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Updates from the CCNC...
This month the CCNC and host municipalities held three highly successful regional workshops on cultural mapping and cultural planning in Toronto (Ontario), Sherwood Park (Alberta) and Surrey (BC). The Cultural Mapping and Cultural Planning: Making the Connection workshops included presentations on the CCNC's cultural planning and cultural mapping toolkits, panel discussions from those in the field and facilitated roundtable discussions relevant to each region. The workshops were well attended and we have received positive feedback regarding their success, usefulness and timeliness. Updates and presentations will be posted to our website shortly. Thank you to all host municipalities, speakers and participants!
We enjoy sharing Creative City News with you each month and as spring is upon us we are looking for some fresh feedback from our readers! We are interested to know what you think about this e-Newsletter... Is it useful to you in your work? What would you like to see more of? Do you like the format? Do you forward it on to your friends and colleagues? Let us know! We have created a short questionnaire so that we can gauge its effectiveness and better serve our readers in the future. Please take the time to participate as it will benefit you - Thank you! Complete the survey here.
- The CCNC
Guest Editorial - Elena Bird, CCNC Board Member, Toronto, ON
Cultural Mapping and Cultural Planning: Legacy Workshops
Cultural mapping and cultural planning are hot topics these days. In celebration of the development of CCNC's Cultural Mapping Toolkit (2006) by Sue Stewart and Cultural Planning Toolkit (2006) by Anne Russo and Diana Butler (funded by 2010 Legacies Now), the Creative City Network of Canada held regional workshops across Canada in March 2010 to promote the Toolkits.
The exchange in Ontario took place on March 2-3, 2010, where 70 municipal and provincial professionals gathered at the Martin Prosperity Institute in Toronto for the 'Cultural Mapping and Cultural Planning: Making the Connection' workshop. The workshop was the result of a partnership between the Creative City Network of Canada, Municipal Cultural Planning Incorporated, the Martin Prosperity Institute and Placing Creativity. At the workshop we heard about the difference between cultural planning and municipal cultural planning.
What is Cultural Planning?
Cultural planning is a process of broad-based community consultation and decision making that helps local government identify cultural resources in the community and think strategically about how these resources can help achieve civic goals. Cultural planning can be done by civic leaders, planners, elected officials and local government staff both within and outside the cultural sector itself.
The term "municipal cultural planning" has been used by the Province of Ontario since 2003 to distinguish an ongoing municipal government-led process of cultural planning, which involves a broad definition of cultural resources in developing a cultural plan and integrating culture - or applying a cultural lens - across all municipal planning and decision-making.
To find out more about the workshop and view the presentations visit http://placingcreativity.org/making-the-connection-slides/
- Elena Bird, Senior Policy Advisor, Strategic Growth & Sector Development, Economic Development & Culture, City of Toronto
BC: New Westminster hires its first arts manager
"The City of New Westminster's new manager of arts and culture development's most recent accomplishment was working with VANOC for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A press release from the City of New Westminster states that implementation of the city's arts strategy will switch into high gear with the hiring of Greg Magirescu to the newly created position of Manager of Arts and Culture Development. The position was a key recommendation of the 2008 arts strategy public consultation process, which recommended that the city needs to play a lead role in the delivery of arts services in New Westminster. 'Fostering appreciation for arts and culture supports our objective of making New Westminster a welcoming and inclusive community,' said Coun. Bill Harper, chair of the city's arts and culture commission. 'With the arrival of our new manager of arts and culture development, I look forward to seeing all of the recommendations outlined in the arts strategy implemented in the years ahead.'"
