The municipality and Habitat for the Arts are working together to develop another pilot project to decide whether or not busking should become a permanent feature on Jasper鈥檚 streets.
The proposal builds on last year's two-day pilot project during Alberta Culture Days and follows a recent bylaw passed by the municipality to regulate commercial use of public space for the farmers market and sidewalk seating.
鈥淲e鈥檝e taken feedback from merchants, feedback from musicians and feedback from the municipality and implemented it into this proposal to try and improve the experience for everybody concerned,鈥� said David Baker, of Habitat for the Arts, who developed the proposal as part of a course he was taking with the Rozsa Arts Management Program in Calgary.
鈥淲hen people see this on the street they are going to see something that has been built carefully, thoughtfully and ultimately will enhance public space.鈥�
Last year the municipality granted a temporary busking permit to Habitat for the Arts to let the non-profit organization issue individual permits to buskers to operate in specific locations in the downtown core over the course of two-days.
Following the pilot project the public was encouraged to submit feedback about what they thought of the weekend and how it could be improved.
Busking was initially included in a draft bylaw to regulate commercial use of public space that included the farmers market and sidewalk seating, but council felt that the two-day pilot project wasn鈥檛 enough to make an informed decision and include it in the bylaw.
Instead, council asked administration to create a second pilot project for this summer.
鈥淚t was just a trial, the first one, and what we learned from there was encouraging enough that the municipality said yes, please go ahead and try it again and work with us to make something that we can have as a permanent part of the cultural landscape,鈥� said Baker.
If the pilot project is approved, Habitat for the Arts will handle the individual permits and decide who gets to perform, where.
鈥淲ith the Habitat for the Arts handling the permitting and vetting of who gets to be a performer we hope to use our experience and good judgment and the guidance from the municipality to create something that is very similar to the busking that you鈥檒l find in the inner harbour of Victoria,鈥� said Baker, offering an example.
To receive a permit buskers will have to contact the non-profit organization, which will screen each artist to ensure the art is tasteful and respects the community鈥檚 values.
鈥淲e want to vet them so that we know who they are and what they鈥檙e going to be doing,鈥� explained Baker.
鈥淭he idea is to present visually, acoustically and artistically something that you want to see on your streets.鈥�
Artists from out of town will be allowed to operate in one of two locations so Habitat for the Arts can keep an eye on the performance as well as the artist. There will also be signage to indicate the busker has been vetted and if anyone violates the conditions of their permit it will be pulled.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a matter of common sense. If it belongs on the street it鈥檒l be there because it is something that is part of Jasper鈥檚 overall profile.鈥�
This year鈥檚 pilot project, which was brought before council for a notice of decision on June 7, includes four locations.
The proposed locations include a spot in front of the post office, the corner of Miette Avenue and Connaught Drive, a spot along the pedway between Lucias Gems and Gifts and Baxter鈥檚 Souvenirs and Gifts and a spot in front of the Sundog Kiosk at 600 Patricia Street.
鈥淭he locations that we鈥檝e selected are based on proximity to business, flows of people on the sidewalk and the logistics of the spot,鈥� said Baker.
The proposal also limits what a street artist or performer can sell.
鈥淲e鈥檝e restricted merchandizing to things like CDs and portraitures. Direct merchandizing will not be permitted.鈥�
It鈥檚 not clear when the pilot project will begin, but Baker said he鈥檚 hopeful it will happen sooner rather than later.
鈥淲e鈥檙e proceeding cautiously so that we can assure whatever does end up being presented to the public is representative of both the artist鈥檚 wishes, the municipality鈥檚 wishes and of course the merchants that are in proximity to them,鈥� said Baker.
He said it鈥檚 too early to say how much a permit will cost, but said there will be a seasonal fee as well as a one-time fee. For more information stay tuned to the Habitat for the Arts Facebook page.
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
