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2014-2020 Cultural Plan for a Creative Nanaimo

Council’s 2012-2015 Strategic Plan identified “Cultural Vitality” as one of the four pillars of Sustainability. The Cultural Plan for a Creative Nanaimo recognizes culture, creativity and innovation as important for building city and community, and sustainable community planning. 

  • Progress

    Phase 1 (Spring 2012): Identifying current cultural assets and resources

    The first phase began in early 2012 identifying our current cultural assets and resources. These assets and resources, which are depicted on a cultural map, shows the distribution of cultural resources across the city. This cultural map identifies strengths and weaknesses and was a first step in developing the Cultural Plan. 

    Phase 2 (Summer/Fall 2012): Visioning / Community Engagement / SWOT Analysis (identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)

    Phase 2 focused on community and stakeholder engagement. Feedback was received from city staff, commissions, committees and city council, as well as an extensive list of community stakeholders. General public input was also received through forums, workshops, surveys, open houses and interviews. All open houses and public engagement opportunities were well advertised in the newspaper, in the recreational and cultural facilities, on local radio and through social media.

     

    Phase 3 (Spring 2013): Plan Preparation and Adoption

    The draft Cultural Plan was prepared in Phase 3 and presented to both internal and external stakeholders and the public for feedback. Two open houses will be held (one in the fall of 2013 and another in January 2014) where the plan will be presented the plan to the public for further input.

    Phase 4: Plan Approval and Implementation

    In the final phase, the draft was then presented to the Nanaimo Cultural Committee, the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission and for adoption by Nanaimo City Council. Implementation of the new Nanaimo Cultural Plan will guide Nanaimo’s creative city planning to 2020 and beyond. The Cultural Plan was developed by city staff with assistance from a “Culture Planning Technical Team” made up of professional cultural managers from The Port Theatre, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo Museum, TheatreOne, Vancouver Island Symphony, Crimson Coast Dance Society, CVI Centre for the Arts Nanaimo, and Nanaimo Conservatory of Music, as well as two members of the Cultural Committee. Gord Hume, a culture planning consultant, also provided professional advice and input into the plan.

  • Documents
  • Details

    To understand the process and the reasoning behind developing a cultural plan it is important to know what culture is and what it means to take on municipal cultural planning.

    What is “Culture”?

    Culture is what defines us as a community and a people. It is about our history, our values and beliefs and evolves over time. It is central to our identity. Our culture is what makes our city unique, distinctive and vibrant. It is everything that enriches our lives. Culture is about quality of life and pride of place and makes our city look and feel the way it does. Culture is why people love where they live.

    What is “Municipal Cultural Planning”?“

    "We must put cultural and place at the center of building Canadian communities”

    (External Advisory Committee on Cities and Communities, Harcourt Commission)

    Municipal cultural planning is a powerful tool for building local economies. It is about “Quality of Life” & “Quality of Place” It recognizes the importance of culture and quality of place as a major driver in building prosperous and successful cities. It is about leveraging cultural assets and resources in order to offer residents a quality lifestyle that makes our city a desirable place to live. It establishes cultural vitality as an important “Pillar of Sustainability” placed equally alongside environmental, economic and social dimensions. Municipal cultural planning brings cultural considerations into all aspects of municipal planning and decision making.

    What is "Cultural Mapping"?

    Cultural mapping is a methodical approach to identifying and recording a city's cultural assets and resources, and then putting them on a map for visual display. It identifies strengths and weaknesses and is a first step in developing a municipal cultural plan. It shows the value of investing in cultural assets towards a more creative and unique city.

  • Background

    The 2014-2020 Cultural Plan for a Creative Nanaimo is a community-based planning document that was developed through a public process led by the Cultural Planning Technical Team, comprised of  professional cultural managers and members of the Culture Committee; cultural planning consultant Gord Hume; and city staff.  The community-at-large, stakeholders, Council Advisory Bodies and City Council were engaged throughout the process and asked for feedback throughout.

    Council’s 2012-2015 Strategic Plan identified “Cultural Vitality” as one of the four pillars of Sustainability. This planning document recognises culture, creativity and innovation as important for building city and community, and sustainable community planning.

    The 2012-2015 Strategic Plan balances social, environmental, economic and cultural perspectives to create a successful city. City Council uses the four pillars to guide ongoing commitments and decisions.  The draft 2014-2020 Cultural Plan for a Creative Nanaimo outlines a vision, goals, strategies and actions in four key areas:

    1. Strengthening the Creative Sector.
    2. The Creative Economy.
    3. Connectivity: Connecting People, Communities and Ideas.
    4. Cultural Spaces and Places.

    The Cultural Plan was developed by city staff with assistance from a “Culture Planning Technical Team” made up of professional cultural managers from The Port Theatre, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo Museum, TheatreOne, Vancouver Island Symphony, Crimson Coast Dance Society, CVI Centre for the Arts Nanaimo, and Nanaimo Conservatory of Music, as well as two members of the Cultural Committee. Gord Hume, a culture planning consultant, also provided professional advice and input into the plan.

    Phase 1 (Spring 2012): Identifying current cultural assets and resources

    The first phase began in early 2012 identifying our current cultural assets and resources. These assets and resources, which are depicted on a cultural map, shows the distribution of cultural resources across the city. This cultural map identifies strengths and weaknesses and was a first step in developing the Cultural Plan. 

    Phase 2 (Summer/Fall 2012): Visioning / Community Engagement / SWOT Analysis(identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)

    Phase 2 focused on community and stakeholder engagement. Feedback was received from city staff, commissions, committees and city council, as well as an extensive list of community stakeholders. General public input was also received through forums, workshops, surveys, open houses and interviews. All open houses and public engagement opportunities were well advertised in the newspaper, in the recreational and cultural facilities, on local radio and through social media

    Phase 3 (Spring 2013): Plan Preparation and Adoption

    The draft Cultural Plan was prepared in Phase 3 and presented to both internal and external stakeholders and the public for feedback. Two open houses will be held (one in the fall of 2013 and another in January 2014) where the plan will be presented the plan to the public for further input.

    Phase 4: Plan Approval and Implementation

    In the final phase, the draft was then presented to the Nanaimo Cultural Committee, the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission and for adoption by Nanaimo City Council. Implementation of the new Nanaimo Cultural Plan will guide Nanaimo’s creative city planning to 2020 and beyond. 

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