Creative CityOffice of Cultural Affairs: City of Vancouver

A PROFILE

Creative City

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3

CONTENTS

4 Message from the Mayor

7 Director’s Introduction

8 Arts and Culture in Vancouver

10 The Office of Cultural Affairs

10 Civic Cultural Partners

15 Facility Development and Planning Initiatives

16 Public Art Programs

18 Awards

20 Cultural Grants Programs

22 Collaborations

25 How to Reach Us

City Cultural Objectives

To ensure our future as a creative city, open andaccessible to artists, to the broadest range ofartistic expression, and to the widestparticipation.

City Cultural Goals

To promote a high level of creativity andexcellence in the cultural life of Vancouver.

To promote diversity in the artistic life of thecommunity, including both the professionaland non-professional, the traditional and theinnovative, the established and the aspiring.

To encourage financial and managerialefficiency in the operation of Vancouver’scultural organizations.

To ensure the existence of adequate facilitiesfor the creation and presentation of the arts inVancouver.

To ensure that all Vancouver residents andvisitors, including senior citizens, youth, low-income people, members of ethnic minoritiesand other distinct groups, have opportunitiesto enjoy and participate in cultural activities.

—Adopted by Council on October 27, 1987

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Front cover: Public Dreams Society’s Illuminares. Photo: Dolly Hopkins.

Previous pages: Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Photo: Glen Erikson.

Left: Lola MacLaughlin Dance. Kathleen McDonagh (left) and Susan Elliott(right) in Volio. Photo: David Cooper.

4

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

A truly creative city is a work in progress—innovative, unique, and constantly evolving. As the first major Canadian city designated aCultural Capital of Canada, and with a well-deserved reputation as one of the world’s mostlivable cities, Vancouver is just that kind ofenterprising and dynamic community. And thecity’s arts and culture play a crucial role inmaking us so.

Vancouver’s extraordinary creative sectorstrengthens our city while helping make ourreputation. The richness of the arts enhances ourquality of life as well as our economy. The artsanimate the city for residents and createattractions for visitors.

Our cultural diversity brings exceptional varietyand vibrancy to our arts and culture sector, andstimulates ideas and dialogue in every area ofcivic life. Diversity fuels our worldview, and givesus a distinct perspective on global as well as localissues and events.

In order to sustain the important contributions ofarts and culture to our community, the City ofVancouver actively supports the cultural sectorthrough a range of programs, policies, and

resources, as you will discover in the followingpages. In the companion report, Annual Review,you will see that a wealth of artistic and culturalexperiences is available for the choosing.

Whether you continue to enjoy and support yourfavourites or try something new, my colleagueson Vancouver City Council and I look forward toseeing you in the city’s theatres and art galleries,museums and concert halls, and at festivals andcommunity celebrations. We invite everyone toexperience the city’s unique culture and creativevitality.

Larry W. CampbellMayor

Councillors

Fred Bass Tim LouisDavid Cadman Anne RobertsJim Green Tim StevensonPeter Ladner Sam SullivanRaymond Louie Ellen Woodsworth

Left: New Government ofCanada award recognizing

excellence in arts and culturaldevelopment.

Right: Jabulani performing inGlobal Vibrations, a World

Music Day Celebration at theCommodore, produced byCaravan World Rhythms.

Photo: Vincent Wong.

7

DIRECTOR’S INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the second edition of Creative City.This profile of the City of Vancouver’s ongoingcommitment to arts and culture in ourcommunity may well surprise you with the rangeof partners and projects it reveals.

As you will see, Vancouver’s multi-facetedinvolvement with the cultural sector is notconfined to cultural planners in the Office ofCultural Affairs (OCA). It begins with the Mayorand Council, and includes our fine civic theatresand public library. Even beyond that, culturalinterests are a part of almost every department’smandate, from City managers and engineers, toplanners and park staff. The City’s realunderstanding of how important the arts andartists are to daily life is reflected in the scope ofthis activity.

In Creative City you will find an overview of theactivities of the OCA and our civic partners. Thisreport, published every three years, provides thebig picture of strategic directions, policies, andprograms that are the core of what we do. Theprograms themselves illustrate our commitment

to creativity, diversity, quality, and accessibility.They also reflect the OCA’s mandate for culturaldevelopment. Fundamental to all this is ourbelief that art and culture make essentialconnections within our complex society.