Theresa McManus, The Record, March 16, 2010 | weblink
See also: 'New West gets new Arts boss', NewWestNewsLeader.com
BC: Vancouver Art Gallery eyes [new] downtown home
"The Vancouver Art Gallery is optimistic it will be able to build its new home on its preferred site on the corner of Georgia and Cambie streets. The gallery, which is squeezed for space on Hornby Street and is only able to exhibit about 3 per cent of its permanent collection at any given time, is negotiating with the City of Vancouver, which owns the property now occupied by a parking lot. It hopes to double its space in a new home a few blocks east of its current location. Mayor Gregor Robertson says the city is considering the gallery's proposal, but there is a lot of interest from other groups. David Aisenstat, chairman of the Vancouver Art Gallery's board of trustees, said the board has unanimously agreed the best place for the new gallery is downtown, across the street from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. And he's confident the city will eventually agree."
CBC News, March 5, 2010 | weblink
See also: 'Gallery should stay put, advocates say', The Globe and Mail
'Robson Square requires revamp', The Vancouver Sun
St. Catharines, ON: Partnership promises core revival
"Much has been said about the arts complex planned for downtown St. Catharines, but the word that defines it best is 'partnership.' This project by the City of St. Catharines and Brock University -- part fine and performing arts school, part civic arts centre -- is striking not just for the array of benefits it will deliver to the community, but for the clear-headed vision that has taken it from dreamy concept to the brink of reality. Most people, including Ontario government officials, recognize the complex represents an unprecedented opportunity to revive Niagara's largest urban core, to create a prosperous hub for the arts and culture industry and to help push our postindustrial region further toward a knowledge-based economy. None of this could happen without partnership, because neither the city nor the university alone could ever keep such a project viable once the construction grants stopped flowing. Marrying strengths and goals for mutual gain is what makes this idea work, and what will build a complex we can all be proud of."
Rosemary Hale, The Hamilton Spectator, March 1, 2010 | weblink
See also: 'Region gives approval to culture plan', The Niagara Falls Review
Brantford, ON: Offering creative solutions
"The director of the Brantford Arts Block thinks a weekend of brainstorming and workshops will lead to a louder voice for artists in the community. 'Hopefully, we can form a working group of some sort - a collection of like minds - to make change,' Josh Bean said. The 'Turning Ideas Into Practice: Solutions for Attracting the Creative Class' conference attracted up to 70 people for various sessions [March 5-6] ... 'We need to form a political activist committee,' artist Steven Boudreau said. 'We need to make culture an election issue.' That was certainly the advice of Saturday's keynote speaker at the conference, Gord Hume... a long-time member of London city council and author of the book Cultural Planning for Creative Communities. He told a crowd... that Brantford needs 'innovative leadership to transform the city.' Hume has been following trends in culture and the development of downtown areas while helping bring life to London's downtown. He said it's often underestimated just how important creativity is to a city. 'Culture is not a frill,' Hume said. 'It's the core of a strong, healthy community.'"
Sean Allen, BrantNews.com, March 8, 2010 | weblink
See also: 'Be bold, think big, city planners told', Brantford Expositor
ON: Providing a big boost to London's artistic community
"London's artistic community is looking for a boost to its fundraising skills and its bank accounts. That boost may just come through the artsVest program. London is one of 15 Ontario communities to be awarded the artsVest matching grant opportunity over the next four years thanks to funding support from business members of Business for the Arts as well as the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Ontario Ministry of Culture... According to their website, artVest is a matching incentive program run by Business for the Arts, which is designed to stimulate business investment in arts, culture, bolster municipal cultural plans and help develop the creative economy in the city."
Mark Spowart, The Londoner, March 18, 2010 | weblink
St. John's, NL: The Rooms receives $2.5 million from Husky Energy
"The Rooms Corporation in St. John's announced [March 4] a major corporate gift of $2.5 million from Husky Energy - the largest gift ever presented to a cultural institution in Atlantic Canada. To mark the contribution, The Rooms fourth level museum gallery will be named The Husky Energy Gallery... Upon completion of The Husky Energy Gallery, the 5,600 square-foot museum space will present a semi-permanent exhibition titled the Cultural Tapestry of Newfoundland and Labrador (Cultural Tapestry exhibition)."
