Kamloops Arts Council now says proposed street performing permit wouldn’t be mandatory

The proposal drew pushback from the community earlier this month, after the rules regarding the program were detailed. The permit would allow performers to play from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., but would be limited to one hour at any one location.

Participants would also be able to join the Kamloops Arts Council for a $30 membership fee, on top of a flat $10 fee per year to perform on Kamloops streets.

In today’s release, the council says collaborations will continue over the next few months, and a new revision won’t be released before this fall.

“The Kamloops Arts Council’s mandate is to promote the development and enhancement of all arts in the Kamloops area,” the release states. “We support all artists and forms of art, do not discriminate and our membership is open to all. We, the Kamloops Arts Council, do not in any way wish to inhibit any public street performances, and should we be part of a policy that goes forward, are confident that it will only increase the abilities, accessibility and rights of our artists, not inhibit them.”

The council says the idea behind the Street Performing Program is to identify and support emerging and established buskers who want to perform on the streets through “an accredited process, without having to purchase a business licence.”

“This will not be a mandatory program for performers, but an opportunity to gain membership benefits and access to the Kamloops Arts Council resources and professional development,” the release states.

by Ashley Legassic

Kamloops Arts Council now says proposed street performing permit wouldn’t be mandatory

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