Management Plan

Goals

Promote the image of the District as a community in which our citizens take pride and celebrate our heritage and our diversity; an artist-friendly community which is known for its community involvement, partnerships, and sharing.

Governance Strategy – Manage our Cultural Assets

• Communication – responsibility & roles
• Policy & Implementation
• Budget & Financial Policy

Operations Strategy – Maximize our Opportunities and Resources
• Cultural Services: Programs & Opportunities
• Facilities: including display spaces, use existing buildings, new cultural facilities
• Community Collaboration and partnerships – include outlying areas
• Employment: Economic Opportunity & Training

Promotions Strategy – Expand Awareness & Market our Cultural Resources
• Community Awareness
• Inclusion: access and opportunities for all
• Cultural tourism

Objectives

1.  Establish and maintain communication between the Council, District staff, and the cultural community
Appoint the Cultural Resources Select Committee to ensure effective two-way dialogue
Organize and host semi-annual meetings among cultural service providers to identify changing needs, priorities, opportunities and new initiatives

2.  Incorporate consideration of Culture into all aspects of District Policy, planning, and development
Annually review and update the District’s Culture Policy which guides its arts, heritage and multicultural activities.
Develop a Public Art Acquisition Policy, with input from Mission residents, the Cultural community, municipal staff and the private sector.
Pro-actively promote a public art program including purchasing and displaying visual art and supporting performances in a wide variety of public locations

3.  Designate finances that will provide sustained funding for all cultural initiatives
Allocate Operating funds for the Cultural Resources Select Committee
Recommend clear policy for allocating current grants funding (Grants in Aid) for Culture and Arts to ensure accountability, public understanding, and equity in allocating grants
Make information available about additional funding opportunities for Mission’s cultural services and facilities
Recommend that the District establish and support an Art Trust Fund to ensure that art will be purchased and displayed by the District
Designate an annual budget for Art acquisition at a minimum of one percent (1%) of a building’s capital construction budget for District funded public buildings

4.  Increase community cultural opportunities, programming and access
Continue to identify and develop opportunities by expanding programs and services to previously under-served individuals, groups and geographic communities
Encourage participation by all residents regardless of background, finances, interests, ability, or other factors which may restrict their access
Encourage expansion of cultural extension programs into public schools
Encourage and expand partnerships between agencies, cultural service providers and the District
Expand Awards program to recognize outstanding contributions to Mission’s cultural life; including multicultural understanding & services, literary awards, and other areas
Encourage bus services to support attendance at cultural events – scheduling, drop off and pick up in safe locations, extend to evening/ event hours

5.  Expand options for delivery of cultural opportunities through community collaboration and partnership, and include services to outlying areas
Employ a Cultural Development staff person to work with community cultural groups and the public
Support creation of a Heritage Inventory & Register of Mission’s valued spaces, places, and buildings and oral history
Identify alternative and non-traditional locations that can be utilized for presentation of cultural activities, such as community halls, public schools, and other community locations, both indoors and outdoors
Assess the benefits and challenges of mobile service to outlying areas modeled after Literacy Task Force van/bus and support outreach

6.  Develop facilities to meet needs of current residents and for future growth and development
Re-establish the Sports Hall of Fame or Wall of Fame
Develop a municipal Cultural Centre
Develop a new Museum facility
Expand accessibility and use of outdoor performance spaces, including the District-owned portable stage
Incorporate cultural spaces, features and buildings in the development and planning of all District of Mission facilities including display and performance space, office and meeting spaces, etc.

7.  Improve awareness of the many unique expressions of our culture in order to increase participation by residents and visitors and to recognize the substantial economic contribution of Cultural activities and products Conduct market research to assess community awareness of existing cultural opportunities and identify gaps and opportunities that are being missed
Use District publications to promote culture, including arts, heritage, multiculturalism
Market the products of culture
Enhance employment and training in culture including arts and heritage sectors
Provide mentoring and skills exchange programs for artists in order to enhance business skills

8.  Acknowledge, document and promote the development of cultural tourism, recognizing the economic impact that benefits the wider community
Showcases culture in marketing, tourism promotion, and economic and investment initiatives
Foster partnerships with business, marketing consortiums, arts groups and governments to develop the cultural tourism sector
Encourage visitors to extend their stay in Mission and surrounding communities on the north side of the Fraser

Action Steps

1. GOAL: Establish and maintain communication between the Council, District staff, and the cultural community

2. GOAL: Incorporate consideration of Culture into all aspects of District Policy, planning, and development

3. GOAL: Designate finances that will provide sustained funding for all cultural initiatives

4. GOAL: Increase community cultural opportunities, programming, and access

5. GOAL: Expand options for delivery of cultural opportunities through community
collaboration and partnership, and include services to outlying areas

6. GOAL: Develop facilities to meet needs of current residents and for future growth and development

7. GOAL: Improve awareness of the many unique expressions of our culture in order to increase participation by residents and visitors and to recognize the substantial economic contribution of Cultural activities and products

8. GOAL: Acknowledge, document and promote the development of cultural tourism, recognizing the economic impact that benefits the wider community