The Telegram, March 4, 2010 | weblink
See also: 'Husky donates $2.5M to The Rooms in St. John's', CBC News
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SK: New provincial cultural policy announced
"[On March 17], the Government of Saskatchewan announced the first cultural policy in more than 25 years. Pride of Saskatchewan: A Policy Where Culture, Community and Commerce Meet outlines the principles and priorities that will guide the development of the arts, culture and heritage sector in Saskatchewan... [and] is a framework that aligns culture, community and commercial activities to maximize on the social and economic benefits of culture. At its heart is an idea that collaboration around common goals and the synergy it creates is key to strengthening the sector. As a planning and decision-making resource, it will help focus and further strengthen Saskatchewan's already vibrant culture. It aims to reflect and foster culture as defined by people and communities of all types, inclusive of First Nations and Métis people, small towns, big cities and the culture sector. Pride of Saskatchewan responds to more than 25 years of cultural policy discussions. Also released [March 17] was Moving from Reflection to Action: Towards a Cultural Policy for Saskatchewan, a summary document presenting the results of research and public dialogue which supported the development of the policy, including the Community Dialogue sessions. Both documents are available on-line at www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca."
News Release, Government of Saskatchewan, March 17, 2010 | weblink
Funding cut for B.C. arts, culture, environmental and sports groups for adults
"School playgrounds, environmental groups and adult-based arts, culture and sports associations won't receive any grant money from the B.C. government this year, under new funding rules announced [March 8]. The changes, spurred by the province's decision to again cut the amount of gambling revenue money it gives to community groups, are expected to affect hundreds of charities and non-profit groups across B.C., from wildlife refuges to art galleries and adult hockey teams... The government will distribute $120 million in gaming grants to more than 6,000 community groups this year, which represents a $36-million drop from 2008-09. It's also one of the lowest levels in the past 10 years, since the government started keeping records."
Rob Shaw, The Vancouver Sun, March 9, 2010 | weblink
See also: 'B.C. funding cuts prompt legal threats', CBC News
'BC government returns some charity money, but not for adults', TheTyee.ca
'Money restored not enough, arts groups say', The Globe and Mail
'Cutting gaming grant cash is a bad move', Canada.com
'Reality Check: Arts Funding Cut by BC Budget', Alliance for Arts and Culture
GG awards announced for visual and media arts
"A glass sculptor, a Haida artist, a filmmaker and a pioneering director of a Baffin Island artists' co-op are amongst the recipients of this year's Governor General's awards for visual and media arts. The winners, who each receive $25,000, were revealed on [March 9] by the Canada Council for the Arts in Montreal... Created in June 1999, the awards recognize career achievements in art, as well as 'outstanding contributions through volunteering, philanthropy and community outreach.' 'These artists open our eyes to all those things, in us and around us, that we look at without really seeing,' Governor General Michaëlle Jean said. The hope, with these awards, is two-fold: that the prize money will allow Canadian artists to continue producing high-quality work; and that it will get the public's attention, encouraging people to pay attention to artists they might not see at the galleries -- most of them, after all, not only create impressive work but have fascinating stories to tell."
Vanessa Farquharson, NationalPost.com, March 9, 2010 | weblink
Olympic tourists descend on native sites
"Sales [were] brisk at these Olympic Games for all things First Nations: cedar carvings, Salish weaving, Kwakwaka'wakw silver and masks, drums and high-end Haida clothing. With the Four Host First Nations as the first-ever indigenous Olympics co-hosts, intense promotion by Aboriginal Tourism B.C. and strong native themes at almost all Games events, 'there is a real buzz in the air,' said Sophie Pierre, chair of Aboriginal Tourism B.C. 'Without a doubt, there has been so much interest generated at these Games in aboriginal culture and tourism, we expect very significant economic spinoffs,' said Pierre. 'We have members in every corner of the province, so this will benefit all First Nations over the long term,' said Pierre. Training 28 'trailblazers' as Olympic tour guides, who will take their training all over B.C., has made aboriginal youth keen on tourism careers. Aboriginal cuisine by chefs Andrew George, Arnold Olson and culinary arts instructor Ben Genaille -- from salmon and seafood to Nk'Mip wine and even grilled rattlesnake -- has been featured at parties around the city. But the benefits to the First Nations presence are not just economic..."
