Making Connections: A Regional Cultural Strategy for Metro Vancouver

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Making ConnectionsA Regional Cultural Strategy
for Metro Vancouver
Creativity and Talent in an Urban
Environment Barcelona, November 11, 2009
Derek Corrigan Mayor of Burnaby Metro Vancouver
Director
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Why Support Cultural Activity?

• Economic Benefits
• Cultural activities have a ripple effect across
  society on human skills and creative capital
• GDP impact of Metro Vancouver's cultural sector
  3.45 billion and 62,000 jobs
• Creative professionals can transform the economy
  of a region, attract business, foster urban
  vitality, and improve the quality of life

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Social Benefits

• Cultural interchange builds
• community harmony
• sense of identity
• sense of pride
• flexible, resilient communities
• good and civil neighbours

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Individual Benefits

• Engagement with cultural expression and creative
  activity

• develops the fulfilled individual
• broadens perspective
• fosters imaginative activity

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Developing a Cultural Strategy that recognizes
culture as

• an important economic and social activity
• integral to the collaborative, total-systems
  approach in planning and decision-making,
• an instrument of social harmony, cohesion and
  economic vitality in a sustainable region.

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Goals of Metro Vancouvers Draft Regional
Cultural Strategy

• Connect arts cultural organizations to the
  public across the region
• Promote regional economic development
• Enhance the livability of the region

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Goal 1 connect arts cultural organizations to
the public

• Central arts and culture calendar
• Funding for the arts and other cultural
  activities
• Work with schools, libraries and other agencies
  in leisure and cultural planning
• Broader use and access to cultural facilities

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Goal 2 Promote economic development

• Cultural tourism
• Promote and participate in cultural festivals
  and celebrations
• Support for incubator studios and production
  facilities
• Collaborations with artists, educational
  institutions and creative and knowledge based
  industries

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Goal 3 Enhance the Livability of the Region

• Continue to develop and maintain parks and
  cultural facilities
• Enhance public art
• Celebrate diversity and fusion
• Build culture into the development of vibrant
  communities and neighborhoods

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Thank you metrovancouver.org