Tucked inside the back cover is the AnnualReview, a companion report providing timelynews on recent initiatives, including a listing ofthe latest cultural investments by the City ofVancouver. Our office also publishes variousprogram-specific brochures, a few of which maybe enclosed.

I invite you to get to know the work of the OCAthrough these publications and by visiting ourweb site: www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/oca. And ifyou haven’t already, I encourage you to discoverhow truly creative a city Vancouver is throughfirsthand experience of the artistic and culturalevents that enliven and enlighten our city all yearround.

Burke TaylorDirector

Left: Lookout by Noel Best and Christos Dikeakos. Photo: Christos Dikeakos.

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Vancouver’s broad range of cultural activitiesprovides a vigorous expression of people andplace. Throughout the city, performances andexhibitions celebrate the diversity of those wholive within our constantly evolving urbanenvironment and give our art its unique identity.Chinese martial arts inform modern dance andJapanese taiko drumming finds common groundwith Spanish flamenco. As artists exploreconnections and make commitments to the multi-faceted communities where they live and work,their art resonates more deeply and strengthensthe bonds between citizens.

Some Vancouver artists are able to bringattention and insight to important local andglobal issues. Through workshops and interactiveperformances conducted in secondary schools,Headlines Theatre has helped young people

consider the problem of bullying and explorepossible solutions. Through a series of publicevents, Opera Speaks, Vancouver Opera hasencouraged community dialogue about socialissues. “Women and War” was the theme of adiscussion arising out of their presentation ofVerdi’s Aïda.

Art animates the city and brings citizens togetherin a shared experience. Public Dreams Societycreates large-scale, outdoor celebrations, such asIlluminares, that attract Vancouverites fromdifferent neighbourhoods. SWARM, an evening ofco-ordinated art gallery openings hosted by thecity’s artist-run centres, is an example of theoutreach activities that encourage everyone—including young people, senior citizens, and thosenew to the arts—to attend a wide range ofcultural events.

ARTS AND CULTURE IN VANCOUVER

Headlines Theatre’s Don't Say a Word. Qing Jian Zeng in foreground with (fromleft to right) Iliana Bonilla, Derek Kwon, Shaun Omaid, Patricia Alducin, andJohn Walker. Photo: David Cooper.

Boca Del Lupa Theatre. Jay Dodge in The Last Stand. Photo: Mima Preston.

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Undoubtedly, Vancouver’s global reputation isgreatly enhanced by its not-for-profit arts andcultural organizations. The VancouverInternational Children’s Festival has been copiedaround the world. The Holy Body Tattoo, a localmodern dance company, tours internationally.The Vancouver Chamber Choir and ElektraWomen’s Choir are two widely acknowledgedleaders in the field of choral music.

Our artists also serve us well when they createknowledge of and passion for the city’s past. InFalse Creek, the Coopers Mews public art projectprovides tangible evidence of earlier times withan installation honouring the cooperage oncefound in the area. Residents and visitors alikeenjoy the five wooden barrels that artist AlanStorey has transformed into an unusual musicalinstrument.

Sometimes, art and the city come together insurprising ways. Bard on the Beach manages tocombine the world of theatre with the world ofnatural beauty Vancouver is known for,presenting Shakespeare in an open-ended tentthat gives audiences a glimpse of our stunningNorth Shore mountains.

As much as the city shapes the arts and culturethat are created within it, arts and culturecontribute to the essence of the city. Quality oflife is a key civic asset, with the “people climate”as crucial as the “business climate” in achievingan energetic, attractive, and exciting place tolive, work, and visit. Art that builds relationshipsbetween people from different communitiescontributes to the health and vitality of all.

BUILDING AND REFLECTING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Ghazal–Persian and Indian Improvisations at the Vogue Theatre, produced by Caravan World Rhythms. Photo: Vincent Wong.

CIVIC CULTURAL PARTNERS

In working to provide a full range of culturalservices and opportunities for artists, residents,and visitors to Vancouver, the Office of CulturalAffairs shares responsibilities with a number ofcivic partners: the Civic Theatres, VancouverPark Board, Vancouver Public Library, andEngineering Services (which co-ordinates servicesto special events and film shoots, as well as thestreet banners program). City-owned facilitiesand public spaces support a wide range of artsand cultural activities, including festivals in theparks, workshops in community centres, andevents in civic theatres.

