The Winnipeg Arts Council hopes to increase its city funding beyond $5 million in 2016 and add another $800,000 by 2018.

A report headed to the city’s protection, community services and parks committee meeting on Tuesday notes the initial hike would follow Mayor Brian Bowman’s campaign promise to improve annual funding to seven dollars per capita from $5.60 over two years.

Year two of that plan would raise the funding to roughly $5.08 million in 2016. The arts council’s corporate plan projects budgets of $5.33 million in 2017 and $5.832 million in 2018.

Community services chair Coun. Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas) said he’s hopeful the 2016 request will be granted.

“Art is a huge economic driver in our city. For every municipal dollar, the arts community can leverage over $18 from other government levels and the private sector. For our investment, it’s huge,” Pagtakhan said.

The councillor hesitated to weigh in on whether the city can afford to increase the annual budget in the two years following 2016.

“Everyone takes the budget process seriously, there are a number of competing interests and we have to make difficult decisions,” said Pagtakhan.

Bowman could not be reached for comment Thursday, though his spokeswoman, Carmen Barnett, said he remains committed to his campaign promise, which would require the 2016 funding request.

Carol Phillips, the Winnipeg Arts Council’s executive director, declined comment prior to the committee meeting.

The arts council’s corporate plan states “creative industries” account for more than $1 billion in economic activity in Winnipeg and employ 6.4% of the city’s labour force, or about roughly 26,000 citizens.

joyanne.pursaga@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @pursagawpgsun