Making Space for Culture

The City of Toronto is convening a series of public consultations beginning next week aimed at providing City Councillors with a ward-by-ward priority list that can help guide investments in sustainable cultural infrastructure across all parts of the city.

Called Making Space for Culture, the project addresses Recommendation 1.5 in the Creative Capital Gains report endorsed by City Council in May 2011. What kind of space does your neighbourhood need to make art, music, dance? To film, play, practice and perform? We want to know what’s needed, who needs it, and how we might work together to help make space for culture in your community.

Can you attend the consultation in your ward? The initial 10 meetings are listed below, with more to follow in the fall and into 2013.

May 22, 4 – 6 pm, Ward 37, McGregor Park Public Library (2219 Lawrence Ave. East), Meeting Room
May 24, 4 – 6 pm, Ward 3, Etobicoke Civic Centre (Council Chamber)
May 24, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Ward 5, Etobicoke Civic Centre (Council Chamber)
May 29, 4 – 6 pm, Ward 43, Cedar Ridge Creative Centre (225 Confederation Drive)
June 4, 4 – 6 pm, Ward 8, York Woods Public Library (1785 Finch Ave. West), Room 2
June 6, 4 – 6 pm, Ward 1, Rexdale Community Hub (21 Panorama Court)
June 13, 6 – 8 pm, Ward 10, Centennial Public Library (578 Finch Ave. West), Auditorium
June 14, 4 – 6 pm, Ward 33, Fairview Public Library (35 Fairview Mall Dr.), Room 2
June 18, 4 – 6 pm, Ward 40, Agincourt Public Library (155 Bonis Ave.), Auditorium
June 27, 6:30 – 8:15 pm, Ward 42, Malvern Public Library (30 Sewells Road), Auditorium

City Council Says ‘Yes’ To Creative Capital Plan

Applause filled the City Hall Council Chamber yesterday afternoon as Councillors voted unanimously to approve a revamped culture plan. Councillor Michael Thompson, Chair of the City’s Economic Development Committee, above centre, rose to thank Robert Foster, Karen Kain and Jim Prentice who co-chaired an advisory council of arts and business experts who worked with City staff to draft the report in record time.

“We believe that the recommendations and action plan it contains can help strengthen Toronto’s economy and enhance our competitive advantage on the world stage,” said Councillor Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre). “Culture is an economic catalyst we can and must maximize for the benefit of all our communities.”

All Councillors present voted to approve the plan including Mayor Ford, who the report calls upon to take a leadership role in Toronto’s creative capital strategy. Shortly after the vote, the Mayor Tweeted his congratulations to those who pulled the plan together noting it was “something all #TO Council could agree on.”

Council has directed the General Manager of Economic Development and Culture, Michael H. Williams, to report back to the Economic Development Committee in fall 2011 with an implementation plan, including financial impacts, within the context of the core service review, currently underway at City Hall.

Williams was clearly buoyed by the successful vote: “It was a very proud moment for you, me, the Division and the City,” he said in a note to staff.

Culture Action Plan Clears First Hurdle

Toronto’s revamped culture plan, Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto, was endorsed the City’s Economic Development Committee yesterday following a lively presentation by the report’s co-chairs Jim Prentice (left to right), Karen Kain, Robert Foster and special advisors Jeff Melanson and Richard Florida (not shown). The Committee’s unanimous approval clears the way for the report’s presentation to City Council May 17 – 18.

Chairman of the EcDev Committee, Councillor Michael Thompson, below, expressed his thanks to the panel of business and arts leaders who worked with City staff to draft the 50-page policy document in record time. The Creative Capital Advisory Committee convened 13 consultations between February and April in an effort to update the City’s 2003 Culture Plan and make recommendations that might guide City Council during its current term. The report is unique in that it represents the first time business and arts leaders have worked together to guide the cultural agenda.

Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto

The Creative Capital Initiative report entitled Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto has been released in advance of its presentation to the City of Toronto’s Economic Development Committee Wednesday (May 4) at 9:30 am.

Unlike a typical City staff report, Creative Capital Gains is issued by an outside Advisory Council Co-Chaired by Robert J. Foster, Karen Kain and Jim Prentice. The report was requested by Economic Development Chair, City Councillor Michael Thompson: it presents six overarching recommendations with 33 specific action items designed to “strengthen Toronto’s economy and enhance our competitive advantage on the world stage,” writes the Councillor in the report’s forward. Co-Chair Robert Foster adds, “We are convinced that Toronto has everything it needs to stake out a strong and successful future as one of the world’s most liveable, creative and competitive cities. We must commit to the bold moves required to make it happen.”

Download a copy of the report here.

Creative Capital Report Drops May 4

After a whirlwind few months of planning and public consultations, the Creative Capital Initiative report goes public this Friday prior to being delivered to the City’s Economic Development Committee on May 4. Titled Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto, the report includes a series of recommendations for how to maximize the economic and social benefits of culture, arts and heritage.

In the photo above, CCI participants Che Kothari (right, Manifesto Community Projects), Devon Ostrom (centre, Beautiful City) and Sabra Ripley (City of Toronto Arts Services) address the final public consultation in the City Hall Members Lounge April 7.

Citizens are welcome to attend the official presentation to Committee by Creative Capital co-chairs Robert J. Foster, Karen Kain and Jim Prentice: the meeting takes place in City Hall Committee Room 1 at 9:30 am, Wednesday, May 4.