Vancouver Civic Theatres

The City of Vancouver owns and operates three well-equipped performing arts facilities: the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (2,929 seats), the Vancouver Playhouse (673 seats), and theOrpheum concert hall (2,788 seats). For furtherinformation, contact Vancouver Civic Theatres at604-665-3050 or visit their web site atwww.city.vancouver.bc.ca/theatres.

Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Built by the City in 1959, the Queen ElizabethTheatre (QET) is home to Vancouver Opera andBallet British Columbia, and is the City’s premiervenue for Broadway shows, pop and rockconcerts, opera, and dance, as well as live-broadcast gala award ceremonies.

Vancouver Playhouse

The Vancouver Playhouse, adjacent to the QET,is home to the Vancouver Playhouse TheatreCompany, Friends of Chamber Music, and theVancouver Recital Society. The facility oftenhosts concerts, dance performances, and otherevents by performing arts groups from diversecommunities.

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THE OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS

The Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) advisesVancouver City Council on issues, policies, andstrategies related to arts and culture in the city.OCA develops and manages cultural supportprograms, participates in city planning anddevelopment processes, and undertakes specialinitiatives approved by Council. These activitiesare informed by research and analysis of trendsin Vancouver’s cultural sector and best practicesin other cities.

On behalf of City Council, OCA co-cordinatescivic grant programs that assist large and smallnot-for-profit cultural organizations with thecosts of operations, projects, organizationaldevelopment, and capital expenditures. CulturalAffairs staff also manage the City’s Public ArtProgram, which includes community projects aswell as large-scale public and private developmentinitiatives. Working with other civic departments,OCA participates in the development andupgrading of City-owned and other culturalfacilities through zoning incentives and capitalfunding.

The office promotes a healthy environment for the arts by co-ordinating efforts withneighbouring municipalities and senior levels ofgovernment, undertaking joint projects andfunding partnerships. OCA staff also work closelywith members of Vancouver’s arts communityand the public it serves, disseminatinginformation and consulting on policy, programs,and new initiatives.

11

Orpheum

Originally opened as a vaudeville house onNovember 8, 1927, the Orpheum was, for manyyears, the largest and most opulent theatre on thePacific coast. The City of Vancouver bought thetheatre on March 19, 1974, and, with widespreadcommunity support, undertook a completerestoration of the theatre’s interior. The Orpheumre-opened on April 2, 1977, as the permanenthome of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra andhosts a variety of pop, classical, choral, andchamber recitals.

Major Exhibiting Institutions

The City of Vancouver supports several majorexhibiting institutions that are housed in City-owned or leased facilities and managed byindependent not-for-profit societies. These

institutions have combined operating budgets inexcess of $20 million and receive more than onemillion visitors annually. Some of theseorganizations exhibit and hold in trust for thecitizens of Vancouver the City’s significantcollections of art and artifacts.

Vancouver Art Gallery

Founded in 1931, Canada’s fourth largest publicart gallery maintains and exhibits the City ofVancouver’s considerable fine art collection ofover 7,600 works. Extensive public andeducation programming complement a year-round program of exhibitions. From leading-edgecontemporary to traditional and historical, fromlocal exhibitions to international touring shows,the VAG presents art from diverse artisticpractices and cultural perspectives.

Vancouver Art Gallery. Carr, O’Keeffe, Kahlo: Places of Their Own, June 15 to September 15, 2002. Photo: Courtesy of VAG.

Vancouver Maritime Museum

The principal maritime museum on the Pacificcoast of Canada, the VMM has operated in itscurrent location at Kits Point since 1958. Inaddition to its permanent exhibitions of maritimeart and artifacts, the museum presents temporaryexhibits and provides a variety of activities in theChildren’s Discovery Centre. The St. RochNational Historic Site is one of the museum’s keyattractions along with Heritage Harbour, which ishome to several resident vessels and host tovisiting ships of historical interest.

H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

The Space Centre presents exhibits and provideseducation and outreach programs in the areas ofastronomy, space science, space technology,remote sensing, and earth management. Thefacility includes a planetarium, the GordonSoutham Observatory, the multimedia theatreGroundStation Canada, an interactive exhibitiongallery, and Virtual Voyages, a motion simulator.The permanent exhibits and galleries are housedin a City-owned building shared with theVancouver Museum.

