Historically, arts councils were set up as colonially-based organizations in communities around the province to serve members interested in the arts. Today, Arts Councils help to lead cultural development in their communities by fostering artistic vibrancy, nurturing pride of place and being community-relevant (identifying if there are challenges and opportunities that arts and culture can help with).
Squamish Arts engaged Patricia Huntsman Culture + Communication to lead the Strategic Planning and Engagement Project.
The purpose of the project is to undertake strategic planning for Squamish Arts, the outcome of which
will be a three-year strategic plan. The project will reflect the landscape of arts and culture in the Sea to Sky area, as well as the broader arts and culture context. As part of the project scope, the consultant team will work with the Squamish Arts Board and staff to examine leadership, capacity and areas of opportunity within the organization.
The project will include an engagement process that involves the Squamish Arts Board of Directors and staff, key stakeholders and the public, and builds on various past engagement data in the community.
Squamish Arts honours that the lands on which we live, work and play are the unceded ancestral territory of the Squamish Nation. As an arts council, we work in keeping with the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and commit to being active in our work towards Truth and Reconciliation.
The objective of the Plan is to assist Squamish Arts in fulfilling its mission, while providing a strategic ‘roadmap’ for future decisions and actions over a three-year term.
Foundations for the Plan reflect the Arts Council’s arts-based community development focus, while also recognizing that its organizational capacity is in varying stages of maturity. The landscape of arts and culture in Squamish and the Sea to Sky area, and the broader arts and culture context, are also reflected in the Plan.
Sets the stage, identifying the arts and culture context, the role of arts councils and an overview of Squamish Arts. A description of the project background is provided, followed by details about the Plan including its objective, foundations and process. Lastly, this section also describes the community context.
Provides an overview of the engagement process and identifies key themes that provide a framework for this Plan.
Describes the strategic directions to guide Squamish Arts during the planning period, as well as supporting actions.
Includes an implementation plan to identify how the Plan will be implemented by staff, Board members and volunteers, including short-term actions (‘quick wins’) and longer-term focused actions.
37950 Cleveland Avenue (in Pavilion Park)
2670 Stn Main, Squamish B.C. V8B 0B8