The City of Port Moody is launching a pilot project to explore a unique arts and business council. In a press release, Port Moody said the council approved the 12- to 18-month pilot phase on May 13, following recommendations from a consultant and city staff. A contracted arts and business specialist will lead the initiative, which is expected to be in place by summer 2025.
Mayor Meghan Lahti emphasized the council’s intent to test the governance model before committing to a permanent not-for-profit organization. “An arts and business council would be unique to Port Moody and the region,” Lahti said. “We want to ensure we’re selecting the right governance model for our community.”
The pilot will develop partnerships, launch initiatives, and evaluate various governance structures with input from local businesses and arts groups. Key objectives include finalizing a term workplan, initiating early collaborations, and generating tangible outcomes to support mutual growth.
The specialist will deliver a final report to the Council at the end of the pilot, outlining learnings and recommendations for next steps.
This initiative stems from the work of the Mayor’s Arts and Business Coalition Task Force (MABCTF), formed in early 2023. Among its nine recommendations was the establishment of an arts and business council. In late 2023, the MABCTF was replaced by the Arts and Business Council Project Task Force (ABCPTF), which concluded its work in 2024 after leading community engagement sessions.
Funding for the pilot is drawn from the City’s Arts Reserve, with $150,000 allocated annually over two years as part of the 2025–2029 operating budget.
