On Arts and Culture
Victoria’s arts community is incredibly vibrant, and is a critical contributor to the economic and cultural wealth of our community. The local economic activity generated by the greater Victoria arts and culture sector in 2010 was $127 million in net income (GDP) activity*. This is an astounding economic driver, and we must pay attention to fostering a local environment that will sustain and grow this sector.
Victoria’s new Official Community Plan and Economic Development Strategy recognize the value of arts and culture to Victoria’s future. Let’s get started activating those plans, and have a conversation with our community about how best to proceed.
One start, perhaps, is with a few choice projects that could infuse the community with exciting new opportunities for performance, creation and enjoyment.
How about a new arts complex in the downtown? We already have the incredible Royal and McPherson theatres, but I believe our arts community can support and would thrive with a new collaborative multi-use facility. Perhaps including the Art Gallery, which needs more, better, high tech display and storage space for its formidable collection. And perhaps also with the public library, bursting at its current well-worn seams.
Or how about a foundation for the arts in Victoria, managed by the city, but contributed to by arts aficionados and benefactors. Victoria might seed the foundation (perhaps working in partnership with the Victoria Foundation) while allies and an appreciative public could donate and grow a sustaining fund over the decades.
The Maritime Museum wants to move to the former wax museum and this seems like a natural match – a publicly owned waterfront location with a classic building that is adjacent to the RBCM and the Black Ball ferry terminal. It’s a big project that would benefit from multiple uses (think retail, food, beverage etc.) and partnerships, and as the proposals fly one hopes that there is a willingness to talk about those opportunities and collaborations among potential tenants.
These are just three ideas that could be considered once we align complementary funding from the provincial and federal governments and business. There are many more, worthy of further conversation.
Over the last 15 years, Victoria has redefined itself as a cultural tourist destination and, with a little imaginative support, will continue to attract tourists, artists and art consumers. We are solidifying our brand as a place where young music, dance and theatre acts are born, where arts festivals are presenting cutting edge events and where museums are interactive experiences that amaze and challenge.
Thriving arts and culture experiences bring hip, educated, exciting people to Victoria, where they buy art and cultural experiences, create memories, witness opportunity – and buy homes, build families and become part of a rich community. We need them, and their contributions to the social and economic future of a diverse Victoria.
* See the CRD’s recent report on the local economic value of arts and culture, at http://www.crd.bc.ca/arts/documents/ArtsCultureEconomicActivityReportSept29.pdf
