Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women Tanya Fir announces funding for arts and media creation. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Alberta announces $8M fund for arts and media

Apr 23, 2024 | 12:53 PM

The Alberta government is taking a step that it says will help the publishing and entertainment industries to thrive.

They are putting $8 million into the Alberta Media Fund.

It gives grants to book and magazine publishers, sound recording agencies and film producers. The money can be used for art production, training, career development, marketing and research.

Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women Tanya Fir said Tuesday these sectors celebrate Alberta’s cultural heritage and provide a wealth of education and entertainment.

“By providing stable and ongoing support to our books, magazines, movies and music, we’re creating a stronger economy and putting Alberta’s culture on local and international stages and screens,” Fir said.

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Book Publishers Association of Alberta President Matt Bowes said provincial funding helped them to create a curriculum-based catalog of made-in-Alberta books and compile a collection of accessible Alberta-published eBooks.

“We’re grateful for the support of Alberta’s government for our industry, and for the additional funding increment that we received this year. We have seen the impacts of significant, sustained funding for the film industry, and how that industry has grown and succeeded as a direct result,” Bowes said.

In 2021, the publishing and entertainment industries contributed $2.7 billion to Alberta’s economy and supported more than 19,000 jobs.