Suzanne Fournier, The Gazette, February 19, 2010 | weblink
See also: 'World's biggest potlatch' changing attitudes', Vancouver Sun
Eight area festivals receive thousands in Celebrate Ontario grants
"Eight festivals and events in the Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock riding will benefit from $139,898 in grants announced [March 15] by the province. Among the recipients are 4th Line Theatre, which received $42,200 and the Buckhorn Fine Art Festival, which received $5,960. Both organizations said they received the grant amount they applied for. The Celebrate Ontario grants are awarded by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture."
Fiona Isaacson, The Peterborough Examiner, March 16, 2010 | weblink
Ontario Film, TV production soar but risks remain
"Toronto, long a movie stand-in for New York, has led Ontario to an impressive rebound in the cutthroat film and television sector, but a strong Canadian dollar could dull the region's competitive edge. The industry spent nearly C$1 billion in Ontario last year, up 41 percent from 2008 and the highest level since 2002, according to the Ontario Media Development Corp, an agency of the provincial government. The rise reflected a hefty new provincial credit that gives foreign moviemakers a 25 percent tax break on a range of production costs, up from 25 percent on only eligible labor costs previously. But filmmakers say a stronger Canadian dollar could offset some of the gains, as the currency climbs toward parity with its U.S. counterpart."
Claire Sibonney, ABC News, March 4, 2010 | weblink
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Creative solution to housing artisans
"In most cities, artists are what make a neighbourhood unique and exciting places to live, then others move in and gentrify the area, causing housing prices and rents to go up and ultimately the artists are forced out. In fact, the creativity of those who live and work in a neighbourhood is often the calling card condo developers use to help sell their buildings. A new condo development in [Toronto] aims to reverse that process and serve to make sure artists can continue to afford to live and work in the popular community. The Artscape Triangle Lofts is in the Queen West Triangle area close to the Theatre Centre, Gladstone Hotel, Drake Hotel, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) and the largest concentration of art galleries in Toronto. The Triangle Lofts comprise the first three floors of the 18-storey Westside Gallery Lofts condominium development.'There's a tired old story about artists and gentrification told in every urban centre all over the world,' says Tim Jones, president and CEO of Artscape. 'It's usually told with the same sad lament that casts artists as the hapless victims of this gentrification process they've helped spark.'"
Jennifer Brown, Yourhome.ca, March 13, 2010 | weblink
Cultural system needs revamping
"Canada's arts community needs to champion education and participation or risk further decline, a senior arts administrator told a Winnipeg seminar audience on [March 15]. Simon Brault, the vice-chairman of the Canada Council and CEO of the National Theatre School, said that the old model of lobbying governments for increased funding based on the arts' economic impact is a doomed strategy. 'We need more popular support,' Brault said. 'Popular support is much less tangible but more powerful.' Brault, who is based in Montreal, was the keynote speaker at a day-long colloquium mounted by Arts and Cultural Industries Manitoba, a non-profit body that helps arts workers sustain careers... Everywhere in the western world, Brault said, arts funding levels have been in decline, as has been attendance at traditional fine arts events. The only way to reverse these figures, he said, is to encourage participation in the arts, which will lead to more long-term public support. 'We need to rethink how our cultural system works,' he said."