Arts, Science and Technology Centre:Science World

ASTC Science World hosts exhibits, theatrepresentations, and public programs that oftencombine science and the arts by using art andartists to present creative learning experiences.Exhibits and programming also focus uponinteractive, hands-on family education. ScienceWorld’s ReGeneration plan to renew the facilityand exhibits continues with the opening of thenew permanent exhibition galleries—Kidspace,Our World, and Eureka!—as well as the high-definition Weyerhaeuser Science Theatre.

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Vancouver Museum

Canada’s largest civic museum tells the story ofVancouver’s past, present, and future. Foundedin 1894, the museum serves as custodian of theCity’s extensive collections in natural history,archaeology, ethnology, and Asian arts. Themuseum is engaged in a major revitalizationproject and has recently opened the Joyce WalleyLearning Centre and the 1950s Gallery. Themuseum also has an active temporary exhibitionsprogram and public programs for adults andchildren of all ages.

Top: H.R. MacMillan Space Centre/Vancouver Museum. Photo: Lam Wong.

Bottom: Science World. Photo: Courtesy of ASTC Science World.

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Short-term projects are designed to provide alasting legacy—whether new understandings ofcreative processes or an artwork that remains inthe community. In keeping with the Board’s artspolicy to further community cultural development,additional projects with community groups andagencies are initiated and supported annually.For more information on Park Board programs,contact staff at 604-257-8496, or visit therecreation division web site atwww.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks.

Vancouver Public Library

With its landmark Central Library and its 21neighbourhood branches, the Vancouver PublicLibrary is the second largest public librarysystem in Canada. Close to 65% of city residentsare cardholders and more than 9.1 million itemsare borrowed annually. The library is a well usedcultural resource: the Literature Division has anoutstanding Canadian collection in addition toworld prose, poetry, and drama publications; theFine Arts and Music Division has extensivematerials to serve musicians, artists, dramatists,and other professionals as well as the public. TheCentral Library hosts free author readings,exhibits art in the Moat Gallery, attracts 30,000visitors to the Word on the Street book fair, andbrings the entire city together to read and discussa single book in its “One Book, One Vancouver”initiative.

Board of Parks and Recreation

The Park Board supports cultural activities andprovides a number of arts facilities, including the Roundhouse. The Roundhouse is the firstCommunity Arts and Recreation Centre inVancouver, providing purpose-built performanceand exhibition spaces, specialized program staff,and a dedicated arts budget, as well as the socialand recreational programs available in mostcommunity centres. The Roundhouse achieves itsunique mission of finding creative ways tointegrate the arts, community culture, and sportsthrough collaborations and residencies withdance, theatre, and music companies, and withan extensive exhibition program. It is also animportant venue for festivals and professionalperforming arts presentations that serve a city-wide audience.

The Park Board also provides a range of smallerarts facilities to the community, such as theMoberly and Jericho Arts Centres, KitsilanoShowboat, Malkin Bowl, and Haywood Bandstand.The extensive parks system offers spectacularsettings for major arts festivals, many communitycelebrations, and both temporary and permanentpublic art installations.

The Artist in Residence Program is funded by thePark Board and community centre associations tosupport artists working in community contexts.

Karen Jamieson Dance. Henry Daniel and Olivia Thorvaldson in Percy at the Dancing onthe Edge Festival. Fabric design: Clayton Gladstone. Photo: Chris Randal.

Chio-Tian Puppet Dance Troupe at the Taiwanese Cultural Festival. Photo: Vicky Lin.

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FACILITY DEVELOPMENT ANDPLANNING INITIATIVES

Appropriate cultural facilities are essential to anycommunity and key to the economic health ofany city. These facilities serve residents, attracttourists, maintain businesses, and enhance ourquality of life. However, ensuring access toappropriate and affordable facilities ischallenging, especially in Vancouver’s rapidlydeveloping real estate market.

