Arts & Culture in the Government of Manitoba’s proposed 2023 Budget

As the Government of Manitoba said in its 2023 Budget on March 7, participating in arts, culture, heritage and sport activities enhances one’s quality of life. Not only do these activities contribute to enriched perspectives and communities, but they are also important for our physical, mental and spiritual health.

Furthermore, the cultural sector is also an economic driver, with incredible return on investment.

The Government of Manitoba is accelerating its support for the Arts, Culture and Sport In Community Fund, expanding a planned $34-million investment by $16 million to $50 million, and investing a further $50 million in Budget 2023 for a total of $100 million over two years. We’re excited about this long-overdue investment in infrastructure and look forward to more announcements on the first $50-million tranche soon. 

We’re also pleased to see the Government of Manitoba maintain its support of libraries.

 While the Government of Manitoba’s injection in capital is important, ongoing programming support for the arts and cultural sector has been static for years. Given the sector’s potential to change lives and create jobs, we continue to request that the Government of Manitoba Increase its investment in core arts and culture programs that include all Manitobans.

We look forward to working in collaboration with the Government of Manitoba over the coming weeks and months to bring funding to a sustainable level, and ensure everyone can benefit from a healthy, agile and expanded arts and culture sector that spans the province.