were screened in two Winnipeg cinemas, gaining higher profile for the arts and again connecting to community. Funding was also increased to the Youth WITH ART Program, pairing artists and communities to give voice to youth-centred creative experience.

The cultural action plan released by the Winnipeg Arts Council in 2011, Ticket to the Future, set a target of gradually increased funding from the City of Winnipeg of $12 per capita per annum; that is $1 per person per month to invest in Winnipeg arts. We are more than halfway: another five years could make the difference and bring us much closer to Winnipeg truly becoming the best place in the world to be an artist.

Public art exploded in Winnipeg in 2016, with more and more opportunities for Winnipeg artists to be involved in creating art in the pub-lic domain. For the first time, significant dollars have been included in a City of Winnipeg capital project for the inclusion of public art. For example, each of the seven sites along the Southwest Rapid Transit extension will be enhanced by public art. The Winnipeg Arts Council also received funds from the Government of Canada through the Canada 150 Fund, specifically for a series of artworks to be created by Indigenous artists. These art-works will be situated in Air Canada Park in downtown Winnipeg and will be completed in 2017. The Winnipeg Arts Council is pursuing all avenues of special project funding available so that the Public Art Program and other spe-cial ventures receive supplemental investment.

These major projects are all in addition to the Winnipeg Arts Council’s multi-faceted annual Public Art Program.

In 2016, Bill Pechet’s heaven between launched the first of several light-based pieces planned for the Broadway boulevards.

Of special note in 2016, the Winnipeg Arts Council received the first national Public Art Award of Excellence presented by the Creative City Network of Canada. The City of Winnipeg is also to be commended for the support they have given to the Public Art Program since it was established more than twelve years ago.

The 2016 Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts and the Winnipeg Arts Council Awards celebrat-ed ten years of honouring artists. Many past winners were in attendance to enjoy this im-portant anniversary. Sincere congratulations to all the 2016 award winners, and thanks to everyone who makes this event memorable each year.

The Winnipeg Arts Council Board and Staff are dedicated to making Winnipeg an excep-tional environment for artists. The leadership and support of the Board is constant and I am sincerely grateful.

These annual report introductions always conclude with thanks to the Staff when, in-deed, any introduction in any year should actually begin with thanks to the Staff. They are, in short, the best.

Carol A. PhillipsEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


FACING PAGE, ABOVE: Nuit Blanche, Letter Peddler Press. Photo by Mike Schneider. BELOW: Nuit Blanche, The Butterfly Effect, Maclean Thiessen. Photo by Cole Moszynski.

7ANNUAL REPORT 2016


The program has proven to be an excep-tional way to add depth and meaning to public spaces ranging from parks, streets, green lanes, bridges, community centres, bike lanes, trails, nature preserves and more. None of these successful collabora-tions would be possible without WAC’s ex-ceptionally hard working, professional and adventurous public art staff.

—Monica Giesbrecht and Heather Cram past chairs of the Public Art Committee and

principals of HTFC Planning and Design

Knowing that those ideas, undertaken with and by people who have a nascent sense of their own creative power and their place within the City, will be fostered by the Winnipeg Arts Council, is truly a testimony to the strength of this remarkable program.

—Margaret Ormond Special Projects Manager,

Sunshine House Inc.

THE PUBLIC ART POLICY AND PROGRAM is managed by the Winnipeg Arts Council on behalf of the City of Winnipeg and is funded by an annual allocation from the City’s capi-tal budget. Since the policy was approved by City Council in 2004, the public art initiative has evolved into a multi-layered program that includes art commissions, artist-in-residence projects and community-based initiatives.

Managed by a small staff, and guided by a diverse Public Art Committee with a core mandate of respect for the work of artists, the Program has become a model for other municipalities. In experiencing public art,

people understand how it enriches their surroundings and individualizes and cele-brates place. With each passing year, the Program receives greater support from the community and increased collaboration with City projects. Since the Program’s inception, more than fifty public art projects have been realized in neighbourhoods all over the city, with many more in development.

The Winnipeg Arts Council was honoured to be recognized for its achievements in pub-lic art in October 2016, when it received the inaugural Award of Excellence in Public Art from the Creative City Network of Canada, presented in recognition of “a Canadian municipality that demonstrated visionary leadership by supporting an excellent pro-gram and process that led to a successful public art program.” This award reinforces the far-reaching respect Winnipeg’s Public Art Program receives from local communities and local, national and international artists, and municipalities across Canada.

A fundamental belief of the Winnipeg Arts Council is “Arts For All,” and guiding prin-ciples of the Public Art Policy and Program include creating meaningful, integrated art-works that are accessible to the people of Winnipeg in many forms.

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9ANNUAL REPORT 2016

1. Tricia Wasney and Carol A. Phillips accept Award of Excellence in Public Art. Photo by Rick Chapman (City of Surrey). 2. Waterfall #2, Theresa Himmer, núna now. Photo by Robert Tinker.

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A NUMBER OF NEW public artworks and projects were completed in 2016. In November, heaven between by artist Bill Pechet was opened by Mayor Brian Bowman at a lively celebration at the locally owned Fools & Horses Cafe. Located on Broadway at Edmonton Street, heaven between was inspired by the rooftops of significant build-ings on the boulevard. This is the first of what we hope to be a series of light-based sculptures for Broadway, an initiative under-taken with our partners at the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.

The Winnipeg Arts Council and the City of Winnipeg were delighted to add Waterfall #2 to the public art collection this year. A vi-sually stunning artwork made from outdoor sequins that look like shimmering water, Waterfall #2 is installed on the exterior cor-ner wall of the Millennium Library at Smith and Graham. It was created by Reykjavik-based Danish artist Theresa Himmer and originally commissioned by núna (now) as a

temporary installation. The work alludes to a history of migration and longing, and narra-tives of place, identity and memory.

WITH ART & Youth WITH ARTThrough the Winnipeg Arts Council’s WITH ART & Youth WITH ART community public art program, professional artists work closely with community members to create mean-ingful collaborative public art projects. In 2016, four of these projects were completed.

Imagine Home was the culmination of a year-long project created by youth with in-tellectual disabilities mentored by lens-based artist Lindsey Bond. Together, they visited galleries, met artists, and discussed art and art-making as they mapped their experiences and made zines to mark their time together. An exhibition and celebration took place at the MAWA gallery at 611 Main Street in June.

Facilitated by artist Leah Decter, Peace Alliance Winnipeg collaborated with the greater community to develop Reflects in Water, an art-action intended to highlight the disparity of access to clean water in municipal centers and on First Nations in Canada. On July 16, the public was invited to stencil statements about water rights onto the Waterfront Drive path near Winnipeg’s Aqueduct Monument, using unpotable water from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of the city’s water.

Opening Doors was spearheaded by youth from its inception. Through the WITH ART matching process, Spence Neighbourhood

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Association youth chose artist Dimitry Melman to collaborate with them on the creation of an artwork that would transform the outside of the MERC (Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre) to better reflect all of the great things happening inside. The com-munity celebrated the completion of this large outdoor mosaic with a barbecue on October 17.

Artist Gabriela Inés Agüero worked with residents of the newly opened WestEnd Commons affordable housing complex. Interested residents of all ages, many of whom were newcomers to Winnipeg from around the world, were given digital cameras to cre-ate images as the artist led field trips in their new neighbourhood, participated in resident events and presented hands-on workshops. Eyes of My Community is the title of their col-laborative @WestEndCommonsPhotography Instagram account and the exhibition pre-sented at the Millennium Library’s Blankstein Gallery throughout December.

