WE Arts Seeks Committee for Community Arts Spaces Policy

Meeting with WE Arts to form Committee for Community Arts Spaces Policy
Nov. 14, 12 noon (please bring a bag lunch; coffee and tea provided) 
At BC Alliance for Arts + Culture (100-938 Howe St., Vancouver)

The following is excerpted from a release issued by WE Arts.

WE Arts (the West End Arts Society), working in discussion with the development community, the Vancouver Mural Festival and the BC Alliance for Arts + Culture, is looking for people to form a committee of volunteers to lobby the City of Vancouver staff and council to create a Community Art Spaces Policy as part of the Affordable Housing Policy, Cultural Policy, Community Plans and current Housing Reset Program. 

Background: All new buildings in Vancouver must now provide an affordable housing component. WE Arts believes that affordable housing without accessible community space does not adequately address the problems of isolation, loneliness and separation. People need to connect, create and express. 

WE Arts believes the City of Vancouver must implement a Community Art Spaces Policy so that those in affordable housing can gather and create with other local residents. WE Arts also believes that current residents must be included in the future of the West End neighbourhood (and all city neighbourhoods) as we embrace ongoing massive change. 

Inclusion means livability, affordability, connection and involvement in the design of our distinct “villages." Art is key to sustain healthy people, vibrant connected communities and healthy city life.

Supporters of this initiative include the development community, the Vancouver Mural Festival, the BC Alliance for Arts + Culture, and the West End BIA. Together, we want to make a change and ensure community arts amenities are built before artists and citizens are forced out of their homes and neighbourhoods. 

To gain public support, WE Arts proposes an action-based initiative called Paint the Street, an event that would engage artists, arts groups, schools and organizations to paint the streets around City Hall and the Woodward's building in downtown Vancouver, to serve as a visual reminder to city staff, policy makers, and the community at large why art matters. Inspired by the Vancouver Mural Festival, the event would work toward the outcomes of: 1) bringing beautiful art to the streets; and 2) generating a policy for community art spaces in the City of Vancouver.

WE Arts invites you to a meeting on November 14 to get involved on a volunteer basis as part of the working group for this initiative - to develop a Community Level Art Space Policy and coordinate the Paint the Street event in partnership with key organizations. Developers, arts and cultural groups, BIAs, community groups, creative cooperatives, artists, and City of Vancouver staff are all invited.

Please RSVP via email to info@allianceforarts.com to indicate your attendance at the meeting on Tuesday November 14 at 12:00 noon. Please bring a bag lunch (tea and coffee will be provided) to the BC Alliance for Arts + Culture (100-938 Howe Street, Vancouver).

On November 16, WE Arts will meet with senior City of Vancouver staff to explore this policy.

To have your voice included, complete this 90-second survey by 6:00 p.m., November 14, 2017. Thank you.