Morley Walker, Winnipeg Free Press, March 16, 2010 | weblink
Olympics profoundly transform downtown Vancouver
"The Olympics came with a lot of hype, and culturally, lived up to it... downtown Vancouver turned into a big street party as up to 150,000 people per day flooded into the core to wander around, take in the sights and check out the many cultural events. 'Downtown feels like a downtown should,' said heritage expert John Atkin. 'It's busy, it's crowded, it's active all hours of the night and everyone is having fun. The best thing is they turned Robson Square into what comes as close as we've ever had to a civic square'... The question is, can they keep the vibe going, post-Olympics, or will downtown revert back to what critics have dubbed a "no fun" zone?"
John Mackie, The Vancouver Sun, February 26, 2010 | weblink
See also: 'Olympic visitors also lined up to view art', CBC News
'CULTURAL OLYMPIAD: The lure and the legacy', Vancouver Sun
'Taking stock of Vancouver's Cultural Olympiad', National Post
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UK: Government raises curtain on £600,000 creative bursaries scheme to help talented graduates find work in the arts
"Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Culture Minister Margaret Hodge today [March 8] announced a two-year grants programme to provide at least 40 internships with established arts companies for graduates from low-income backgrounds. The initial £600,000 programme will begin in September and be managed by the Jerwood Foundation. The pilot scheme announced today will make it easier for talented creative young people, with an arts degree, to find jobs in a market where unpaid internships are common, and those from low income backgrounds are often at a disadvantage."
Department for Culture, Media and Sport, March 8, 2010 | weblink
UK: North East family learns the value of art
"A north east family have endured a week without art as part of the Arts Council's efforts to demonstrate that people take part in lots of art throughout their daily lives, sometimes without realising it - and just how important art is to a full life. Fiona Usher and her daughters Julia and Amber agreed to keep a video diary as they were challenged to live without art for a week. From flute lessons to drawing and reading, the family had to go without any arts activities, which proved much harder than they anticipated. After the week finished the Usher family took back their books and pens and visited arts venues...
Alison Clark-Jenkins, Director, Arts and Developement, Arts Council England, North East said: 'Our aim is to show that people participate in the arts more often than they might think. 'The film showcases the many ways people can be creative and the real joy that can be had through the arts every day. Here in the region there has been a real cultural shift, we are world leaders in cultural regeneration and that has made a difference to the region's prosperity both financially and culturally. It's great to see how much fun the Usher family had during their art-filled week, and how closely it resembled a 'normal' week for the family.'"
Arts Council England, February 19, 2010 | weblink
UK: Arts figures launch cultural manifesto to uphold spending
"The document, entitled: Cultural Capital: A Manifesto for the Future, claims it is essential that the UK's cultural institutions continue to benefit from public investment, particularly at a time when the eyes of the world prepare to focus on the London 2012 Olympics. Cutting state funding would make poor economic sense and risk denting Britain's 'social and economic recovery' from recession, the manifesto warns. Among the other well-known faces attending the event at the British Museum were musicians Brian Eno and Julian Lloyd Webber, plus dancers from the English National Ballet and Sadler's Wells. Campaign placards declaring ''You can bank on culture'', designed by UK artists including Damien Hirst, Anish Kapoor and Tracey Emin, were waved as the group posed for photographers on the steps inside the British Museum's exhibition space."
Telegraph.co.uk, March 25, 2010 | weblink
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April 24, 2010
Vancouver 2050: A Creative City!
"[T]hree distinguished arts leaders will each present their vision of what Vancouver as a Creative Capital would look like in 2050, with a view to infrastructure, sustainability and the kind of innovation and enrichment of activities that could energize broader community engagement. After those presentations, a high-level panel drawn from the arts, business and social profit sectors will discuss with the speakers the concepts they've presented, and then open the discussion up to include invited arts, business & community leaders and members of the public. Our goal with this discussion is to bring leaders from the arts and business communities together in order to fully imagine Vancouver as a 21st-century Creative City with a correspondingly vibrant creative economy."