MAJOR PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENTA major project was launched this year to address the inclusion of the important con-tributions of Indigenous artists in public art, specifically on Treaty 1 territory. The Winnipeg Arts Council undertook a period of consultation with the Indigenous commu-nity that included individual conversations, presentations to groups such as the Mayor’s Indigenous Advisory Circle, and a gathering with elders, knowledge keepers, curators, scholars and artists from across Canada. These dialogues informed the intent and shape of the project, and a national Call to Artists was released in the summer of 2016, where artists were asked to consider the im-portance of this place on Treaty 1 land and as the birthplace of the Métis nation. A jury comprised of Indigenous artists, curators, educators and designers selected a short-list of artists, who were invited to attend a site visit and presentations by Indigenous historians and others in the fall. Final artist selection will take place in early 2017 and the artworks will be installed in Air Canada Park

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1. Imagine Home, Youth WITH ART exhibition celebration. Photo by Hannah Doucet.2-3. Opening Doors, Youth WITH ART celebration BBQ. Photos by KMA.


on Portage Avenue at Carlton Street in the fall of 2017. The Winnipeg Arts Council is grateful to have received additional funding for this important project from the Canada 150 Fund.

The Winnipeg Arts Council continues to work closely with the City of Winnipeg on the development of a strategy for a “per-cent for art” allocation on capital projects. A current manifestation of this process can be seen in the Southwest Rapid Transit ex-pansion. On this public-private partnership, the Winnipeg Arts Council is managing the integration of public artworks in seven lo-cations along the new transitway that will explore the natural and cultural history of the area. A Call to Artists has been issued for this ambitious project.

MAINTENANCEAs Winnipeg's Public Art Collection grows and ages—the Public Art Policy is now 12 years old—so too does the responsibility to ensure the collection remains in good con-dition. In addition to regular upkeep, such as cleaning and graffiti removal, significant repairs were undertaken over the summer for Agassiz Ice in Assiniboine Park, High Five on Waterfront Drive and city.block.stop, on Ellice Avenue near the University of Winnipeg.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACHEach year since 2013, the Winnipeg Arts Council’s Public Art Tour Program has ex-panded the public’s understanding of the City’s collection of public art through these accessible and fun explorations. In 2016, more than 300 Winnipeggers and visitors to our city walked and biked more than 100 kilometers in pursuit of the enjoyment of

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1. Eyes of My Community, WITH ART exhibition celebration. Photo by KMA. 2-3. Reflects in Water, WITH ART ephemeral art action. Photos by Douglas Thomas. 4. Maintenance work on Agassiz Ice by Gordon Reeve. Photo by Karen McElrea.5. Maintenance work on city.block.stop by David Perrett. Photo by Winnipeg Arts Council.


public art. From our Jane’s Walk in spring, which toured historical and contemporary artworks to uncover how social and cul-tural movements shape public art, to our Nuit Blanche tour at the end of fall, full of glow sticks and participatory light-up pub-lic artworks, the summer was packed with illuminating conversation and lots of great exercise, all in the name of art.

Acknowledging that we exist in a climate that is dark and cold for a good portion of the year, WAC highlighted some of the artworks in the collection on a wintertime bus tour in February, which ended with tour-goers warmed up around the fires of public art-work Écobuage in St. Vital Park. Specialty tours were also given for interested groups: in 2016, these included a Syrian newcom-ers’ youth theatre group, a University of Manitoba MFA thesis class; a University of Winnipeg Art History “Focus in Urban Interventions: Art, Design and the City” class; attendees of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects national confer-ence; and two large groups totaling one hundred Mayors, Councilors and city staff from across Canada who were participating in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference.

In an effort to make public art accessible to all, we were pleased to add closed caption-ing to Paula Kelly’s film Souvenirs, created through our Artist in Residence program at the City of Winnipeg Archives. This film can be viewed on our website and is also shown at the City of Winnipeg in the Staffing and Diversity Branch office, where the request for closed captioning originated.

A valuable resource was created this year in the form of a handbook, Public Art Demystified, for artists interested in apply-ing to public art opportunities. Available on our website, it provides a summary of the process of public art and helps artists understand what they may expect when both applying for projects and receiving commissions.

The Public Art Manager continues to give presentations on public art: in 2016, illus-trated presentations were made to the Rotary Club; City Builders (a project of the Urban Idea Centre); 10X10 (organized by the Canadian Society for Landscape Architects); First Fridays at the Free Press Café with Alison Gillmor for ART TALK/ART WALK; as well as a special workshop for the Foremen of the City of Winnipeg Public Works Department. We were also pleased to be invited to participate in an innovative program through Age and Opportunity called “Senior Centre Without Walls,” en-abling seniors to join educational and recre-ational programs from the comfort of their homes via a teleconference format. A public art tour was given by phone, with handouts provided to participants in advance.

In addition to managing the Winnipeg Arts Council’s Public Art Program, Staff provides consultation assistance to others in public art. This year, we assisted Trails Manitoba with their project for the first trailhead of the Border to Beaches Trail in Grand Beach Provincial Park, as well as the Assiniboine Park Conservancy as they develop an Artist in Residence program for the Park for 2017.


PROJECTS COMPLETED IN 2016

Imagine HomeYouth WITH ART: Lens-based artist Lindsey Bond with Community Living Winnipeg’s Among Friends ProgramBUDGET: $17,000 (from WAC operating budget)PUBLIC LAUNCH: June 24, 2016

Reflects in WaterWITH ART: Interdisciplinary artist Leah Decter with Peace Alliance WinnipegBUDGET: $17,000 (from 2012 allocation)PUBLIC LAUNCH: July 16, 2016

Opening DoorsYouth WITH ART: Mosaic artist Dimitry Melman with Spence Neighbourhood AssociationBUDGET: $17,000 (from WAC operating budget)PUBLIC LAUNCH: October 17, 2016

heaven betweenA light-based sculpture for BroadwayARTIST: Bill PechetBUDGET: $250,000 (from 2013 allocation)PUBLIC LAUNCH: November 21, 2016

Eyes of My CommunityWITH ART: Visual artist Gabriela Inés Agüero with WestEnd CommonsBUDGET: $17,000 (from 2014 allocation)PUBLIC LAUNCH: December 3, 2016

PROJECTS IN PROGRESS

Windsor Park Library—interior wallARTIST: Simon HughesBUDGET: $118,000 (from 2015 allocation)EXPECTED COMPLETION: Summer 2017

St. Anne’s/St. Mary’s Junction in collaboration with Old St. Vital BIZ ARTIST:Collin ZippBUDGET: $125,000 (from 2016 allocation, with additional support from the Old St. Vital BIZ and the Government of Canada)EXPECTED COMPLETION: Summer 2017

Indigenous Artists ProjectARTIST: Call to Artists issued July 2016BUDGET: $400,000 (from 2014 allocation, with additional support from the Government of Canada)EXPECTED COMPLETION: Fall 2017

Kildonan Park Pond LightingARTIST: TBD (Call to Artists issued September 2016)BUDGET: $150,000 (from 2016 allocation)EXPECTED COMPLETION: Fall 2017

WITH ART & Youth WITH ARTThe following collaborative projects are in various stages of development; each project receives a total of $17,000:• Visual artist Gurpreet Sehra with Norwest Co-op

Community Food Centre

• Hip Hop artist Pip Skid with youth from Klinic Community

Health’s Teen Talk Peer Support Program

• Mosaic artist Ursula Neufeld with the North Y

Youth Centre

• Interdisciplinary artist Karen Cornelius with

Wayfinders Manitoba

• Storyteller Leigh-Anne Kehler with Sunshine House

FACING PAGE: heaven between, Bill Pechet. Photo by Robert Tinker.


TITLE: heaven betweenARTIST: Bill Pechet PROGRAM: Commission LOCATION: On the Broadway median at Edmonton Street MEDIUM: Aluminum, Galvanized Steel, LED lights DATE: 2016

DESCRIPTIONThe Winnipeg Arts Council has envisioned artwork for Broadway for many years, while the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ has also worked for years toward creatively lighting the avenue. These two visions have come together in heaven between, the first per-manent light-based sculpture for Broadway. Artist Bill Pechet notes that the dome shape of the new piece was inspired by the roof-tops of significant buildings. Framed by the domes of the legislative building at one end of Broadway, and Union Station at the oth-er, the artwork is patterned with cut-out silhouettes of elm leaves. This intricate design casts light on the ground while re-flecting the trees that line the street, plant-ed more than one hundred years ago by visionary city-makers. With support from the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.

