Art City Inc is a community arts not-for-profit, charitable organization, that was founded in 1998 by Wanda Koop. Its mandate is to provide high quality, free-of-charge, art programming to participants of all ages. One of Art City’s goals is to be a model for future community art centres. Staff get phone calls from within Winnipeg as well as all over the country wherein they answer questions, share info about project development, grant writing and send materials. Art City, as an established community arts centre, is interested in partnering and linking with other emerging or established community arts projects/programs/organizations/resources to share information with, and mentor. It can offer and share ideas on «how to», promising practices and policies.

The catchment area for Art City Inc. is West Broadway, Winnipeg, but all are welcome. The language of service is English. It serves/works with all ages. The average number of participants is: 25/ day; and 6,400 visits/year, (1300 different individuals attending yearly.) The hours of operation are M-F 4-8 pm, (summertime hours may extend). The arts offered are visually focused and performative and include: drawing, painting, pottery, photography, digital art, hip-hop dance, music, video, screen-printing, sculpture and more.

Art City employs 3 full-time staff, 6 part-time staff,  4 staff are called in for special projects. They have 14 regular volunteers/ week (volunteers make a commitement for 6 months) They engage ten- twenty additional volunteers for special events. Art City contracts over 30 guest artists per year. It has a permanent studio in a building that it owns. All of its programs are drop-in and do not require registration. (Participants can be referred, as well) It is free. Art City hosts special events and art shows as well as a major parade in the summer, a big halloween party and a winter carnival. Art City links with over 40 other community organizations a year.

Art City is really good at delivering projects and engaging community artists as well as professional guest artists (who are paid CARFAC rates). Both  provide high quality diverse programming through the community artists series and the professional artists series. Art City is known to have a great reputation! Many of their supplies are donated to them. It’s goals are: to make annual budgets more stable, to engage its current youth council in more program development, to get community parents more involved, and to increase the general public’s understanding of the impact of arts on community. It’s challenges are: lack of core funding opportunities, limited space,  keeping older youth engaged in programming.

Art City has a board of directors, and an advisory board/ youth council. Its annual budget range is $350,000. Its donations-in-kind is valued at about $50,000 –this includes volunteer time and donated art supplies. It is funded by about %70 gov’t.  It has a budget for professional development, training, conferences.

Interview with Cam Forbes on January 18th, 2010 with ArtBridges.

Please see ArtBridges’ Google Map for contact information.