Culture Plan 2030
Guelph has long enjoyed a reputation as a cultural hub; a community rich in arts, heritage, and creative industry; a community that has nurtured aspiring and world-class musicians, painters, writers, dancers, storytellers, filmmakers, actors, and creators in all disciplines. Indeed, arts and culture are deeply woven into the Guelph identity.
The City has invested significantly in cultural facilities, public art, cultural programming, and grant funding for artists and arts and heritage organizations. Guelph has benefited from a return on this investment through citizen satisfaction, tourism, talent attraction, creative industry development, profile, and reputation.
While there is a solid foundation for culture in Guelph, members of the creative community expressed concerns about the lack of affordable studio, rehearsal, exhibition, and performance space; limited representation and opportunities for equity-deserving community members; difficulties attracting community support and audiences; and low income and inflated cost of living driving artists from the community. These challenges existed pre-pandemic and were exacerbated during the pandemic as event cancellations, closures, isolation, and lockdowns had an oversized impact on the culture community. The culture economy was the first to close due to emergency measures and the last to reopen after the state of emergency was lifted.
Culture Plan 2030 articulates a long-term municipal and community strategy to stabilize and advance arts, heritage, and creative industry in Guelph. The plan identifies conditions and opportunities for the local culture sector to survive and thrive as we nurture a community ecosystem that ensures culture is present everywhere, every day, for everyone.
Resources
- Culture Plan 2030
- A United Vision: Guelph’s Community Plan
- Recreation and Parks Master Plan Update
- Economic Development and Tourism Strategy
- Guelph Museums & Culture Strategic Operating Plan
- Artist in Residence Program
- Public Art Policy and Procedures
- Artist opportunities
- Temporary art displays
- Community arts investment
For more information
Tammy Adkin, Manager, Museums and Culture
Culture and Recreation
519-826-1221 extension 2775
[email protected]