Creating Social and Economic Benefits for Communities

Municipalities, large and small, are working with and investing in their creative communities. They are nurturing cultural activities that serve local residents, create and celebrate community identity, facilitate exchange and understanding among socially, economically, and culturally diverse groups, and attract visitors and new businesses.

The projects profiled here demonstrate just some of the broad range of benefits experienced by communities across Canada resulting from nurturing and investing in cultural activities and initiatives in those communities. The "how & why" of these benefits are discussed in greater detail in Making the Case.

Contents

Culture as an economic engine profiles
Urban renewal & revitalization profiles
Building community identity & pride profiles
Arts & positive change in communities profiles
Quality of life / quality of place profiles
Personal & social development of youth

Culture as an economic engine 

Barrie, ON
ArtCity: Where art and environment merge. Profile page (HTML)
Shore/lines: A summer of environmental art. Weblink to MacLaren Art Centre

Dawson Creek, BC
Partnering in arts education brings cultural tourists: The story of Dawson Creek's South Peace Summer School of the Arts. Profile page (HTML)

Niagara Region, ON
The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival:  Savouring 54 years of local tradition.
Profile page (HTML)

North Vancouver, BC
Spinning off of Hollywood North: The North Vancouver film industry.
Profile page (HTML)

Okotoks, AB
Partners in promoting local artists and tourism: The story of the Okotoks Art Walk.
Profile page (HTML)

Powell River, BC
Kathaumixw:  An internationally acclaimed gathering of many peoples.
Profile page (HTML)

Stratford, ON
Stratford: The City and the Festival.
Profile page (HTML)

Strathroy-Caradoc, ON
Creative tourism bolsters cultural community in rural Ontario: The story of Strathroy-Caradoc's Baskets & More Conference. Profile page (HTML)

Trinity, NL
Theatre and Trinity: One good thing deserves another.
Profile page (HTML)

Waterloo, ON
Creating the "Quilt Capital of Canada": The story of the Waterloo County & Area Quilt Festival.
Profile page (HTML)

Urban renewal & revitalization

Edmonton, AB
Urban renewal anchored on legacy and community: Edmonton's Churchill Square.
Profile page (HTML)

Greater Victoria, BC
Youth reclaiming & transforming their environment: The story of Greater Victoria's Trackside Art Gallery.
Profile page (HTML)

Halifax, NS
Integrating urban design and cultural activity for cultural connection and vibrancy: Halifax urban renewal.
Profile page (HTML)

Quebec City, QC
Designing a space for arts and culture: The story of Quebec City's St. Roch Quarter.
Profile page (HTML)

Building community identity and pride

Kitchener, ON
Celebrating community: Kitchener's Festival of Neighbourhoods.
Profile page (HTML)

Nanaimo, BC
The Nanaimo Banner Festival.
Profile page (HTML)

New Westminster, BC
Art We Awesome: Queensborough Middle School Woodcarving Mural.
Profile page (HTML)

Toronto, ON
Red Pepper Spectacle Arts: Building community through celebration (Toronto, Nibinamik).
Profile page (HTML)

Vancouver, BC
Community Walls/Community Voices.
Profile page (HTML)

Vancouver, BC
Vancouver's Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Procession: An evolving tradition.
Profile page (HTML)

Arts & positive change in communities

Various Canadian communities
Hip Hop for Human Rights: Music empowers 30,000 students as global citizens.
Profile page (HTML)

Toronto, ON
Building the power of community: Jumblies Theatre's Once a Shoreline community play.
Profile page (HTML)

Waterloo, ON
Waterloo's Scholars' Green Neighbourhood Commemorative Heritage Project.
Profile page (HTML)

Winnipeg, MN
Art City: A grassroots approach to community development through arts.
Profile page (HTML)

Woodstock, ON
Get connected: Woodstock's innovative partnership in cultural and social outreach.
Profile page (HTML)

Quality of life / Quality of place

Powell River, BC
Kathaumixw:  An internationally acclaimed gathering of many peoples.
Profile page (HTML)

Saskatoon, SK
Saskatoon's writing culture: A naturally born character-enhancing industry.
Profile page (HTML)

Personal & social development of youth

Greater Victoria, BC
Youth reclaiming & transforming their environment: The story of Greater Victoria's Trackside Art Gallery.
Profile page (HTML)

Ottawa, ON
Creating leaders through the arts: The story of Ottawa's Arts Leadership Training Program.
Profile page (HTML)

Regina, SK
Self-determined mentorship for at-risk young people: The story of Regina's Street Culture Kidz Project.
Profile page (HTML)

St. John's, NL
Legitimizing creative youth expression: The story of St. John's Legal Graffiti Wall.
Profile page (HTML)

Toronto, ON
ArtReach Toronto: Reaching out to youth in under-served areas to lead in the arts
Website

Toronto, ON
Creative youth development and diplomacy: The story of Toronto's Creative Youth Envoy.
Profile page (HTML)

Toronto, ON
Sketch: Empowering street-involved youth through art.
Profile page (HTML)

Vancouver, BC
GetOut! : Youth get out, active and connected in arts, sport, culture & recreation
Website

Winnipeg, MN
Intervention through circus & magic: The story of Winnipeg's Circus & Magic Partnership.
Profile page (HTML)

Profile researchers/writers of profiles:
Claire Dimond-Gibson, Elise Finnigan, Katie Warfield and Steven R. Dang
With additions by Creative City Network members and friends.