Jonathan Young in the Electric Company's Palace Grand - 2008 PuSh Festival. Photo: Tim Matheson
Culture Plan - 2008 - 2018
Envisioning a Future with Culture at the Centre
The creation of this strategic cultural plan signals that the City of Vancouver has made support of and investment in the creative sector a priority. The economic impact – the return on every dollar spent – of support of the arts, culture, and cultural tourism has been well documented. It must be noted, however, that the intrinsic value of the arts and culture cannot and should not be underestimated. Arts and culture are prerequisites for healthy individuals, neighbourhoods, communities, and society. There is a correlation between exposure to the arts and enhanced cognitive development and the reduction of rehabilitation costs of those who are ill. Cultural participation also provides positive alternatives for our youth. Vancouver’s investment is thus strategic and is requisite for a city of international distinction. Whether an individual is a practicing artist, an audience member, volunteer for a cultural institution or a worker in the cultural sector, he or she is part of building community and contributing to the economic and social health of the City.
Phase one of the implementation has been completed with phase two underway. The first four plans include a Grants Program Review, Public Art Review, Cultural Facilities Priority Plan, and Cultural Tourism Strategy.
Executive Summary
In July 2005, Vancouver City Council approved the terms of reference for the Creative City Task Force, comprised of Councillors, community representatives and City staff and mandated the group to undertake a stakeholder consultation process to identify strategic goals and directions for the City's long-term role in support of arts and culture.
The planning process was extensive; a multi-pronged approach to research, plan development and community consultation was accomplished through focus groups, discussion groups, a Creative City “public hot line”, an online quiz and an interactive online survey.
The community consultation culminated in April of 2007 with the Creative City Conversation—the City’s first forum on the power of culture, creativity and community – that brought together 485 artists, arts administrators, other creative sector workers, and members of the public to the Vancouver Playhouse for the day. This free, public event was part of the larger consultation process noted above and, in conjunction with the hard work of the City’s Creative City Task Force, informed the creation of a long-term Culture Plan to guide the City’s role in arts and culture in Vancouver for the next decade.
The central vision of this ten year Culture Plan is to promote and enhance the culture and creative diversity of the City of Vancouver to the benefit of our citizens, our creative community, and our visitors. We will build upon Vancouver’s current diverse and plentiful artistic and entertainment offerings to create a new dynamism and pride in our cultural life.
The strategic themes and key goals which have been distilled from the extensive community input and outlined in this Culture Plan are listed below.
People all over the world are increasingly aware that creativity—that impulse and ability to think, feel, express and generate something new, original and meaningful are necessary for a city to thrive.
Our physical spaces and structures richly benefit from the input of artists and creative thinkers, as do our systems and processes; the value creative expression and participation bring to the lives of our residents and visitors is immeasurable. The workers required for a knowledge-based economy want to live in communities that stimulate their creative interests and reflect their cultural values. A community climate that nurtures and celebrates artistic creation, experimentation and presentation creates a fertile ground for inspiring innovation on a broader economic and social scale.
Vancouver is poised to establish itself as a city on the cutting edge of art, culture, education, entertainment, and support of the creative industries. The vision and strategy that is articulated in this Culture Plan will provide momentum for the city to move forward over the next ten years by harnessing this creativity for the benefit of all.
The Creative City Task Force
September 2007
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