Towards A BC Cultural Policy Framework
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Seven Community Cultural Roundtables have been held in BC communities in March to kick-start a series of up to 20 such events designed to engage British Columbians in an inclusive conversation about creating a cultural policy framework for our province.
The Alliance for Arts + Culture’s Amanda Peters and Kevin Dale McKeown travelled to Kelowna, Kamloops, Nanaimo, and Duncan to facilitate the discussions, and ArtsBC president Kathy Ramsey conducted Roundtables in Campbell River, Tofino / Ucluelet, and Salt Spring Island. These Roundtables are a continuation of work of the BC Creative Convergence initiative begun by the Alliance at Arts Summit 2013 and continued through the following year.
Roundtables will also take place, through April and May, in Nelson, Penticton, Williams Lake, Prince George, Haida Gwaii, Fort St. John, and Tumbler Ridge, as well as four planned for the Metro Vancouver region.
The outcomes of each Roundtable are being reported back to a committee charged with drafting a Cultural Policy Framework document, which will be presented to the community at Arts Summit 2015, June 18 and 19 at Vancouver’s Roundhouse Community Centre.
“With up to 50 individuals registering for each Roundtable we are confident that the final paper will reflect views heard and issues raised across the province," says McKeown.
“We are receiving a fantastic welcome in each community, and seeing representatives at each Roundtable of every arts, culture, and heritage sector, as well as professional and non-professional artists, educators, and elected officials."
The Community Cultural Roundtables are co-presented by the Alliance and ArtsBC, with each community’s event being co-hosted by the local Community Arts Council and the Roundtable venue. Venues so far have included the Kelowna Art Gallery, the Kamloops Art Gallery, John Barsby School in Nanaimo, the Cowichan Centre for the Performing Arts in Duncan, the Museum at Campbell River, the Ucluelet Community Centre, and Mahon Hall on Salt Spring Island.
To register for a Roundtable near you visit bccreativeconvergence.ca. Metro Vancouver Roundtables will be announced soon in the Alliance News.