To ensure that our artists and arts organizationscan afford to remain part of our city, the Officeof Cultural Affairs works to sustain and enhanceVancouver’s cultural and social infrastructurethrough the following:

The three civic theatres already mentioned inthis reportCity-owned land and buildings (the FirehallArts Centre, Heritage Hall, Vancouver EastCultural Centre, and Pacific Cinecentre,among others), which are leased at nominalrent Live/work studio spaces for individual artists,including the 30-unit CORE Artists Live/WorkCo-op and the studios for the City’s artistresidency awardsA capital grants program that allows not-for-profit social service and cultural organizationsto purchase facilities or to renovate andrefurbish facilities not owned by the CityFacility development and project management

The Office of Cultural Affairs also participates inCity planning processes to secure access tofacilities through Community Use Agreements.These include agreements that provide access atminimal cost to indoor facilities such as UBC atRobson Square and to outdoor spaces such as thePlaza of Nations and the Wall Centre Plaza. Inaddition, the office finds creative ways to addresscultural and social needs through innovative

zoning incentives for new developments. Thisincludes a density bonus program that allows theCity, in partnership with private developers, tocreate affordable cultural or social servicefacilities at no cost to taxpayers.

Major projects currently in development withsupport from the City include the VancouverInternational Film Centre, the VancouverMuseum Revitalization Project, the Coal HarbourArts Complex, the Vancouver East CulturalCentre Upgrade, and the Inter-urban ArtsProject.

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Above: Vancouver New Music. Jin Hi Kim withkomungo at the Vancouver New Music Festival inOctober 2002. Photo: Camilla Van Zuylen.

Left: Urban Ink Productions. Patricia Idlette inRare Earth Arias. Photo: Tim Matheson.

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PUBLIC ART PROGRAMS

Since 1986, City Council has been providingcitizens with an experience of art in publicplaces. Today, a variety of policies and programsgive contemporary visual artists a role inplanning and development projects that areinitiated or reviewed by the City. Artists areencouraged to create artworks in three generalcontexts that express the spirit, values, vision,and poetry of place that collectively defineVancouver:

Civic parks, buildings, and engineering works Major new private-sector developmentsResidential and neighbourhood settings

Civic Public Art

The Civic Public Art Program typically pursuesartist commissions that humanize the builtenvironment, reinforce civic values, acknowledgecommunity histories, and animate public space.Artists undertake projects for civic buildings,parks, public open spaces, or infrastructureelements (streets, bridges, retaining walls). Forexample, artworks incorporated into the new Cityworks yard on National Avenue in Strathconaoffer insights into the day-to-day workings ofcivic infrastructure and the workers whomaintain it.

Private Development Public Art

The Private Development Public Art Programseeks artist commissions that add distinction,identity, artistic profile, and a marketing edge to new developments. Major new privatedevelopments pursuing rezoning are required toallocate funds to public art in publicly accessibleareas. In recent years, major commissions havetransformed public areas of Coal Harbour andthe north shore of False Creek. Two recentadditions are Clay Ellis’s sculptures on West

Pender Street, Curtained Skies, and notedAmerican artist Diana Thater’s new light work onthe Shaw Tower in Coal Harbour.

Community Public Art

The Community Public Art Program fosterscollaborations between artists and communitieson projects that build community pride,cohesion, and identity. Community memberscontribute their ideas, their issues, and theirfavourite sites; artists contribute their designskills, their art-making experience, and theirintuitive connection to place. Notable examplesinclude Community Voices/Community Walls, alarge, multi-layered mosaic work mounted on theretaining wall at the east end of Clark Park, andRenfrew Ravine Sanctuary, a welcomingpathway, garden, and stone labyrinth enhancingthe entrance to the ravine.

Public Art

The Public Art Program is managed by theOffice of Cultural Affairs in partnership withother City departments. A Council-appointedvolunteer Public Art Committee, consisting ofartists, curators, urban designers, andcommunity representatives, gives policy directionas well as practical advice on programimplementation to City Council, staff, artists, andcitizens. Juries of artists and communityrepresentatives select artists for specific projects.More information about this and other programs,as well as artist opportunities, project updates,walking tours, and a registry of new and historicworks, can be found atwww.city.vancouver.bc.ca/publicart.

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Right: Vancouver Recital Society. The MusicalInstrument Petting Zoo at the Vancouver Chamber

Music Festival. Photo: Chick Rice.