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heaven between speech by Bill Pechet, opening reception, November 21, 2016Thank you very much for such a warm re-ception. This piece is called heaven between and many people have asked me where the title came from … it is really meant to be more of a question than an answer…. What does the word between mean? Is this something between sky and ground? Is it between light and dark? Night and day? Is it between the legislature and the train sta-tion? Or just something between two poles? The answer is…all of those things and more!

Now, why heaven? Across cultures, the sky above is often thought of as heaven, and the sky-vault is often called a dome. This dome is a kind of mandala made from elm leaves (these trees populate the boulevard) …a refer-ence to the idea that we can find depictions of heaven on earth, sometimes within the seem-ingly random shapes of tree branches and also through perfect geometries…so when one looks at the outside of the dome, the assump-tion is that the perforations are somewhat un-organized; yet when one passes underneath, and looks up into the centre, they coalesce into a perfect radiating pattern.

As you will see in a moment, there is a can-dlelight within the dome. Across cultures, the eternal flame is a symbol of safety, warmth, and a conduit to the dreamy world of meditation and spirituality.

For me, the city of Winnipeg is a place with a very deep soul…my grandparents are buried here, and as I walk around, I often sense the afterimages of their stories and the city’s role as a place where people came and still do come from all over the world to find some peace and a future for their families.

Particularly these days, with the upsetting condition of the political situation down south, we must remember that Winnipeg, founded by peoples from all over the world, does reinforce the idea that we can live together (of course, it is not perfect, and there are lots of inequities evident, but at least we try). So I wanted to give the city of Winnipeg a little piece of heaven to light a cold dark night or shade a hot summer’s day, to welcome everyone.

Finally, the reason for lifting this artwork off the ground was to preserve the very beau-tiful long boulevard views on Broadway…one of the finest examples of urban design in Canada. My wish is that this piece, this heav-en between, becomes a well-loved thing and space for the city of Winnipeg.

heaven between opening celebration, Carol A. Phillips, Tricia Wasney, Bill Pechet, Stefano Grande, Jim August and Mayor Brian Bowman. Photo by Robert Tinker.

WITH A FOCUS ON artistic excellence and community impact, the Winnipeg Arts Council supports opportunities for the peo-ple of Winnipeg to engage with the arts as artists, audiences, and participants. In total, WAC invested $3,883,720 in the Winnipeg arts community through peer-assessed grant programs, allowing the Winnipeg Arts Council to respond to evolving practice and the needs of Winnipeg’s diverse artistic community.

The increased resources available to WAC in 2016 were directed to artists and arts or-ganizations in a variety of ways. Increases to both the Project and Individual Artist grant programs allowed juries to award a higher number of grants than has been possible in the past, while increases to the multi-year grants allowed two new organizations to be admitted to the multi-year funding stream.

Both are Winnipeg-based dance compa-nies with local, national, and international

profiles. Multi-year grants from the Winnipeg Arts Council will allow these organizations more stability and allow them to plan a lon-ger-term vision, and may also be leveraged into further support from provincial and/or federal funders.

Winnipeg remains one of only a handful of cities in Canada with a creation program for individuals at the municipal level. The Winnipeg Arts Council’s Individual Artist Grant Program continues to be a highly valued resource for Winnipeg artists. The increased resources allowed WAC to dis-tribute a near-record number of grants to individuals, strengthening Winnipeg’s pool of artists and increasing the creative output of the city.

The Winnipeg Arts Council regularly con-ducts program reviews to improve the ap-plication and assessment process and the impact of grant programs on clients, as well as to provide opportunities to engage new and/or underserved Winnipeg artists and arts organizations.

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1. Abigal Auld. Photo courtesy of the Artist.2. Lawrence Bird. Photo courtesy of the Artist 3. Hurricane Prep, Tracy Peters Photo courtesy of the Artist.4. Ryan Smoluk. Photo courtesy of the Artist.5. sculpture end, Alexandre Elliott and Ian Mozden. Photo by Leif Norman.6. Steve Kirby’s Oceanic Jazz Orchestra. Photo by Samanta Katz.7. Layer Test, Mikisew Ininiwak. Photo courtesy of Kevin Lee Burton.


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1. The Full Catastrophe, Karen Asher. Photo courtesy of aceartinc. 2. Plug In General Wolfe High School Workshop. Photo courtesy of Plug In ICA. 3. Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Alligator Pie. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann. 4. Lori Blondeau, Asiniy Iskew Exhibition, Urban Shaman Gallery. Photo by Urban Shaman. 5. Manitoba Printmakers Association, Canary in the Coal Mine. Photo by Larry Glawson. 6. Folklorama, Chinese Pavillion. Photo by Darcy Finley. 7. Festival du Voyageur. Photo by Dan Harper. 8. Jazz Winnipeg, Tia Fuller. Photo by Matt Duboff. 9. PLATFORM: centre for photographic + digital arts, Imaging Saturn, Risa Horowitz. Photo courtesy of the Artist.


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10. MAWA, Cross-Cultural Beading Group. Photo by Hazel Venzon. 11. Winnipeg Film Group, Animation Table. Photo by Mark Borowski. 12. Winnipeg Folk Festival, Lucius on the Mainstage. Photo by Jenn Kostesky. 13. Au coeur de l’histoire, Cercle Molière. Photo by Hubert Pantel. 14. School of Contemporary Dancers, For You, Choreographed by Odette Heyn. Photo by Rodney S. Braun. 15. Winnipeg Art Gallery, Boarder X Opening. Photo by Leif Norman. 16. Winnipeg Youth Orchestra. Photo by Ingrid Misner. 17. Sarasvati, Breaking Through, Actor Mary Black. Photo by Janet Shum. 18. Children’s Festival. Photo by Leif Norman. 19. Manitoba Opera, Marriage of Figaro. Photo by Robert Tinker.


CONNECTING communities and ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to par-ticipate in the arts are the objectives of the Winnipeg Arts Council’s Arts Development programs. Beginning in 2010 with the des-ignation of our city as the Cultural Capital of Canada, the Winnipeg Arts Council has continued to work with a wide array of orga-nizations and partners to facilitate affordable and accessible arts experiences throughout Winnipeg.

MASS APPEALInspired by similar events in cities around the world, the Winnipeg Arts Council intro-duced Mass Appeal in September 2016. This free concert series allowed anyone to take part regardless of skill level. For performers, it was a chance to participate in the arts in a new way, and for audiences, it provided a new arts experience in a variety of different settings. Mass Appeal concerts featured a sixty-voice choir under the Union Station rotunda, an eighteen-piece brass band in

Old Market Square, dozens of fiddlers at St. Norbert Farmers Market, and more than eighty-five ukuleles at The Forks.

Mass Appeal was an exciting way to build community through a shared arts experi-ence, and to celebrate the arts in Winnipeg. In total, some two hundred people—from high school students to retirees, and from the seasoned professional to the very ama-teur—took part as musicians while hundreds more gathered to watch and listen at the four different events. Participants were primari-ly from Winnipeg, but musicians also came from other communities including Brandon, Thompson, Portage La Prairie and Landmark to take part.

ART MATTERS!Art Matters is the Winnipeg Arts Council’s ongoing exploration into the relationship between citizens and the arts. Through public events, lectures and other programs, Winnipeggers have the opportunity to express for themselves why the arts are important. There were two Art Matters Conversations in 2016: Bill Richardson spoke with author Gary Shteyngart at Le Cercle Molière in March, and Brenda Austin-Smith interviewed filmmaker Mira Nair at the West End Cultural Centre in April. Both conver-sations included a focus on the voices of artists-as-immigrants, people whose work is informed by their own experiences as newcomers.

