About the Cultural Policy

Culture connects us to our communities, our province, and to the world. Our culture reflects who we are: what we value and consider beautiful, how we spend our leisure time, how we think about and treat each other, where we come from, and where we are going.

The Government of Alberta is proud of our province's unique and vibrant culture, and want to see it continue to grow and flourish. To achieve this, we have developed the Spirit of Alberta, Alberta's cultural policy. Launched in January 2008, this important policy provides a framework for decision-making related to the support, growth and development of culture as we move into our province's second century.

The Spirit of Alberta is based on extensive research and public consultation and it reflects Albertans' broad view of culture, which encompasses the arts, our heritage, natural landscapes and recreation. The policy also responds to Albertans' expressed desire to see government take a leadership role in supporting culture, and outlines how this will be achieved through partnerships with the private sector, cultural organizations, agencies, foundations, and individual Albertans

Building on what was heard throughout the consultations, and the principles that emerged, the policy is focused around four keystones: access, capacity, excellence and growth of cultural industries. Through the Spirit of Alberta, the Government of Alberta will collaborate with all those who are involved in culture and will build a long-term plan with all Albertans to support and promote Alberta's culture. To help achieve this, the Premier's Council on Arts and Culture was established to oversee the implementation of the policy.