To mark the conclusion of the second annual Vancouver Creative City Conference at the Playhouse Theatre, Mayor Sam Sullivan will release a “to do list” of arts & culture initiatives over the next 30-45 days. It includes:
- approve funding for community celebrations – including annual Pride Parade, Celtic Fest, Chinese New Years Parade, Vaisakhi and Canada Day Fireworks
- promote Vancouver arts & culture on Board of Trade mission to Hong Kong
- support the campaign to keep the CBC Radio orchestra in Vancouver
- encourage Vancouver’s participation in Quebec’s 400th anniversary celebration
- introduce measures the City of Vancouver can support to make 2009 Juno Awards the best ever
- unveil details of first annual Mayor’s Arts Awards
- get final cultural tourism plan to Council for review and vote by end of July
- institute street closures to restore public order to downtown entertainment district
- work to further increase number of taxi licenses by end of 2008
- resume construction on Queen Elizabeth Theatre improvements
The Creative City Conversation is taking place throughout the day today and focused on four items that will help shape a Cultural Tourism Plan that Council can review and approve this summer:
- Facilities Review – including recommendations on how to convert boarded-up buildings to art studio space for students
- Public Art Reviews – including how to leverage over $1 million from Olympic Celebration Fund
- Multi-Year Grants – focused on how to provide increased certainty for community organizations
- Cultural Tourism Strategy – review best ways to allocate and leverage $1.5 million Cultural Tourism Fund and 2010 initiatives
During his address to the Creative Cities Conference, Mayor Sullivan highlighted a number of accomplishments over the past two years, including:
- $60 million for theatre/facility upgrades at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Playhouse Theatre and Pacific Coliseum)
- dramatic increase to arts & culture grant programs
- helped secured provincial funding for art gallery & new East End Cultural Centre
- $10 million for revitalization our historic neighborhoods in Vancouver
- $20 million Olympic Celebration Legacy
- Approved plan to secure the future of BC Place Stadium
- Initiated planning to celebrate Vancouver’s 125th birthday celebration
- Commitment to ongoing consultation with arts & culture community
