The City of Vaughan is undertaking a cultural mapping and cultural plan project called Creative Together: A Cultural Plan for Vaughan.

Goals for the project are as follows:

To complete a comprehensive cultural map as the foundation for a cultural plan for the city of Vaughan and to establish an overall vision and set of strategies to guide cultural development in Vaughan.

A Definition of Culture

The Cultural Plan is embracing the following definition of "culture" offered by the Prime Minister's External Advisory Committee on Cities and Communities (Harcourt Committee) in 2006:

Culture is both a set of objects (art, music, theatre, buildings) and a set of processes. Culture is not just the pictures and books produced by regions or communities or nations; it is also their beliefs, their behaviour and how they develop and express them. It is this latter sense of culture that is most important for creativity and sustainability in the long-term.

In practical terms, it can include areas of human expression such as the visual, performing and literary arts, built heritage, facilities such theatres, museums and galleries, and may also include traditions and beliefs of people or communities.

Project Process

Creative Together has a number of distinct phases that will be guided by AuthentiCity, consultants contracted to undertake this study.

Phase One- Where Are We Now?

This phase of work involves analyzing existing municipal policies, planning studies and documents to identify opportunities for connections with the plan. This phase will include the cultural mapping process. Cultural mapping is a tool for identifying a community's cultural resources and understanding local cultural systems. A grant provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage has helped fund the mapping component of the study.

Phase Two - Where Do We Want to Be?

In order to help define where we want to be as a community, a community forum will be scheduled in September/October 2009 to collect community input on the plan. (Date will be posted once confirmed).

Phase Three - How Do We Get There?

A draft report will be prepared that will clearly define an overall vision, the roles of the City and its partners in support of cultural development, and concrete Strategies and Actions to guide planning and investments in the years ahead.

This report will be reviewed by the Creative Together Advisory Committee and the final report prepared for Council.

Final City of Vaughan Cultural Plan Approved June 2010

For inquiries and more information, please contact Angela Palermo, Cultural Services Manager at 905-832-8585 ext. 8139 or email at culture@vaughan.ca.

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