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AWARDS

City of Vancouver Artist StudioAwards

Two unique civic awards are designed torecognize professional artists for their work,while providing them with appropriate andaffordable spaces for its creation. Established in1996, the City of Vancouver Artist ResidencyStudio Award provides rent-free occupancy of aCity-owned artist live/work studio for a period ofthree years. The City of Vancouver ArtistLive/Work Rental Studio Award, set up severalyears later, provides a low-income professionalartist with low-cost live/work studioaccommodation for a three-year term.

Artist Residency Studio Award

1996–1999 Teresa Marshall1999–2002 Steven Shearer2002–2005 Myfanwy MacLeod

Artist Live/Work Rental Studio Award

1999–2002 Alison McTaggart2002–2005 Alex Morrison

City of Vancouver Book Award

In recognition of Vancouver’s vibrant publishingscene and abundance of writing talent, the Citypresents an annual cash award to the author ofan outstanding book that contributes to anappreciation and understanding of Vancouver, itshistory, and the achievements of its residents.City Council established the award in co-operation with members of Vancouver’s bookcommunity in 1989. Works of fiction and non-fiction published anywhere in the world areeligible, and annually appointed juries select thewinners. Award recipients have addressed manyaspects of Vancouver, including its trees,landmarks, and personalities, and the stories ofits diverse communities.

Right: Community Walls/Community Voices byRichard Tetrault, with Dan Bushnell and

Jerry Whitehead. Photo: Barbara Cole.

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CULTURAL GRANTS PROGRAMS

Since the City of Vancouver’s first grant for asummer concert series in 1893, it has recognizedthat a thriving not-for-profit cultural sector—including theatres, concert halls, alternatecinemas, museums, and galleries—is acornerstone of a vital, sustainable, and creativecity. A healthy not-for-profit sector also plays a key role in the overall cultural ecosystem,nurturing the talents of individual artists andsupporting the artistic innovation that benefitscommercial cultural enterprises and industriessuch as sound recording, filmmaking, publishing,and new media.

The City’s grant programs contribute over $6.8million annually to local arts and culturalorganizations. Taken together, these programshelp ensure that people of all ages, backgrounds,

and walks of life can enjoy a broad spectrum ofactivities in the performing, exhibiting, media,and literary arts.

Operating Assistance

Three civic grant programs help sustain anddevelop the established organizations thatprovide the infrastructure and stability neededfor a healthy arts community. Annual OperatingGrants are available to large and smallorganizations that create, produce, or displayartists’ work, or provide services to thoseorganizations. Assistance to the major exhibitinginstitutions described earlier in this report takesthe form of grants for operating expenses and the provision of City-owned or leased land andbuildings at a nominal rent. Theatre Rental

Electric Company’s The One That Got Away. Performers: Kendra Fanconi,Jonathon Young, Marvin Kaye, Courtenay Dobie, Tracey Smith, Alan Zinyk, Judi Closkey, and Jan Kudelka. Photo: Tim Matheson.

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Grants contribute ongoing support to performingarts groups that regularly use the civic theatres,among them Ballet British Columbia, theVancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra, and theVancouver Playhouse Theatre Company.

Project Assistance

Project Grants are the City’s main form ofassistance for new and developing groups, as wellas for those that work on a project-by-projectbasis. Civic funding in this category is primarilyfor artistic initiatives that break new ground.This includes experimenting with new art formsand creative processes, introducing work fromvarious cultures, and reaching out to diverseaudiences in our pluralistic city.

Diversity Initiatives

This ground-breaking program was establishedin 1998 in response to community consultationsthat indicated a need for more resources to buildartistic capacity in Vancouver’s distinctcommunities, especially those defined by race,ethnicity, and disability. Focusing on theperforming and visual arts, Diversity InitiativesGrants support mentorships and internships thatfoster artistic leadership, developmental projectsby arts groups from distinct communities, andcross-cultural artistic projects and residencies.

Organizational Development

Organizational change and renewal have becomeincreasingly important for the not-for-profitcultural sector as it responds to many challenges,including demographic shifts, rising costs, andthe difficulty of finding and keeping skilledadministrators. To help arts and culturalorganizations assess organizational needs anddevelop strategies for addressing them, the Citypartners with other funding agencies in the ArtsPartners in Organizational Development (ArtsPOD) grant program. Grants are also availabledirectly from the City for upgrading managementskills and for the start-up costs of innovative andcollaborative audience development projects.

