Arts in South Surrey deserves long overdue fair and equitable funding. Help SAS change this.

SAS is facing bankruptcy at the end of 2027 after more than 53 years of serving the community. This the result of the South receiving almost no arts tax dollar investment into the South Surrey community compared with the rest of Surrey. 

Read the July 2026 letter to Surrey City Council from the SAS Board of Directors (PDF)

• Fact: the arts in South Surrey receives less than 1% of the City’s $10.7 million annual operating budget for arts and culture despite being home to 16% of Surrey’s population. Almost the entire $10.7 million budget is spent north of Hwy 10.
• Fact: the City has been able to avoid investing arts tax dollars into South Surrey because SAS has been doing the City’s work operating the arts space at South Surrey Recreation & Arts Centre for 12 years with virtually no operational funding. This is unheard of in any other similar operating agreements in our region including those in White Rock, Coquitlam, Chilliwack, and Port Moody. Read above letter to City Council for documentation.

Since early 2026, SAS has been actively appealing to City staff to re-negotiate its operating agreement from 2014 which is now two years expired. Despite our very best efforts, there has been no meaningful progress.

Losing SAS will be a significant loss to the community given we are able to provide programs and services at a value that far exceeds what the City could deliver on its own. We just require fair and equitable funding to achieve this.

TWO WAYS to lend your support. Your voice WILL help. 

1. Sign the community petition here and/or,
2. Email current City of Surrey Council and Mayoral candidates directly. It’s easy and fast. Just copy and paste the emails below into your email “To” line

mayor@surrey.ca
linda.annis@surrey.ca
harry.bains@surrey.ca
mike.bose@surrey.ca
doug.elford@surrey.ca
ghepner@surrey.ca
pardeep.kooner@surrey.ca
mandeep.nagra@surrey.ca
rob.stutt@surrey.ca
mike@imaginesurrey.ca
info@surreynow.ca
dwmccallum@telus.net
NewSurreyPlusCampaign@gmail.com
honveer.surrey@gmail.com
advocate@semiahmooarts.com

And add your email message, e.g. “Surrey City Council and Mayor election candidates, I expect you to invest South Surrey residents’ arts tax dollars into our community, close to home, and support a long-overdue fair and equitable operating agreement for Semiahmoo Arts Society. Please declare your commitment.”

Thank you for your support! Your voice will help to ensure that arts and culture flourish on the Semiahmoo Peninsula for decades to come.