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Municipal Departments

Cultural Advisory Committee

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Gerald Tooke, Chair - (905) 885-1116
cultural@porthope.ca

Mandate

"To promote and support the recognition of arts, culture and heritage as central elements in the development of our community."

Definition

Culture is who we are and who we want to be. Our values. Our ideas. Our heritage. Our physical environment. Our intellectual and social achievements. All those things that make our Municipality unique.

Goal Statements

Cultural Organizations

  • To support and strengthen existing cultural organizations.
  • To assist, as required, with the development of new cultural organizations.
  • To encourage the interaction and communication among all cultural groups and organizations with the view to promote growth and cooperation.

Cultural Facilities

  • To support the provision of a variety of arts and cultural facilities
  • To ensure that they are clean, safe, accessible and affordable.
  • To promote the development of public spaces.
  • Programs:
  • To support the development of a variety of safe, creative, and affordable programs for all age groups.
  • To ensure access to a wide range of intellectual and recreational activities.
  • Volunteer Development:
  • To encourage and provide the opportunity for personal development of volunteers.
  • To develop opportunities for enhancing the individual knowledge of arts and culture.
  • Marketing and Public Relations:
  • To actively promote the benefits of arts and culture services in cooperation and association with existing programs and services.
  • To promote respect for civic-mindedness.
  • Principles:
  • Arts, Culture and Heritage plays a key role in building a community that is socially and economically healthy.
  • All residents must have affordable and convenient opportunities to participate in the cultural life of the community.
  • The Municipal Council must play a leadership role in ensuring a vibrant, active and sustainable cultural life.
  • People who are creative and work with ideas are people who value certain things:
    - respect for civic mindedness;
    - the preservation and celebration of cultural and historic resources;
    - ensure access to wide range of intellectual and recreational activities.
  • Ensure respect for diversity of all kinds.
  • Recognize that the Municipality is a significant base of creative talent.

Planning and Policy Development

  1. The Committee shall review, advise and recommend to Council and Staff the adoption of by-laws and policies relating to arts, culture and heritage.
  2. The Committee shall annually review and make recommendations regarding the Committee's mandate and goal statements.
  3. The Committee shall review, make recommendations and assist with the implementation relating to any of the Municipality's master plans for recreation, culture and leisure services.
  4. The Committee will regularly review potential capital projects and long range capital plans for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture as they relate to arts and culture.
  5. The Committee, as required, facilitate the development or revision of any strategic planning related to arts, culture and heritage.

Community Development

  1. The Committee shall assist with the development of new and innovative arts and culture programs that positively affect the operation of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture.
  2. The Committee will advocate thebenefits of arts, culture and heritage to residents who are using the services of the Municipality. This advocacy will be based on the social, economic, personal and environmental benefits to local residents.
  3. The Committee shall liaise with community groups and individuals to maintain an awareness of requirements and needs of the residents. This liaison may include acting on behalf of the Municipality in order to gain support for approved initiatives.
  4. The Committee shall assist when possible, the Staff of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture and other community groups, to ensure all programs and services are accessible and attain the expected level of qualities to as many residents as possible in the Municipality.

Promotion

  1. The Committee will, as required, assist with the promotion and development of arts, culture and heritage events related to tourism.
  2. The Committee will, as required, assist the promotion and staging of events and activities related to arts, culture and heritage.