A four-year, $2.5-million funding plan for Ottawa's artists and festivals has been approved by the city committee that oversees them.

The plan still needs final approval from city council during budget deliberations later in February. But Julian Armour, president of the Ottawa Festivals umbrella group, said he is confident that will happen and help pull Ottawa out of last place for arts funding among Canada's seven largest cities.

"If any councillor, no matter how opposed they are to it, takes a good look at this report that their staff did on their directive, they're going to be convinced," said Armour.

He was among members of Ottawa's arts community who worked with city staff for several years to craft the arts investment strategy and festivals sustainability plan.

The plan's authors said supporting the arts will attract tourists and other business to the city, while encouraging artists to live and work in Ottawa.

But Coun. Alex Cullen said the money is not a done deal, given Mayor Larry O'Brien's commitment to a zero per cent tax increase over the next four years — the entire length of the funding plan — and the fact that council is struggling to balance the city's budget this year alone.

"We're also in an environment where 'zero means zero,' and it does mean that council has a challenge."