After a series of invitation-only discussion sessions, as of Monday, the city's Creative Capital Initiative has started asking for help from the public.
According to Councillor Michael Thompson, describing it in a story posted on the city's
TO Live With Culture site, the initiative is "about the cultural industries working with city staff and with the private sector to fashion a plan that will be part of the City's cultural strategy."
At the events there were five tables set up, each with its own facilitator and devoted to a different aspect of the initiative, including one where people could gather to discuss infrastructure and offer ideas as to how it might be improved and expanded.
"Finding affordable space is always a challenge, " says Terry Nicholson, the city's manager of cultural affairs. "And there's about a $30-million backlog for repair�. There's an issue of the condition of the current facilities, and also a concern about where the new facilities will come from. Outside of the downtown core, there are very few dedicated spaces for culture."
He points out that for many cultural activities, not just any space will do. "If it's dance, it needs a sprung floor. If it's for music, it needs soundproofing."
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Terry Nicholson
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