This is an excerpt from an email alert I sent to my networks in the creative community earlier this week. The ‘troops’ rallied and spoke eloquently on behalf of this keystone project, we continue to advocate and the decision is on Tuesday April 7 09 at the regular Council meeting:
Vancouver City Council considers cutting implementation of Cultural Plan
At last week’s Council meeting, City staff presented a report on recommendations for ways to increase revenue and cut expenses (a response to the economic downturn and resulting drop in City revenues). Informing these recommendations was a consultation done with citizens in January using various means, including a Mayor’s forum. Included as one of the recommended cuts – considered a low priority project (based on this public input) – is the implementation of the Cultural Plan, which this year includes the Facilities Plan and the Cultural Tourism Strategy.
Council’s decisions “in principle” regarding the 2009 Interim Operating Budget were referred to a Special Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets meeting on March 31, 2009, in order to hear from speakers. Subsequently, Council’s confirmation of those decisions will be made at its Regular Meeting on April 7, 2009.
Anyone who can go to the public meeting and, especially, anyone who is willing to get on the speaker’s list and let Council know the economic importance and community impact of moving this project forward (and the negative consequences of stopping or delaying it) would be absolutely key.
The Report itself can be found on the city’s website at www.vancouver.ca
FROM page 6 of the Interim Budget:
Project Contracts & Carry forwards $2.2M 0.41%
A major portion of projects and contracts for each Department was reviewed to determine overall priority. Overall, $2.2 million of projects/contracts/carry forwards have been determined to be of lower priority. The major savings ($1.4M of $2.2M) relate to three projects – the Ambassador Program, Cultural Tourism, and Cultural Plan Implementation. The remaining projects are under $100K in savings each.
I think we all agree that the Cultural Plan, including the Facilities Plan and the Cultural Tourism Strategy, is a critical element in a city-wide economic development strategy and will help build local sustainability as well as the environment within which Cultural Tourism and other ‘attractors’ can flourish. Times are tough and perhaps some reduction must be made, but we must rally and speak loud and clear to save the ‘habitat development’ that will support culture-led regeneration and creative economic development in Vancouver.
The plan is not simply a ‘feel-good’ social support system for artists and nonprofit arts groups, but an investment in the very core knowledge capital and creative enterprise of a local and global economy, and a creative city. This is not a sideline, but an essential consideration, particularly when we see today a second (and third) Cruise Line pulling out of Vancouver to board their tourists in Seattle. This blow to the economy will only be exacerbated by scrapping the development of the Cultural Tourism strategy.