Alberta Culture

Alberta Culture

Agency overview
Formed	April 30, 2019 (2019-04-30)
Jurisdiction	Government of Alberta
Agency executives	Jason Luan, Minister of Culture Tanya Fir, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women
Website	https://www.alberta.ca/culture.aspx

The Ministry of Culture of Alberta, commonly called Alberta Culture, is a ministry of the Executive Council of the Government of Alberta. It was created on April 30, 2019 as Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women as a new ministry merging the some of the functions of two predecessors. This is the not the first culture ministry; a previous one existed from 1971 to 1992. The current Alberta Culture is responsible for Alberta's cultural industries, arts and heritage, as well as the promotion of women's rights. In 2021 the word "multiculturalism" was dropped from the Ministry's name, but its organization remained unchanged. In 2022, the "Status of Women" was removed from the ministry's name but that portfolio stayed with the ministry with an associate minister specifically responsible, meanwhile multiculturalism was moved into a new ministry with trade and immigration.

Inter-ministerial organization

The Minister of Culture is appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta on the advice of the Premier of Alberta and is responsible to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The Ministry is then divided into the Department of Culture, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and the Alberta Advisory Council on the Francophonie.

Administrative history

The culture and status of women portfolios of the Alberta government have previously been overseen by separate ministers. They have also been sections within the portfolio of the same minister. These portfolios have also each been joined to other government departments at various points.

Previous Department of Culture (1971-1992)

The first minister of culture was appointed in 1971, but the Cultural Affairs Department within that ministry was founded in 1975 by Order in Council 518/1975, under the authority of the Public Service Administrative Transfers Act. The minister responsible for this was known as the Minister Responsible for Culture (1975–1980), Minister of Culture (1980–1987), and Minister of Culture and Multiculturalism (1987–1992).

Agencies which reported to the minister included the Alberta Cultural Heritage Foundation (1978–1987), Alberta Multiculturalism Commission (1987–1992), Alberta Art Foundation (1972–1991), Alberta Foundation for the Performing Arts (1978–1991), Alberta Foundation for the Literary Arts (1984–1991), Alberta Foundation for the Arts (1991–1992), Alberta Library Board (1948–1992), and Alberta Advisory Council on the Status of Women (1986–1987). During this time the minister was responsible for implementing the following legislation: Alberta Academy Act, Alberta Art Foundation Act, Alberta Emblems Act, Alberta Foundation for the Arts Act, Alberta Heritage Day Act, Alberta Historical Resources Act, Alberta Order of Excellence Act, Alberta Women's Bureau Act, Amusements Act (Part 3), Cultural Development Act, Cultural Foundations Act, Department of Culture Act, Department of Culture and Multiculturalism Act, Foreign Cultural Property Immunity Act, Glenbow-Alberta Institute Act, Government House Act, Libraries Act, and Registered Music Teachers' Association Act.

Community Development (1992-2019)

Main article: Alberta Community Development

During the 1992 restructuring, the former Department of Culture and Multiculturalism and former Department of Tourism, Parks, and Recreation were dissolved and replaced by the Ministry of Community Development. From 2006 to 2008 this ministry was renamed Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture. On March 12, 2008 it was Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, and it was again renamed simply Alberta Culture on May 8, 2012. From September 15, 2014 to April 30, 2019, the ministry was called Alberta Culture and Tourism.

Recreated with Status of Women (2019-)

A new ministry called Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women was created in 2019. It was renamed Alberta Culture and Status of Women on July 8, 2021 and simply Alberta Culture on October 24, 2022.

Ministry structure

As of 2019, the ministry consisted of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and the Alberta Advisory Council on the Francophonie, plus the Department of Alberta Culture, Muliticulturalism, and Status of Women which reported directly to the minister.