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$53,000 TO SUPPORT CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN FOUR B.C. COMMUNITIES

Vancouver, B.C. (February 1, 2007): 2010 Legacies Now will invest $53,500 in four B.C. communities to help them incorporate cultural planning into their long-term goals.

"Arts and culture encourage community engagement, promote diversity and stimulate economic growth," said Lori Baxter, director of Arts Now for 2010 Legacies Now. "These funds, awarded through our Creative Communities program, will help civic leaders ensure the future is bright for their arts and cultural sector and their community as a whole."

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 mapping or cultural planning.

A cultural map is an inventory and analysis of a community’s cultural resources and corresponding patterns of usage by the public. The map can take many forms, from a text-based inventory to a hand-drawn graphic map or a computer-generated, multi-media webpage. 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.

Campbell River, Kelowna, Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast will receive funds to assist with cultural mapping or cultural planning. To date, 2010 Legacies Now has invested more than $220,000 in 25 Creative Communities projects, and more than $2.8 million in the arts overall through its contribution programs.

"Arts and culture contribute to the health of a community, and are an important part of a community’s long-term planning," said Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. "The Creative Communities program supports our government’s efforts to ensure all regions of the province have a strong arts and cultural sector, now and in the future."

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. 

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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

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