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The Art Matters video series, which was launched in 2015, was expanded with the completion of another two videos. The clips explore Winnipeg’s diverse artistic landscape and give Winnipeg’s citizens the opportunity to explain why art matters in their lives. The videos were distributed on-line through social media, and in December, selected videos were included in first-run screenings at Landmark Cinemas at Grant Park and the Towne Theatre.

NUIT BLANCHENuit Blanche is a free all-night exploration and celebration of contemporary art, and for the first time, the Winnipeg Arts Council made a significant investment in the presen-tation of works by established and emerging artists throughout the city. Our contribution allowed for an increased number of artists to be engaged through the open call process, and facilitated the exhibition of three curated works around downtown Winnipeg.

CITY BUILDERS CAMPCity Builders is a project of the Winnipeg Arts Council’s Urban Idea providing high school students with an opportunity to spend four weeks learning about the relationship between the arts and the city itself. Twelve students from across Winnipeg spent their Fridays in May attending lectures, touring the city, participating in workshops, and spending time immersed in creation with professional artists to discover the ways art can affect how cities are built, planned, and how they work.

OTHER PARTNERSHIPS The Winnipeg Arts Council regularly part-ners with other organizations to increase the presence of the arts in our city. In 2016, we continued our partnership with Culture Days to support free arts activities throughout Winnipeg on the last weekend of September. As a founding partner of the Architecture + Design Film Festival with the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation, we sup-ported this signature event in its fifth annual edition.

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1. Mass Appeal, Choir at Union Station. Photo by Matt Duboff.2. Mass Appeal, Ukeleles at Oodena Circle. Photo by Matt Duboff.3. Art Matters, Conversation with Mira Nair and Brenda Austin Smith. Photo by Alix Reynolds.4. Art Matters, Conversation with Gary Shteyngart and Bill Richardson. Photo by WAC.5. City Builders at Martha Street Studio. Photo by WAC.6. City Builders at Martha Street Studio. Photo by WAC.

ARTISTS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, local businesses and City Councillors were greet-ed by the wonderful twenty-five member Winnipeg Mandolin Orchestra in the lobby as they arrived at the Fairmont Hotel for the ten-year anniversary of the Winnipeg Arts Council Awards and the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts on June 24, 2016.

The Dirty Catfish Brass Band was the perfect choice to entertain the boisterous crowd, and they kept everyone, including Mayor Brian Bowman, tapping their toes.

In his remarks to the crowd, the Mayor an-nounced his new task force for the arts and committed to the increase in funds from the City. He presented the Arts Champion award to Elmer Hildebrand, a champion of classi-cal music and former board member of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. The Mayor also paid tribute to artist, educator, curator and writer Cliff Eyland, who won the Making a Mark award. Cliff was not well enough to

attend, but his enthusiastic nominators and colleagues Erica Mendritzki and Ufuk Gueray were happy to accept on his behalf.

Visual artist Jaime Black won the RBC On the Rise award. Jaime has earned notice for her powerful REDress project, her re-sponse to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Clarise Foster, poet, mentor and editor, won the Investors Group Making a Difference award for her tireless work launching careers and publishing the longest-running poetry magazine in the country. The Liquor and Lotteries Volunteer Impact award went to Bob and Pat Migliore, hardworking, committed volunteers who have been with Shakespeare in the Ruins through mosquitoes and mud from the first production more than twenty years ago.

Dr. Julie Nagam (Chair in the History of Indigenous Art in North America with the University of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Art Gallery) spoke in her engaging keynote address about her career and Winnipeg be-ing the perfect place for the creation of a contemporary Indigenous art centre.

WAC Executive Director Carol Phillips shared a moving tribute to treasured publish-er Gordon Shillingford and beloved profes-sor Reg Skene, two leaders in our community who left us too soon.


WINNIPEG ARTS COUNCIL AWARDS

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CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE

As we reflected upon ten years of recogniz-ing Winnipeg’s artists, we could see incred-ible growth and development of the indi-vidual artist as well as the organizations that have become stronger and more dynamic over the last decade. The arts community in Winnipeg is active, and the enthusiastic crowd that gathered was proof of a thriving and diverse community.

We look forward to doing it again in 2017!


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1. Mayor Brian Bowman. 2. Liquor and Lotteries Volunteer Award Winners Bob and Pat Migliore. 3. RBC On the Rise Award Winner Jaime Black. 4. Key Note Address by Dr. Julie Nagam. 5. Arts Champion Award Winner Elmer Hildebrand and Mayor Brian Bowman. 6. Ufuk Gueray and Erica Mendritzki accept Cliff Eyland’s Making a Mark Award. 7. Making a Difference Award Winner Clarise Foster. 8. Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Doreen Brownstone. 9-11. Artists enjoying the Mayor’s Luncheon. All photos by Alix Reynolds.


THIS ANNUAL AWARD was created to hon-our books that evoke the special character of, and contribute to, the appreciation and understanding of the City of Winnipeg. It is a multi-genre award, and books may be published in English or French. The winning author receives $5,000.

Named in honour of author Carol Shields, who showcased Winnipeg in her own writ-ing, it is administered by the association of Manitoba Book Publishers, with the generous support of the Winnipeg Arts Council with funding from the City of Winnipeg.

WINNERWinnipeg Cooks: Signature Recipes from the City’s Top Chefs by Robin Summerfieldpublished by Figure 1 Publishing

In Winnipeg Cooks, thirty-five of the city’s epicurean trailblazers share stories and rec-ipes from the front lines of an emerging culinary hotspot. From the hearty eastern European standards of the working class North End, to storied steakhouses that have fed generations, to an explosion of bold hy-brid menus by risk-taking young chefs—this is how Winnipeg cooks.

CAROL SHIELDS WINNIPEG BOOK AWARD

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SHORTLIST 100 Things Jets Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die by Jon Waldmanpublished by Triumph Books

This book reveals the most critical moments and important facts about past and present players, coaches and teams that are part of the storied history that is Jets hockey, and contains everything a Jets fan should know, see and do in a lifetime.

After Light by Catherine Hunterpublished by Signature Editions

After Light is the sumptuously rendered tale of four generations of the Garrison family, whose story begins when young Deirdre flees Ireland in 1920 to seek a better life in Brooklyn. The secrets she carries with her will bend the fates of not only Deirdre, but all who come after her. Her son Frank, a prom-ising young artist, is blinded in WWII and forced to create a whole new life for him-self. He marries and settles in Canada, where his wife raises hothouse roses on the frozen prairie. But the war has shaken him deeply, and his two daughters, Von and Rosheen, live in terror of his violent outbursts.

The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinewpublished by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Canada

When his father was given a diagnosis of terminal cancer, Winnipeg broadcaster and musician Wab Kinew decided to spend a year reconnecting with the accomplished but distant Aboriginal man who’d raised him.

We’re Going to Run This City: Winnipeg’s Political Left after the General Strike by Stefan Epp-Kooppublished by University of Manitoba Press

This book explores the dynamic political mo-vement that came out of the largest labour protest in Canadian history and the ramifi-cations for Winnipeg throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Few have studied the political Left at the municipal level—even though it is at this grassroots level that many people parti-cipate in political activity.

Book descriptions are edited from publish-ers’ catalogues.

JURORSKaj Hasselriis Theresa Oswald Morley Walker

CAROL SHIELDS WINNIPEG BOOK AWARD

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THE WINNIPEG ARTS COUNCIL is grateful to Mayor Brian Bowman and to each mem-ber of City Council for their commitment to and investment in the arts in Winnipeg. The Standing Committee on Protection Community Services and Parks receives our submissions with great interest and support. Thank you to the City Clerk’s Office, the of-fice of the CAO and COO, and all the city officials who assist Winnipeg Arts Council programs and initiatives.

THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM works closely with City of Winnipeg staff on procedures to implement the Policy and Program. We appreciate the assistance of the Planning Executive Advisory Committee and all our colleagues who are critical in the de-velopment, installation and on-going care of the City’s Public Art Collection. We are especially grateful to the Planning, Property and Development Department, our primary liaison.

It takes a village to realize a public art pro-gram—we thank all our external partners and community members who are essential in the creation of meaningful public art works. We would especially like to recognize the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ who contribut-ed to the new project on Broadway entitled heaven between by artist Bill Pechet and the Old St. Vital BIZ for partnering with us and contributing funds to the St. Anne’s/St. Mary’s Junction Project.


The Winnipeg Arts Council is fortunate to receive, from time to time, assistance from companies who have donated goods and services towards public art projects. This year we are especially grateful to Don Lagimodiere and R.D. Sales who have part-nered with us on the Kildonan Park Pond Lighting Project and who have provided artists with invaluable assistance and advice. Thanks also to Tim Hortons at 831 Dakota Street for providing coffee and hot choc-olate for our special public art bus tour on a wintry night in February and to all the organizations who donated prizes for the tour participants: Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, Manitoba Museum, Martha Street Studio, Parlour Coffee, Winnipeg Fringe, and Urban Shaman.

A special note of thanks is extended to Indigenous artist and curator Jenny Western for her invaluable assistance in outreach work for the Indigenous Artist Project.

And most of all thanks to the artists who make our work possible and our city infinite-ly more dynamic.

As volunteers devoted to Winnipeg’s arts and artists, the entire Board of Directors of the Winnipeg Arts Council generously guides the organization to a secure future. The valuable work of all board committees including the Public Art Committee is greatly appreciated.

The 2016 City Builders Camp owes thanks to many supportive individuals and organiza-tions. Camp facilitators Hannah Doucet and Leighton Janis provided ongoing support and faculty included Shawna Dempsey, Greg Hasiuk, Murray Peterson, Orly Linovski, Sarah Crawley, Monica Giesbrecht, Tricia Wasney, and Sean McLachlan. We are also grateful to Angel Audrey of Kildonan East Collegiate, Keith Fulford of Argyle Alternative High School, and Tyler Blashko of the Seven Oaks School Division’s Wayfinders program for their assistance and to Urban Shaman, aceartinc., Lisa Kehler Art+Projects, ACI Manitoba, and Assentworks for welcoming our students into their facilities.

Mass Appeal was a success due to the ef-forts of several people, not the least of whom were Music Directors Ben Campbell, Todd Martin, Patti Kusterok, and Kate Ferris. Despite the fact that this had never been done before, each facility welcomed the project with open arms. We are grateful to Erin Smith at Via Rail, Marilyn Firth at St. Norbert Farmers Market, Melissa Morrow at The Forks, and Derek Manaigre at the Exchange District BIZ. Mat Perlman provided invaluable assistance. Technical support was provided by Jimi Kinsman/Audioworks and live sound was engineered by Joe Etchells.


This program is intended for new and de-veloping arts organizations, established arts organizations that work on a project basis, and arts organizations undertaking a special, one-time initiative. Collectives or unincor-porated groups may be eligible, provided that they meet the special criteria outlined in the guidelines. The program is designed to provide partial support to a broad range of activities and art forms, reflecting different

cultural traditions and art practices. A Project Grant must be applied to a specific project—with potential for artistic merit and commu-nity impact—planned to take place within the 18 months following the notification date. This program is not open to recipients of the Winnipeg Arts Council’s multi-year grants programs. The maximum grant available un-der this program is $10,000.

ArtsJunktion $10,000ArtsJunktion will operate an Art Hive, a free community art studio providing physical space, artistic material and support for building community through art.

Artspace $10,000A short film produced by Artspace and directed by Danielle Sturk to celebrate Artspace’s 30th anniversary.

Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art $8,000The CCCA Symposium: The Winnipeg Effect—Should I Stay or Should I Go?, a discussion among artists who live in, landed in, and/or left this city.

First Fridays in the Exchange $10,000Art Talk/Art Walk: A series of informal moderated lectures by, or interviews with, local artists and art professionals, followed by a tour of Exchange area galleries and studios.

Gallery 1C03 $8,500Moving Images, an exhibition of contemporary Winnipeg film, video and related public programming, presented in tandem with Gallery 1C03’s 30th anniversary and the University of Winnipeg’s 50th anniversary.

Long Take Performance Collective $8,000Phase 4 of a site-specific, multidisciplinary performance set along the banks of the Seine River for fall 2016.

Manitoba Craft Council $5,000Neurocraft is a curated group exhibition featuring work by nine craft artists collaborating with neuroscience researchers to create work inspired by the brain.

Manitoba Cultural Society of the Deaf $10,000Art for All: An art camp for youth 12 to 17 who are deaf/hearing impaired.

Manitoba Underground Opera $10,000Presenting masterpieces in new ways, in renowned Winnipeg locations, to engage audiences and challenge perceptions of opera.

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Mennonite Literary Society $6,500Dis/Ability, Rhubarb’s special print and audio magazine.

Polycoro Chamber Choir $5,000Worlds Apart—reflections on the immigrant experience, featuring a cappella choral masterpieces by Polish composers and the world premiere of Norbert Palej’s first commission for Polycoro.

Rady Jewish Community Centre $5,000To present a music series for adults called Music ’N’ Mavens during the winter daytime hours from January 17, 2017 to March 16, 2017 at the Rady Jewish Community Centre.

Royal Canoe $10,000To create orchestral arrangements with Dan Wiebe.

Sick + Twisted Theatre $10,000Lame Is... A Cripple Threat Extravaganza is a cabaret that seeks to redefine disability, featuring a cast of skilled professionals and rigorously mentored emerging artists with disabilities.

Storefront Manitoba $10,000Cool Gardens: A public exhibition of contemporary landscape art installations in Winnipeg’s downtown.

Theatre by the River $10,000To produce Nick Payne’s Constellations in October 2016, directed by Sarah Constible and featuring partnerships with Cre8ery Gallery and the Let’s Talk Science outreach program at the University of Winnipeg.

Theatre Incarnate $2,500To further develop with actors and direct the first draft of a new play, The House Left Standing, by Winnipeg playwright Priscilla Yakielashek, in a one-week workshop intensive.

Urban Indigenous Theatre Company $10,000For the Winnipeg portion of UITC 2016 Jumping Mouse tour.

Weather Parade Dance Theatre $5,500A four-week creation process to create a new dance theatre work to be performed at the 2016 Winnipeg Fringe Festival Kids Venue.

Winnipeg Classical Guitar Society $10,000A series of ten classical guitar concerts featuring accomplished international artists and local performers.

Young Lungs Dance Exchange $10,000YLDE /// RESEARCH SERIES: a quarterly series of contemporary dance research-based showings, talks, workshops, independent publications and community events.


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1. From the Seat of a Canoe, Emma Beech and Jillian Groening. Photo by Leif Norman.2. Theatre by the River, Constellations. Photo by Solmund MacPherson.3. One Trunk Theatre, 204 Rehearsal. Photo by One Trunk Theatre.

PROJECT GRANT PROGRAM for Arts Organizations & Collectives

The Winnipeg Arts Council recognizes that the continued growth and development of arts professionals are essential to the cultural health of the community. The Professional Development Grant Program is designed to provide support to artists and arts adminis-trators for activities that contribute to their professional development and enhance their careers in the arts. These activities may in-clude unique opportunities for short-term study (beyond basic training) in a formal or informal setting; attendance at events where

the work of the applicant is to be presented or where the applicant is an invited speak-er or resource person; or travel that is a component of such activities. Professional Development grants are distributed in fixed amounts of $250, $500, $750 or $1,000 and are intended to represent a contribution not exceeding 50 percent of the total eligible costs. Grants of $1,000 usually will be award-ed only for projects taking place outside of North America.

