Media Releases 2006

$40,000 TO SUPPORT CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN FOUR B.C. COMMUNITIES

Vancouver, B.C. (December 5, 2006): 2010 Legacies Now will invest $40,000 in four B.C. communities to help them incorporate cultural planning into their long-term goals.

“Arts and culture play an important role in the achievement of a community’s social and economic objectives,” said Lori Baxter, director of Arts Now for 2010 Legacies Now. “These funds, awarded through our Creative Communities program, will help civic leaders learn about their arts and cultural sector and how it can shape their community’s future.”

Creative Communities helps local governments and arts organizations identify strengths and challenges in their arts and cultural sector and make plans for future cultural development. Successful applicants receive funding in one of two categories: cultural scans or cultural planning. A cultural scan is an inventory and analysis of a community’s cultural resources and corresponding patterns of usage by the public. Cultural planning is a process of inclusive community consultation and decision-making that helps local governments use information about cultural resources to develop and improve community programs and services.

Fort St. John, Grand Forks, Langley and New Westminster will receive $10,000 each to develop a cultural scan or engage in cultural planning. To date, 2010 Legacies Now has invested $168,000 in 21 Creative Communities projects, and $2.7 million in the arts overall through its contribution programs.

“The benefits for people of all ages are immeasurable when arts and culture are a part of a community’s overall plans for the future,” said Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. “The Creative Communities program supports our efforts to ensure we have an engaging arts and cultural sector that reaches all four corners of British Columbia.”

Arts Now is working to increase community engagement in creative activities, improve the arts and cultural sector’s economic base and organizational capacity, and strengthen the sector’s ability to achieve artistic excellence. Assistance is provided through contribution programs and targeted activities developed in consultation with the arts and culture community.

2010 Legacies Now is a not-for-profit society that works in partnership with community organizations, non-government organizations, the private sector and all levels of government to develop sustainable legacies in sport and recreation, arts, literacy and volunteerism. 2010 Legacies Now actively assists communities to discover and create unique and inclusive social and economic opportunities leading up to and beyond the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For more information please visit www.2010LegaciesNow.com.

-30-

Media Contacts:

Karen McDonald
Director, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
Ph: 778.327.5180
Cell: 778.840.8779

Natasha Vander Wal
Manager, Communications
2010 Legacies Now
Ph: 778.327.5189
Cell: 778.840.5189

<< back to Media Releases 2006