Arts Club Revue State, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC | website
May 5 - 6, 2010
Culture Grows Here
"The City of Barrie's Department of Culture will host the first Culture Grows Here event on May 5 and 6. The event is dedicated to bringing together smaller municipalities who are invested in arts and culture while highlighting some of the cultural activities of the near north. Culture Grows Here is an opportunity for urban planners, economic developers, business person and cultural managers to network and share best practices and information. For more information, call Onalee Groves at 739-4220 ext. 4794 or visit the City of Barrie website and click on the Culture Grows Here link."
BarrieAdvance.com, March 4, 2010 | weblink
Save the date: November 4 - 6, 2010
"MY CITY'S STILL BREATHING": a symposium exploring the arts, artists and the city
"The City of Winnipeg has been designated as a 2010 Cultural Capital by the Department of Canadian Heritage. As part of the Cultural Capital program of events the Winnipeg Arts Council will be hosting a symposium which will gather international experts from a wide range of disciplines to deliberate and debate the current and future relationships of art and design to city-making. The documentation of this symposium, entitled "My City's Still Breathing," will be published as a Cultural Capital Legacy Event - an important contribution to urban development in Canada."
Winnipeg, MB | website
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Individual Donors to Arts and Culture Organizations in Canada in 2007
Hill Strategies Research, Inc., February 25, 2010 | weblink
The 30th report in the Statistical Insights on the Arts series from Hill Strategies Research, provides a picture of cultural fundraising in 2007 based on a survey of a representative sample of individual Canadians."
See also: 'Few Canadians give to the arts', CBC News
Understanding the Creative Workforce: A study of artists and arts practice
Simon Fraser University - Centre for Policy Studies on Culture and Communities and Curtin University of Technology, March 2010 | weblink
"We are a group of researchers who think art and artists make a difference in peoples' lives. The recent global economic downturn has impacted many people in different parts of the world. Artists have been hit especially hard, not only through government budget cuts, but also through decline of personal revenues. This may or may not be true in your case. That's why we would like to hear your story. In this survey, you will see a significant number of open-ended questions that allow you to express your experience in your own words rather than forcing you to simply select options from a pre-defined list. There are a number of close-ended questions as well that should speed up the process of completing this survey. We know you are busy, but your experience is important. By downloading this survey, you can work on it at your own pace, saving it to your hard-drive to complete at any time. As a way of saying thank-you, we will enter all participants into a draw to win an Apple iPod. As well, we will make available to you a report highlighting the survey findings, upon request."
Come as You Are: Informal Arts Participation in Urban and Rural Communities
National Endowment for the Arts, March 2010 | weblink to PDF
"Attendance at performing arts events and art museums is greater in urbanized areas. However, urban and rural residents generally participate in the "informal arts" (activities often unaffiliated with for-profit and nonprofit arts organizations) at similar rates."
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Copyright 2010, Creative City Network of Canada. All Rights Reserved. Please post and/or distribute. When reprinting Creative City News, please give appropriate credit.
All content provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Information contained in this newsletter has been provided by external sources. Links are provided for convenience purposes only. The Creative City Network is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of the information supplied.
Creative City News is published by the Creative City Network of Canada. The Creative City Network connects municipal cultural staff across Canada, enabling this community of practice to share information and expertise, to support one another, and to be more effective in nurturing the cultural development of our communities.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage and all member municipalities.
Editors: Kelsey Hicks and Célyne Gagnon
Translation: Célyne Gagnon
General Manager: Katherine Clark
For more information and list of Board of Directors: creativecity.ca
To send comments, questions, press releases and news items, contact us here: creativecity.ca/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=1&Itemid=283
The newsletter is archived on our website at: creativecity.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=272
Please feel free to forward or sample from this publication – just let us know so that we can track our success! Contact us here: creativecity.ca/index.php?option=com_contact&task=view&contact_id=1&Itemid=283
ISSN 1710-1824
Next issue: April 2010
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