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Parks, recreation, and culture
The strategy aims to develop a comprehensive plan and vision for culture and creativity in Vancouver.
Our previous cultural plan had a term from 2008-2018. In 2017, Vancouver City Council directed staff to begin to develop a new Creative City Strategy.
At the heart of this process, is a firm commitment to address equity, diversity, and inclusion. Building a culture of reconciliation within the strategy will require collaborating closely with the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
While developing the strategy, we will work with the arts, culture, and creative communities to identify priorities to guide Vancouver’s future efforts and investments. This will:
- Include previously under-represented voices and communities
- Build partnerships across communities
- Develop strategies that focus on arts and culture
What's happening
Early findings update
In May 2018, we gave an early findings presentation to Council on what we’ve heard so far from our strategy process.
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Creative City Strategy
By City of Vancouver
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Connect different communities and align interests
By City of Vancouver
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Identify priorities to guide our future efforts and investments
By City of Vancouver
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Address critical needs and opportunities in a phased action plan
By City of Vancouver
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Create fair practices that reflect and connect the diversity of our city
By City of Vancouver
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Build a culture of reconciliation throughout Vancouver
By City of Vancouver
Project timeline
Here is our progress and anticipated milestones.
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Fall 2017-
spring 2018Phase 1: Discovery
- What we did:
- Best practices research on equity and access, formed the External Advisory Committee, consulted with 15 focus groups and kicked off a launch event in partnership with the PuSh Festival
- Who we consulted with:
- Established and underrepresented artists and nonprofit arts and cultural organizations; External Advisory Committee; Arts and Culture Policy Council; and creative industries
- Began a consultation process with Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations at the intergovernmental City of Vancouver Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations meetings and the Vancouver Park Board Reference Group.
- What we did:
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We are here
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Summer 2018
Phase 2: Priorities
- What we are doing:
- Public consultations, Host Your Own events, Office Hours with the Managing Director, and engagements at arts and cultural festivals
- Who we plan to consult with:
- The public; artists; arts and cultural organizations; External Advisory Committee; and Arts and Culture Policy Council
- Continuing the concurrent City-to-Nation intergovernmental relationship and consultations with Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
- What we are doing:
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Fall -
winter 2018Phase 3: Directions
- What we will be doing:
- Synthesize and gather feedback on draft recommendations, research on comparative investment in arts and culture, research on equity and access, and analyze results from BC Culture Track Audience survey
- What we will be doing:
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Spring 2019
Phase 4: Recommendations
Propose recommendations and draft implementation plan
Get involved
Join us at our engagement events and let us know what you think about arts and culture in Vancouver.
What we do
Learn more about our highlights since the last culture plan and what we do at Cultural Services.
Collaborations and partnerships
Collaborations and partnerships
Find out who we are collaborating with to make the strategy process possible.
Share your photos
Showcase your arts and cultural activities on our platforms.
Vancouver arts and culture landscape
The arts and cultural community is an ecology made up of different stakeholders, sectors, and infrastructure.
Arts and culture
We have a vibrant arts and culture scene from public to performance art, and more. Find out more and learn about opportunities for artists.
