Arts and Heritage Foundation budget request increases eight per cent

Long-term focus for the organization remains the development of a new museum.

The Arts and Heritage Foundation of St. Albert (AHF) budget request of the city totals $2.2 million, an increase of eight per cent from last year.

AHF chair Ahmad Sanni told council on Thursday, Oct. 22 that the organization’s request is actually lower than the one included in the 2027 budget documents, with a decrease in the request by almost $22,000.

Sanni said this was due to a staff position start date that is requested in the budget being pushed back from January to April 2027. That staff position is for a collections management position, which will focus on planning collections and developing a plan and criteria for removal and disposition process, as well as identify opportunities to increase storage capacity within the existing footprint. 

The organization’s long-term goal remains the development of a new museum at the heritage sites, with expanded exhibition space and additional collections storage capacity. The current location opened in 1984, and has not expanded or undergone major renovations since opening.

“The collection exceeds the current storage capacity with little room to grow,” Sanni said. “A new museum at the heritage sites will meet the needs of the growing community.”

AHF trustees are forming a museum development task force to look for government grants and private funding for a standalone museum.

The AHF is predicting lower AHF earned and contributed revenues for 2027, a reduction of more than $24,600, primarily due to the decline in grant funding for heritage preservation and seasonal staff positions. 

AHF executive director Ann Ramsden wrote in the budget document that while they continue to be successful in their grant applications, the overall amount being awarded has been reduced in line with the funding available.

Operational expenses related to the collections maintenance database are expected to increase by four per cent, and seasonal toilets provided by council in April 2026 are included in the base budget. That expense is expected to increase by two per cent in 2027. 

Sanni said the teacher’s strike in the fall of 2025 had an impact on their 2026 educational program revenue, and while they are already seeing a recovery, they are being conservative with their revenue projections for 2027, with AHF earned and contributed revenues proposed at $736,000-plus compared to nearly $761,000 last year.