Susan Algie $750

Sasha Amaya $1,000

Abigail Auld $1,000

Sonya Ballantyne $750

Jocelyne Baribeau $500

Ian Bawa $500

Lawrence Bird $500

Michael Blais $750

Roger Boyer $500

Erna Buffie $250

Giuseppe Condello $500

Daniel Craig $500

Kimberly Craig $500

Hilary Crist $750

Sage Daniels $500

Shannon Darby $500

Paul De Gurse $500

Alain Delannoy $1,000

Laura Elliott $500

Joanne Epp $250

Christine Fellows $750

Laurelle Froese $750

Jocelyn Gould $500

Ufuk Gueray $500

Kari Hagness $250

Cody Halcrow $500

Gilles Hébert $750

Richard Holden $750

Ming Hon $500

James Jansen (jaymez) $500

Charles Johnston $500

Christine Kirouac $1,250

Lindsey Koepke $500

Heather Komus $500

Frances Koncan $500

Laurie Lam $500

Daina Leitold $500

Monica Lowe $1,000

Monica Martinez $750

Brenda McLean $250

Erica Mendritzki $500

Philippe Meunier $1,000

Andrew Milne $1,000

Milos Mitrovic $500

Kristin Nelson $500

Josiah Neufeld $500

Justin Otto $750

Melentie Pandilovski $1,000

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Geneviève Pelletier $1,000

Danielle Peters $750

Tracy Peters $750

Ellen Peterson $500

Andrea Roberts $750

Alison Robson $750

Darlene Ronald $500

Taylor Schapf $500

Chris Sigurdson $1,000

Christopher Sobczak $250

Sheila Spence $1,000

Bruce Symaka $500

Brittany Thiessen $500

Theresa Thordarson $250

Diana Thorneycroft $500

Treasure Waddell $500

Alissa Watson $500

Elizabeth Whitbread $500

Lindsey White $500

Kyle Wong $750

Monica Wood $500

David Wowchuk $750

Collin Zipp $500


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1. Brenda McLean, Clown Workshop. Photo by Leif Norman.2. International Training In Commedia Dell’arte workshop with Antonio Fava. Photo by Marchella Fava.3. Playwrights Residence, Sackville, New Brunswick. Photo courtesy of Ellen Peterson.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM for Artists & Arts Administrators

Three-year Operating Grants and two-year Program Support Grants make contributions to the operations of established arts organi-zations that have a continuing presence in Winnipeg throughout the year or seasonally, and that have a track record of high-quality programming or services. Multi-year grants support a range of activities and art forms, reflecting different cultural traditions and art practices. Organizations receiving support are expected to advance the development of their art forms, to participate in the de-velopment of local artists, to maintain public

support, and to practise strict management and financial controls.

Organizations are invited to apply to either the two-year or three-year program, depend-ing on a variety of factors including budget size, scope of programming and number of staff. All organizations receiving multi-year grants must have a history of consistent pro-gramming/presentation and public support, and must provide regular reporting to ensure that they continue to meet the objectives of the program.

OPERATING (THREE-YEAR) GRANTS:

aceartinc. $39,200

Arts Manitoba Publications $16,500

Le Cercle Molière $70,000

Festival du Voyageur $100,000

Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg $108,000

Freeze Frame: Storyline FX $26,000

Gas Station Arts Centre $10,000

Jazz Winnipeg $44,000

Manitoba Chamber Orchestra $55,000

Manitoba Conservatory $36,250of Music & Arts

Manitoba Opera Association $135,000

Manitoba Printmakers Association $30,000

Manitoba Theatre for Young People $118,260

Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art $37,950

National Screen Institute – Canada $26,250

PLATFORM: centre for photographic $23,850 + digital arts

Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art $106,600

Prairie Fire Press $36,750

Prairie Theatre Exchange $145,000

Rainbow Stage $49,500

Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre $340,000

Royal Winnipeg Ballet $331,500

Sarasvàti Dramatic Theatre $11,000Productions and Repertory

The School of Contemporary Dancers $31,000

Shakespeare in the Ruins $28,490

Theatre Projects Manitoba $41,800

Urban Shaman: Contemporary $42,900Aboriginal Art

Video Pool Media Arts Centre $32,500

West End Cultural Centre $32,000

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Winnipeg Art Gallery $397,800

Winnipeg Centennial Folk Festival $103,000

Winnipeg Film Group $49,775

Winnipeg International $62,150Children’s Festival

Winnipeg International $25,000Writers Festival

Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra $19,440

Winnipeg Jewish Theatre $30,000

Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra $305,800

Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers $30,000

PROGRAMMING SUPPORT (TWO-YEAR) GRANTS:

Aboriginal Music Manitoba $11,000

Agassiz Music $8,800

Association of Manitoba Book Publishers $9,500

Camerata Nova $13,750

Contemporary Verse 2 $6,600

Dry Cold Productions $11,000

Gearshifting Performance Works $11,000

Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Winnipeg $5,500

GroundSwell $13,000

The Little Opera Company $6,600

La Maison des artistes visuels $11,880francophones

Manitoba Association of Playwrights $22,200

Manitoba Choral Association $13,000

Manitoba Writers’ Guild $17,000

Nafro Dance Productions $13,200

Quanz Dance Company $12,000

Rosamunde Summer Music Academy $10,000

send + receive $10,800

Virtuosi Concerts $8,800

Winnipeg Gay and Lesbian Film Society $6,600

Winnipeg Music Festival $10,500

Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir $7,000

Winnipeg Singers $14,300

Winnipeg Youth Orchestras $5,000

WNDX $9,625


Mission Munchpossible, Prairie Theatre Exchange. Photo by Bruce Monk.

MULTI-YEAR GRANT PROGRAMS for Arts Organizations

The Winnipeg Arts Council recognizes the individual artist as the primary source of cre-ative activity in all artistic disciplines. The Individual Artist Grant Program is intended to support the creation of new work in any art form, or the development, production, curation or exhibition of works of art by Winnipeg artists.

Two types of grants are available, depending on an artist’s level of accomplishment and experience in the discipline of the proposed project: the “A grant,” up to $5,000; and the “B grant,” up to $2,000.

Abigail Auld $2,000

Jolene Bailie $5,000

Zorya Baskier- $2,000Pasternak

Irene Bindi $5,000

Cullen Bingeman $2,000

Lawrence Bird $2,000

Sandra Campbell $2,000

Karen Cornelius $5,000

Sarah Crawley $5,000

Alexis Dirks $5,000

Daniel Donahue $5,000

Diane Driedger $5,000

Derek Dunlop $5,000

Lisa Ewasko $2,000

Michael Falk $5,000

Will Fawley $1,800

Claire Friesen $2,000

hannah godfrey $5,000

Carolyn Gray $5,000

Janelle Hacault $2,000

Jamie Hay $2,000

Kathleen Hiley $5,000

Takashi Iwasaki $5,000

Phillippe-Alexandre $2,000Jacques

James (jaymez) Jansen $5,000

Steve Kirby $5,000

Kevin Klassen $2,000

Thomas Kohut $2,000

Frances Koncan $2,000

Rob Kovitz $5,000

Jesse Krause $2,000

Megan Krause $5,000

Trevor Kristjanson $2,000

J.J. Kegan McFadden $5,000

Iain Ross McMillan $5,000

Divya Mehra $5,000

Andrew Milne $5,000

Elma Grace Nickel $5,000

David Oro $2,000

Heidi Ouellette $2,000

Debbie Patterson $5,000

asiniig (charlie) peters $2,000

Ellen Peterson $5,000

Heidi Phillips $5,000

Cameron Popham $2,000

Johanna Riley $5,000

Orjan Sandred $4,750

Timothy Schouten $5,000

Suzie Smith $5,000

Jennifer Still $5,000

Leonard Sumner $5,000

Jason Tait $5,000

Robert Taite $5,000

Daniel Thau-Eleff $5,000

Robyn Thomson Kacki $5,000

Neil Weisensel $5,000

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INDIVIDUAL ARTIST GRANT PROGRAM for Winnipeg Artists Working in All Artistic Disciplines


FACING PAGE: Nuit Blanche, Cloud, Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett. Photo by Cole Moszynski.