Transit Shelter Advertising

In keeping with its mandate to support broadcommunity access to the arts in Vancouver, the City helps arts and cultural organizationsthrough the Transit Shelter Advertising Program,which offers 10% of all bus shelter advertisingpanels to local not-for-profit arts organizations atno cost.

Full Circle: First Nations Performance Society. Beverly Hungry Wolf at the TalkingStick Festival. Photo: Claudia Katz.

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COLLABORATIONS

Art and Engineering

Thanks to civic government’s involvement ineverything from parks to bridges, the Office ofCultural Affairs can participate in partnershipsthat bring the arts into some unlikely places. Anew 10-acre City works yard in Strathcona hasbecome the site of the Public Art Program’s mostextensive collaboration with another Citydepartment, Engineering Services. Projectarchitect Scott Kemp wanted to involve artists inthe development of the handsome new facility,and Engineering Services staff were eager toparticipate. The partners agreed that theartworks should promote pride and ownership inthe new facility, enhance the work environment,draw on the creativity of staff, and reveal theworkings of the City to the public.

Five artists were invited to develop proposals for the site, which houses the equipment andcrews responsible for civic roadworks, lighting,signage, and parking. For the first project, aphotographer encouraged works yard staffers tocapture simple, everyday scenes and objects in anartistic light. The results were overwhelming:more than 600 new and historic images of Citycrews, sites, and services—images that willeventually move from their temporary home onfencing at the old works yard to become a featureat the new yard.

Other projects at the new works yard will seeCity crews and artists collaborating to define theboundaries of the new facility. Richard Prince’swork based on an ancient road roller will markone corner, and Greg Snider’s “slice” ofunderground workings—sewer and water lines, afire hydrant, an electrical conduit—will markanother.

Canadian Municipalities Connect

Some of the most useful collaborations for theOffice of Cultural Affairs have been with public-sector and private-sector agencies that share theoffice’s arts and culture mandate. These kinds ofcollaborations have resulted in various initiatives,including joint funding programs such as theArts Partners in Organizational Developmentprogram. Most recently, the City has taken aleading role in the development of the CreativeCity Network of Canada/Réseau des villescréatives du Canada. This dynamic newpartnership connects municipal employeesworking on arts, cultural, and heritage policy,planning, and development across the country,enabling them to work more effectively in theircommunities.

Launched at a national conference in Vancouverin 2002, the network builds on the success of theCulture-L listserv, which the Office of CulturalAffairs managed from its inception in 1998. Thenew Creative City Network allows municipalcultural staff across Canada to work together onissues of common concern and to share adviceand knowledge. While meetings and professionaldevelopment sessions allow members to explorecomparative practices in face-to-face settings, theon-line “digital hub” supports various activities,including the work of intermunicipal projectteams. The digital hub also facilitatesinformation sharing by providing:

A growing resource centre of municipalcultural plans, policies, program guidelines,reports, studies, and comparative data andstatisticsA searchable expertise database that can beused as a first point of access to individualswho can help with an issue or situationActive and flexible communication channelsdesigned to address both the ongoing andvariable needs of municipal cultural staff

For more information about this growingintermunicipal partnership, visit the CreativeCity Network web site, www.creativecity.ca.

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Above: Untitled by Al McWilliams. Photo: Al McWilliams.

Following pages: Stan Douglas. Every Building on 100West Hastings (2001). C-print, 486.5 x 119.5 cm.Collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAGAcquisition Fund with the financial assistance of theLouis Comtois Trust). Photo courtesy of Stan Douglasand David Zwirner, NYC. Stan Douglas’s exhibition“Journey into Fear” was held between September 12and November 3, 2002, at the Contemporary ArtGallery.

Back cover: Rumble Productions in association withUrban Ink Productions. Erin Wells (left) and HiroKanagawa (right) in Burning Vision. Photo: Tim Matheson.

Thank you to all the organizations that providedphotographs to help illustrate this report.

How to Reach Us

Tel: 604-873-7487Fax: 604-871-6048E-mail: oca@city.vancouver.bc.ca.Web: www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/oca

© 2003

Mailing AddressOffice of Cultural AffairsCommunity Services GroupCity of Vancouver453 West 12th AvenueVancouver, BC, Canada V5Y 1V4

Office AddressOffice of Cultural AffairsSuite 100–515 West 10th AvenueVancouver, BC, Canada