Arts & Culture staff outline 2026 work plan and CAP program with $35,000 budget

City arts staff provided an update on the 2026 Arts & Culture work plan and the Community Arts Program (CAP) at the January Arts Council meeting. Joanna Bell, the departing Arts & Culture Director, said the City Hall art display will remain in place through October to give a new staff member time to run the next call and that the Nelson Hackett mural call is open, with the council to see finalists in February and make recommendations by April.

Sarah Diltash, Arts & Culture program assistant, reviewed CAP outcomes from the prior year and plans for 2026. She said 11 projects were funded last year with approximate total attendance of 2,100 across activations, and that class-based, participatory series (movement and multi-session classes) had the strongest attendance. "Across the 11 funded programs or proposals we had last year, there was an approximate attendance of around 2,100," Diltash said.

Diltash said the CAP budget for 2026 remains $35,000 and that the first application window covers activations scheduled to start between March and July, with a February 10 deadline for the first round; a second round of applications will open later in the year to cover July onward activations. Staff also noted CAP guidance excludes proposals for permanent public art and maker fairs this cycle and encouraged activations in the Ramble, Walker Park and other city parks.

Staff asked the council to review CAP applications at the next meeting, with preliminary materials to be circulated in advance.