AUDITOR'S REPORT

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To the Directors of Winnipeg Arts Council Inc.

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Winnipeg Arts Council Inc., which comprise the statement of financial position as at December 31, 2016 and the statements of operations and changes in net assets and cash flows for the year then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSManagement is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

AUDITORS' RESPONSIBILITYOur responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We con-ducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the organization’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the organization’s internal control.

An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonable-ness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

OPINIONIn our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Winnipeg Arts Council Inc. as at December 31, 2016 and the results of its operations and its cash flowsfor the year then ended in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.

Winnipeg, CanadaFebruary 27, 2017 CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


Year Ended December 31 2016 2015

REVENUES

City of Winnipeg $ 4,645,319 $ 4,332,552

Arts Development 39,383 36,411

Other income 10,328 8,231

Interest income 17,427 14,950

4,712,457 4,392,144

EXPENSES

Program expenses 4,098,852 3,918,702

Administrative expenses 534,226 504,002

4,633,078 4,422,704

OTHER PROJECTS

Public Art revenues (Note 5) 560,722 310,442

Public Art expenses (560,722) (310,442)

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Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenses before amortization 79,379 (30,560)

Amortization (13,963) (13,963)

Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenses after amortization $ 65,416 $ (44,523)

INVESTED IN INTERNALLY TOTAL TOTAL UNRESTRICTED CAPITAL ASSETS RESTRICTED

Net assets, $ 90,940 $ 24,529 $ 227,294 $ 342,763 $ 387,286 beginning of year

Excess (deficiency) 79,379 (13,963) - 65,416 (44,523) of revenues over expenses

Transfer (Note 6) (40,000) - - (40,000) -

Net assets, $ 130,319 $ 10,566 $ 227,294 $ 368,179 $ 342,763 end of year

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS


December 31 2016 2015

ASSETS

Current

Cash $ 739,656 $ 618,362

Term deposits 900,000 975,000

Receivables 10,000 16,951

Interest receivable 4,488 4,707

GST receivable 9,765 5,664

Prepaid expenses 2,338 4,519

1,666,247 1,625,203

Equipment and leasehold improvements (Note 3) 10,566 24,529

$ 1,676,813 $ 1,649,732

LIABILITIES

Current

Payables and accruals $ 15,500 $ 6,500

Grant holdbacks (Note 4) 160,028 103,041

Deferred contributions (Note 5) 1,133,106 1,197,428

1,308,634 1,306,969

NET ASSETS

Unrestricted 130,319 90,940

Invested in capital assets 10,566 24,529

Internally restricted (Note 7) 227,294 227,294

368,179 342,763

$ 1,676,813 $ 1,649,732

Commitment (Note 8)

Approved by the Board

Director Director

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION



Cash derived from (applied to):

OPERATING

Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenses $ 65,416 $ (44,523)

Amortization 13,963 13,963

79,379 (30,560)

Change in non-cash working capital

Receivables 6,951 (15,719)

Interest receivable 219 3,959

GST receivable (4,101) 885

Prepaid expenses 2,181 8

Payables and accruals 9,000 500

Grant holdbacks 56,987 30,429

Deferred contributions (64,322) 149,258

6,915 169,320

INVESTING

Redemption of term deposits 975,000 1,093,977

Purchase of term deposits (900,000) (875,000)

Transfer to Endowment Fund (40,000) -

35,000 218,977

NET INCREASE IN CASH 121,294 357,737

CASH BALANCE

Beginning of year 618,362 260,625

End of year $ 739,656 $ 618,362

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS


December 31, 2016

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONSWinnipeg Arts Council Inc. (the Organization) funds, supports, and fosters development of thearts on behalf of the people of Winnipeg. The Organization is an incorporated not-for-profit entity and is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIESThese financial statements are prepared in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. The significant accounting policies used are detailed as follows:

(a) Equipment and leasehold improvementsEquipment and leasehold improvements are recorded at cost. The Organization provides for amortization using the following methods at rates designed to amortize the cost of the equipment and leasehold improvements over their estimated useful lives. The annual amortization rates and methods are as follows: Office equipment 5 years Straight-line Furniture and fixtures 10 years Straight-line Computer equipment 3 years Straight-line

Amortization of leasehold improvements is recorded over the term of the lease.

(b) Revenue recognitionThe Organization follows the deferral method of accounting for contributions. Restricted contributions are recognized as revenue in the year in which the related expenses are incurred. Unrestricted contributions are recognized as revenue when received or receivable, if the amount to be received can be reasonably estimated and collection is reasonably assured.

(c) Accounting estimatesThe preparation of financial statements in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reported period. These estimates are reviewed periodically and are reported in earnings in the period in which they become known. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

(d) Financial instrumentsIt is management's opinion that the Organization is not exposed to significant credit, currency, interest rate, liquidity, market, or price risks arising from its financial instruments.


December 31, 2016


3. EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS 2016 2015 Accumulated Net Net Cost Amortization Book Value Book Value

Office equipment $ 6,574 $ 6,574 $ - $ -

Furniture and fixtures 34,243 28,875 5,368 8,792

Leasehold improvements 104,258 99,851 4,407 14,833

Computer equipment 5,091 4,300 791 904

$ 150,166 $ 139,600 $ 10,566 $ 24,529

4. GRANT HOLDBACKSThe Organization follows the policy of holding back a proportion of grants awarded in a year until certain completion criteria have been satisfied. Furthermore, some awards will be disbursed according to a cash flow schedule developed with the agreement of the recipient organizations. Accordingly, this account represents the award balances which will be disbursed in the future according to the specified guidelines.

At December 31, the composition of the holdbacks according to award category are as follows: 2016 2015

Youth WITH ART $ 71,976 $ 44,584

Project grants 13,900 9,450


Individual Artist grants 24,000 19,000

Professional Development grants 1,500 1,500

Operating grants 21,220 -

$ 160,028 $ 103,041

5. DEFERRED CONTRIBUTIONSDeferred contributions represent restricted funding and unspent externally restricted resources which relate to the subsequent year.

Public Art relates to the design and execution of particular artworks to be created in public areas of Winnipeg. The commissioning and installation of public art projects is a multi-year process. This project is supported by a specified allocation from the City of Winnipeg. Financial support to individual artists is awarded on the recommendations of juries selected by the Organization.


December 31, 2016

5. DEFERRED CONTRIBUTIONS - CONTINUED 2016 2015

PUBLIC ART

Contributions

City of Winnipeg $ 462,400 $ 459,700

Old St. Vital BIZ 34,000 -

Transferred to revenue (560,722) (310,442)

(Decrease) increase during the year (64,322) 149,258

Deferred contributions, beginning of year 1,197,428 1,048,170

Deferred contributions, end of year $ 1,133,106 $ 1,197,428

The following provides a breakdown by project of the unexpended balance:

2016 2015

PUBLIC ART PROJECTS

Air Canada Park $ 249,421 $ 311,165

WITH ART: Community Arts Projects 181,625 187,665

Kildonan Park 174,748 -

South Sherbrook/Cornish Library 137,863 137,900

Broadway Light-based Sculptures 77,765 254,278

Old St. Vital BIZ/Intersection of St. Anne's & St. Mary's 77,639 -

Public Art Contingency 73,410 73,410

Windsor Park Library 73,096 140,854

Artist in Residence 41,108 41,108

Norwood Grove BIZ 39,000 39,000

Public Education and Outreach 4,674 12,048

Community Engagement Program 2,757 -

$ 1,133,106 $ 1,197,428

6. TRANSFERDuring the year, the Board of Directors approved a transfer of $40,000 (2015 - $Nil) from unrestricted net assets as a contribution to the Endowment Fund held at the Winnipeg Foundation.



