‘We will see them in court’
Arts organizations not impressed with Artsnl’s response to funding controversy
The province’s arts council publicly responded Monday to a controversy surrounding its grant application practices, but some local arts organizations aren’t impressed with its explanation.
“What is there to say? We will see them in court,” John Drover, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Arts Society, told The Telegram.
Last week, the folk arts society filed a lawsuit in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court against Artsnl and the minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, asking for payment of the $44,00 it was denied from Artsnl’s Sustaining Program for Professional Arts Organizations.
The folk arts society had been awarded a grant last year of $22,000 a year for three years, with the requirement that it submit reports for 2018 and 2019 to ensure it remained eligible for the funding.
Court documents state the organization had submitted its report by the Feb. 1 deadline, but a supporting document didn’t arrive until the next day due to a courier oversight. As a result, Artsnl informed the folk arts society it would not receive its grant for 2018 or 2019 and would have to wait until 2020 to reapply.
In its statement of claim, the folk arts society gave examples of times in the past when Artsnl allowed clarifications, corrections and additions to applications after the deadline.
Two other organizations, though not involved in the lawsuit, went public with similar stories.
Wreckhouse Jazz and Blues had applied for a $10,000 grant to hire a co-ordinator for this year’s Wreckhouse International Jazz and Blues Festival, but president Bradley Power said it was turned down due to a typo in the financials, even though the end tally was correct.
Independent arts and culture journal Riddle Fence posted a notice on its website expressing its frustration and disappointment over being denied its sustaining funding due to a software error it says didn’t appear on its end.
Artsnl released a written statement Monday afternoon saying organizations selected to receive funding through the Sustaining Program for Professional Arts Organizations and the Annual Operating Program for Professional Arts Organizations are held to a high standard of compliance.
“Making exceptions to these standards would be unfair to applicants who did meet all of either program’s professional guidelines and eligibility criteria,” the statement read.
“Artsnl is tasked with the management of publicly funded grant programs. Responsible stewardship of these funds, transparency, and accountability are of utmost importance. Artsnl is scrupulously held to annual compliance audits by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and council deeply respects the position it has been entrusted with. For these reasons, program guidelines and policy must be strictly adhered to.”
Artsnl has retained a lawyer, the statement read.