Consultation has concluded
  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    2024-2027 Strategic Plan

    The Arts and Culture Support Service 2024-2027 Strategic Plan has now been finalized and approved by the Arts Commission. Informed by community knowledge, related CRD strategies, staff expertise and an updated vision and mission, the plan will guide our efforts over the next four years.

    CRD Arts & Culture Support Service 2024-2027 Strategic Plan (PDF)

    The CRD Arts and Culture Support Service staff, along with the Arts Commission and Arts Advisory Council would like to extend our sincere thanks to the members of the arts community who contributed their knowledge and perspectives throughout the engagement period that shaped this strategic plan. Thank you also to the volunteers and event organizers who made the Arts Champions Summit possible.


  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    The What We Heard Report

    From February to May 2023, the Capital Regional District (CRD) gathered feedback and facilitated discussions about community needs and aspirations to ensure that the new strategic plan for the Arts and Culture Support Service will be informed by community knowledge. The engagement process consulted with local artists, audiences, representatives of non-profit organizations, rural arts leaders, and staff from other government agencies. The multipronged consultation approach included focus groups, events, and online surveys.

    The What We Heard report is the product of that engagement, and takes a comprehensive approach to reflecting the feedback received from the community in a transparent way.

    View the full What We Heard Report PDF here.

  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Thank you for attending!

    The 2023 Arts Champions Summit is a wrap!

    80 people attended in person and many more online. There was a tremendous level of engagement. Many new connections were made and new paths forwards for the Arts and Culture Support Service were explored.

    A huge thanks to Brianna Bear for providing a traditional welcome, the presenters for bringing forward their Game Changer projects to share with the sector, and to Marianne Alto for emcee-ing the event. Also a big shout out to the Baumann Centre for hosting the event and being so thoughtful in helping the CRD organizers weave accessibility into as many facets of this Summit as possible.

    On this page, there are now photos posted of the event (thank you to our volunteers photographers, Dan Russek and Matilde Cervantes Navarrete) as well as the PowerPoint, including the presenters' slides.

    Staff will be reviewing and compiling all the input from the engagement activities at this event, as well as the online survey, into the What We Heard Report. To follow the next steps of the engagement, follow the main Get Involved page for Developing the CRD Arts and Culture Strategic Plan.

  • You cannot leave comment in this blogpost unless you are a part of the project panel.

    Summit Agenda

    2023 Arts Champions Summit: Agenda

    Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Baumann Centre and online

    Emcees: Marianne Alto, Chair of the CRD Arts Commission and Chris Gilpin, Manager of CRD Arts & Culture

    10:30am
    Arrival

    10:45am - 12:20pm
    Welcome
    Opening Remarks

    Marianne Alto, Chair, CRD Arts Commission

    Community Presentations- Game Changers
    • Isaac Thomas, Executive Director, Belfry Theatre
      Bringing in community to make a creative space
    • Caitlin Pencarrick Hertzman, Curator and Produce, Active/Passive
      Making your Mandate Mandatory
    • Eli Hirtle, Curator, Indigenous and Contemporary Art, Open Space
      “Online/On land” how getting outside and learning from the land informs our artistic practice
    • Britt Small, Co-Director and Amanda Butler, Atomic Vaudeville
      Animating Public Spirit: Leadership that Amplifies an Artist Led Culture, Actualizing Creators as the Voices of a Vibrant Community
    Engagement activity
    Discover, Dream, Design

    12:20 – 12:50pm
    Lunch

    12:50 – 2:00pm
    CRD Presentation

    Chris Gilpin, Manager, CRD Art & Culture
    Where we've been, Where we're going
    Engagement Activity
    Learning from Collective Knowledge

    2:00pm

    		 DEPARTURE