December 31, 2016

7. NET ASSETS

Internally restricted net assets 2016 2015

Cash flow assistance $ 100,000 $ 100,000

Internally restricted net assets 127,294 127,294

$ 227,294 $ 227,294

The allocation for cash flow assistance was made in order to provide cash flow assistance to client organizations until such time as operating grants for their use have been received by Winnipeg Arts Council Inc. from the City of Winnipeg.

The allocation for internally restricted net assets is available for the development of new programs at the discretion of the Board of Directors and to finance future projects to engage the overall community in support of the arts in the City of Winnipeg.

Unrestricted net assetsThe Organization considers its capital to be the balance maintained in its unrestricted net assets. Capital is utilized under the di-rection of the Board of Directors. The primary objective of the Organization is to invest its capital in a manner that will allow it to continue as a going concern.

8. COMMITMENTThe Organization entered into a new lease agreement for office space, which expires on June 30, 2022. The Organization's annual

lease payments over the next five years are as follows:

2016 $ 28,402

2017 29,254

2018 30,131

2019 31,035

2020 31,966

9. ECONOMIC DEPENDENCEThe volume of financial activity undertaken by the Organization with its main funding body is of sufficient magnitude that the discontinuance of their funding would endanger the ability of the Organization to continue as a going concern.

10. ENDOWMENT FUNDIn 2011, the Organization established an Endowment Fund through a $20,000 contribution to be held in perpetuity at The Winnipeg Foundation. Interest revenue earned by this fund is available to the Organization annually to support general operations. As of December 31, 2016, the Organization's cumulative contributions to the Endowment Fund totalled $75,000 (2015 - $35,000) with a cumulative matching grant contribution of $27,340 (2015 - $18,732) from The Winnipeg Foundation. The market value of the Endowment Fund at December 31, 2016 is $131,691 (2015 - $73,991).




PROGRAM EXPENSES

Operating grants $ 3,418,140 $ 3,367,140

Project grants 173,000 128,500

Individual artist grants 219,550 184,200

Professional development grants 44,750 48,500


Youth WITH ART grants 60,000 50,000

Jury honoraria and expenses 15,310 22,482

Translation services 1,852 5,599

Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award 6,250 6,250

$ 4,098,852 $ 3,918,702

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Board and committee meetings $ 6,908 $ 6,727

Hospitality and promotion 5,542 6,015

Professional and consultant fees 26,266 14,721

Professional development, membership and conferences 9,286 9,006

Rent 51,695 52,074

Salaries and benefits 394,254 377,725

Supplies and other office expenses 35,059 32,069

Telecommunications 5,216 5,665

$ 534,226 $ 504,002

PUBLIC ART EXPENSES

Administration $ 75,000 $ 75,000

Artists proposal expenses 53,615 23,829

Commission fees 288,626 128,480

Consultation 46,130 26,338

Jury honoraria and expenses 10,298 2,467

Public education 37,548 31,629

Research, planning and marketing 49,505 22,699

$ 560,722 $ 310,442

SCHEDULE OF EXPENSES

MANDATE, MISSION, VISION, VALUES & STRATEGIC THEMES

MANDATEThe Winnipeg Arts Council Inc. is an in-dependent not-for-profit corporation, cre-ated and mandated by the City to carry out the objects stipulated in its Articles of Incorporation by undertaking the following responsibilities:• managing and carrying out the City’s arts and

cultural funding programs; exercising final

arm’s-length authority to approve and issue

cultural grants

• presenting for approval to Standing Policy

Committee on Protection and Community

Services a three-year Arts and Culture

Business Plan to be adopted on an annual basis

• managing a conditional grant from the City

designated to fund the approved programs

• advising the City on cultural policy

• exploring partnerships and initiatives with

other funding bodies, foundations and other

groups

• presenting to the City an annual report and an

audited financial statement

• developing and maintaining a co-operative re-

lationship with all City departments and staff

working in cultural areas

• managing and administering the City’s Public

Art Policy and Program

MISSION The Winnipeg Arts Council funds, supports and champions development of the arts on behalf of the people of Winnipeg.

VISION Winnipeg is a creative city, where art is inte-grated into all people’s lives. All people have access to the arts, are able to participate in the arts, value the arts, and are enriched by the arts.

VALUES • The arts are essential to a vibrant and healthy

community

• Artistic excellence and diversity of expression

are imperative

• Grant making is based on a fair and equitable

process of peer assessment

• Integrity, transparency, accountability and eth-

ical practice are mandatory

STRATEGIC THEMES • Encourage a thriving community of Winnipeg

artists and arts organizations

• Create accessible routes to the arts for

everyone

• Enhance community livability and vibrancy

through art

• Identify the central role played by the arts

and artistic expression in every aspect of

Winnipeg life

• Develop new investment and support for

the arts through innovative partnerships and

collaborations


STAFF, BOARD & ASSESSORS

STAFF

Carol A. PhillipsEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

tamara rae biebrichARTIST PROJECTS MANAGER

Tanya ChristensenOFFICE MANAGER & FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR

Genevieve CollinsADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Trish CooperCOMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Alexis KinlochPUBLIC ART PROJECTS COORDINATOR

Dominic LloydPROGRAM & ARTS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Tricia WasneyMANAGER – PUBLIC ART

Jenny WesternINDIGENOUS PUBLIC ART STRATEGY CONSULTANT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIR

Vonnie Von Helmolt(to May 2016)

Jim August (from May 2016)

VICE CHAIR

Jim August (to May 2016)

Jason Granger (from May 2016)

SECRETARY-TREASURER

Lisa Wood (to May 2016)

Sandi Mielitz (from May 2016)

PAST CHAIR

Laird Rankin (to May 2016)

Vonnie Von Helmolt(from May 2016)

ARTS COMMUNITY DIRECTORS

Reid Harrison (to May 2016)

Ann Hodges Jeffrey Kohut (to May 2016)

Sandi MielitzSheila Spence (to May 2016)

Cheryl Miki(from May 2016)

Kristin Nelson (from May 2016)

Andrea Ratuski (from May 2016)

COUNCIL DIRECTORS

Diane BergerLouise DuguayJason GrangerEvan KlassenAndrew McLaren

CITY REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTORS

Councillor Jason SchreyerClive Wightman

CHAIR EMERITUS

Laird Rankin (from May 2016)

ASSESSORSApplications to Winnipeg Arts Council programs are assessed against program criteria and guidelines by a panel of qualified persons. Panel members are selected to broadly reflect the range of artistic expression and diversity represented by the applicants.

GRANT PROGRAMS

Sharon BajerAndrew BalfourDave BarberMark CameronWarren CariouElvira FinniganClarise FosterBrenna GeorgeOdette HeynKathleen HileyTom KeenanNiki LittleHeidi MalazdrewichJ.J. Kegan McFaddenJohanna RileySid RobinovitchKaoru Ryan SuzukiCollin Zipp

WINNIPEG ARTS COUNCIL AWARDS

KC AdamsJason GrangerGinette Lavack-WaltersLaurie Lam

PUBLIC ART ASSESSORS

Abi AuldIan AugustMark BaucheShannon BaxterLindsey BondYvette CeneriniMarsha ChristiukColleen CutschallRay FenwickJason HooperLin HowesDonna JonesNiki LittleDivya MehraFreya OlafsonChris PancoeBill PechetDarren PellDavid PennerAdrian StimsonWendy SimonsonLisa Stinner-KunDave ThomasSharon TodRick Walker


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