Arts development strategy for Calgary launches at livingcreative.ca
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
March 5, 2014
Living a Creative Life: An Arts Development Strategy for Calgary garners 65+ signatories
(Calgary AB) – After facilitating a rigorous 20-month consultation process, Calgary Arts Development officially launched Living a Creative Life: An Arts Development Strategy for Calgary earlier today. The strategy outlines visions and outcomes for the arts in Calgary, divided into five major focus areas:
▪ Creative Communities: Calgary’s communities enjoy access to a rich spectrum of arts experiences.
▪ Centre City Arts District: Calgary’s Centre City radiates creative energy from the core out, making it a destination for Calgarians and visitors alike.
▪ Arts Incubation: Calgary strongly attracts artistic talent to live, work and achieve artistic excellence.
▪ Artistic Exchange: Calgary is regarded as a world-class city because its artists, arts organizations and presenters import and export the highest quality of work on regional, national and international markets.
▪ Youth & Education: Calgary’s youth become highly engaged and innovative citizens as they connect with their communities through the arts.
The outcomes and visions of Living a Creative Life will be achieved through the work of signatories, i.e., organizations that will contribute to one or more tactics outlined in Living a Creative Life and agree to consider the strategy’s overall framework during their own strategic planning. Signatories will also participate in shared measurement activities so that progress towards the strategy’s goals can be tracked. Living a Creative Life has attracted 65 signatories so far, representing a range of groups including arts organizations, civic partners, provincial arts service organizations, creative industries associations and real estate developers. Calgary Arts Development will continue to engage signatories throughout the life of the strategy.
Calgary Arts Development presented the final publication to The City of Calgary’s Standing Policy Committee on Community and Protective Services this afternoon. The committee heard from Living a Creative Life signatories including Calgary Economic Development, International Avenue BRZ, Theatre Calgary and YMCA Calgary, and praised the collaborative nature of the strategy. Calgary Arts Development will present its four-year business plan and budget request, aligned with Living a Creative Life, to The City of Calgary later in 2014.
“Living a Creative Life will serve as a foundation for transforming Calgary through the arts,” says Patti Pon, President & CEO of Calgary Arts Development. “We are gratified at the number and diversity of organizations that have already committed to taking action in alignment with the strategy. Together, we can move the needle on Living a Creative Life’s outcomes and fuel a vital, prosperous and connected city.”
The full strategy and further information is available at livingcreative.ca.
About Calgary Arts Development
Calgary Arts Development plays a leadership role to promote, foster and direct investments that develop the capacity of Calgary’s arts sector to achieve public and artistic impact. As the city’s designated arts development authority, we are a central hub that learns about, promotes, connects, advocates for, and leads strategic initiatives in the arts to animate Calgary as a vibrant cultural centre. Calgary Arts Development allocates municipal funding for the arts provided by The City of Calgary through granting programs that support operations and innovation for more than 190 arts organizations in Calgary.
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Further Information
Cadence Mandybura
Communications Liaison, Calgary Arts Development
Phone: 403.264.5330 ext. 201
Email: cadence.mandybura@calgaryartsdevelopment.com
