The City of Courtenay has unveiled an exciting new Strategic Cultural Plan, termed “Culture Connects Us,” which will shape cultural investments over the next decade. Adopted by the Council on March 12, this blueprint is the result of two years of community engagement involving local residents, arts partners, and diverse equity groups. The plan underscores vital themes of reconciliation and relationship building, with a sharp focus on enhancing arts and culture in Courtenay’s downtown area.
The Strategic Cultural Plan encompasses five pivotal goals: advancing truth and reconciliation through artistic expression, fostering community resilience, ensuring access to and affordability of cultural spaces, and promoting the growth of community arts alongside strategic cultural sector development. Mayor Bob Wells highlighted the community’s profound connection to arts and culture, noting, “We heard loud and clear… how much our residents value arts and culture and the role it plays in connecting us to one another.”
The essence of the plan reflects the sentiment expressed by residents: arts and culture as threads binding the community together through celebration and dialogue. A structured implementation strategy is being established to facilitate the plan’s rollout, focusing on prioritised investments and sustainable partnerships. Immediate priorities include recruiting a culture and events coordinator and assessing the needs of City-owned cultural venues.
Courtenay Council has launched a ten-year Strategic Cultural Plan named “Culture Connects Us,” which aims to prioritise arts and culture. The plan focuses on reconciliation, building community resilience, and providing affordable cultural spaces. Supported by community feedback, it addresses the importance of arts in economic and social terms, with steps for implementation underway, including hiring a culture coordinator.
In summary, Courtenay’s new Strategic Cultural Plan, “Culture Connects Us,” aims to enhance the city’s cultural landscape significantly over the next decade. With a focus on reconciliation, accessibility, and community resilience, the plan not only values local arts but also integrates them as a key component of social well-being and economic development. Effective implementation of the plan is underway, ensuring that art continues to serve as a unifying force in the community.
Original Source: www.comoxvalleyrecord.com
