Vancouver’s outdated entertainment bylaws still forbid dancing and live music in some areas – COPE would change that. COPE took a firm stance against cuts to Vancouver’s arts programs, and will remain committed to ensuring funding for Vancouver artists continue. COPE Council Candidate RJ Aquino joined Mayor Gregor Robertson to announce plans to make cultural spaces a priority, streamlining access to city-owned arts facilities and will identify “creative zones” which the city can use zoning powers to support artistic expression. COPE will also create a “Vancouver Endowment for the Arts” modeled after the Canada Council to provide stable funding to Vancouver artists.
@thischrismasson @degrowthvan
I am, first and foremost, an artist. I’ve performed for audiences of all ages across the country. (Search for me on YouTube!) The arts make all of our lives better and is a huge part of any city’s identity. It is tough for artists in Vancouver because, as I’ve discovered first hand, it’s virtually impossible to support yourself with less than a full-time job in this city, which leaves little time for art making. We have multiple proposals to help this and other problems, like reducing property taxes for buildings that are kept as artist workspaces, and allowing entertainment venues throughout the city to add to the vibrancy of our communities and spread economic benefits outside of the City’s core.
Greens know our arts and culture sector is fundamental to our city’s economy, quality of life and livability. We support the “creative city” initiative launched in 2005, but see room for improvement. The bailout to the Vancouver Playhouse points to the need for more open, transparent and equitable engagement and support of Vancouver’s full range of arts institutions. We could expand support for cultural street festivals through, for example, lowering the license fees. We should consider initiatives like Seattle’s “First Thursday Art Walk”. We should re-consider extended pub hours in light of impacts on policing and residential areas.
Vision Vancouver
@visionvancouver
Vision Vancouver will create an artist led arts council to work to consolidate arts funding programs to ensure artists lead a transparent decision making process for granting funds to the community. Vision will also create new cultural spaces and improve access by: under taking a full review to find ways to streamline and improve access to city arts facilities; identify “creative zones” in which by-laws and zoning requirements are used to encourage, and protect creative activity; lead a plan to support the creation of new cultural spaces. Vision Vancouver will facilitate the use of Vancouver School Board, Parks & Recreation Commission and City properties for artist studio space and increase the amount of art, rehearsal and performance studio space available to the arts sector by 10,000 sq feet.
Supporting arts and culture is critical to Vancouver’s future prosperity. Our ambitious plans reflect Vancouver’s stature as an exciting and diverse city full of artists, writers and entertainers. The NPA will award the Vancouver Art Gallery development rights on the entire Cambie Street grounds to create a world-class art gallery downtown, achieve a revenue-generating endowment and repay $40 million to the City of Vancouver. Create a Vancouver Arts and Culture Infrastructure Financing Fund through community amenity contributions (CACs) to support capital investments in local facilities including the Museum of Vancouver, Maritime Museum, proposed Concert Hall and other cultural facilities. Create a Vancouver Arts and Culture Endowment Fund through CACs to support ongoing operating costs for arts organizations. Partner with interested agencies to develop a strategic cultural tourism plan to create a decade of growth in Vancouver’s arts, tourism and entertainment sectors.
Freyja Pri Toor, Independent
@Pri4Parks
My vision of culture’s role in our communities is that of balancing Culture with Nature. Cultures are extremely important and says a lot about who we are as Canadians. The Natives of this land related tales of survivorship and creation in the form of Art. It was through their culture of a Balanced Nature that they have survived for so long. We today, take from our Past, look to the Future and plan for our Now. Especially in Vancouver, where we are so multi-cultured orientated. We have infused our daily living with foods, arts, exercise from other Cultures around the World. In this way we have created a uniquely Canadian Culture that has a wide spectrum of colour. As Commissioner I would see this Vision supported by implanting more Native Cultural Arts and Programs for our children and youth at our Community Centres. Have programs that teach our children how to live a more balanced lifestyle and be accepting of things that are new and different.
My vision of culture’s role in our communities is that of balancing Culture with Nature. Cultures are extremely important and says a lot about who we are as Canadians. The Natives of this land related tales of survivorship and creation in the form of Art. It was through their culture of a Balanced Nature that they have survived for so long. We today, take from our Past, look to the Future and plan for our Now. Especially in Vancouver, where we are so multi-cultured orientated. We have infused our daily living with foods, arts, exercise from other Cultures around the World. In this way we have created a uniquely Canadian Culture that has a wide spectrum of colour. As Commissioner I would see this Vision supported by implanting more Native Cultural Arts and Programs for our children and youth at our Community Centres. Have programs that teach our children how to live a more balanced lifestyle and be accepting of things that are new and different. We would have Multi-cultural Days at the Community Centres for the Residents to come to and learn about the different people in the neighbourhood. Our Western Culture stems from the Greeks and their passion for all things democratic, beautiful and fine. Without which we would be living in chaos. As commissioner, I would see that more arts culture programs were brought back to the Community Centres so that people can learn where we came from and how our current system of government, education and health all revolved out of Culture.