The ACT Arts Centre is a City-owned facility operated by the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Arts Council under an operating agreement with the City.
The City of Maple Ridge has made significant efforts to collaborate with the Arts Council’s Board to establish a new operating agreement that ensures continued access to arts programming at this valued community facility. We are disappointed that the Arts Council has declined to sign the agreement. Mayor and Council will be meeting to discuss next steps.
The City provides over $1 million annually in combined operational and maintenance costs to the Arts Council to operate The ACT Arts Centre. The funding includes $750,000 in operational funding (about 30% of The ACT’s annual revenue). The City also provides over $232,000 for in-kind services, including maintenance, landscaping, snow removal, marketing, registration, and administrative support. In addition, the City makes regular capital investments, including a $1.57 million roof replacement this year, to ensure the long-term sustainability of this valued community facility.
Since fall 2023, the City has been negotiating in good faith with the Arts Council to develop a new operating agreement. The Arts Council is requesting a significant funding increase, which requires due process and consideration as part of the City’s financial planning process, as this would impact taxpayers.
The new operating agreement proposed by the City aims to ensure continued access to arts programming while strengthening transparency, accountability, and alignment with community needs. It includes clear roles, responsibilities, and annual reporting requirements, and standards consistent with other City partnerships. To date, while the Arts Council has shared its overall budget, it has not provided details on how City funding is specifically allocated.
We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached. At this time, we do not anticipate that there will be any impact on programming or services at The ACT centre while we work to resolve this matter.
The City is committed to supporting arts, heritage and culture through a range of programs and investments:
- Public Art Program: Major murals by Katzie artist Rain Pierre, four 150th anniversary murals, and three upcoming murals downtown
- Artists in Residence: Two year-round programs offering community workshops and engagement
- Festivals and Events: Support for Celebrate the Night, Our Neck of the Woods, Canada Day, Pride in the Park, Multiculturalism Day, Country Fest, the Santa Claus Parade, and more
- Albion Community Centre: Expanded arts workshops, performances, and cultural programs
- Heritage Programming: Ongoing operational support for the Maple Ridge Museum, helping preserve and share the community’s rich history
Quote from Mayor Ruimy - "Arts and culture are integral to the fabric of Maple Ridge, and The ACT Arts Centre plays a key role in providing creative opportunities for our residents. Council's priority is to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent transparently and sustainably, and that operations are accessible and responsive to the community's needs, so that arts programming continues to thrive, not just today, but for years to come. We remain optimistic that we can reach an agreement with the Arts Council that ensures the long-term success of the ACT and continues to serve the diverse cultural needs of our growing community."