Culture Plan
What does a vibrant cultural city look like to you?
Guelph’s culture plan has been years in the making. Did you know we’ve been engaging on this work since 2018 in different shapes and forms? Last year, we engaged the community through a joint initiative with Tourism called Create, Play and Stay so we could understand where culture fits into this thriving city we love to share! Since then, we've been meeting with cultural leaders in the community to help refine our direction and create our framework. Find out more in the “how we got here” section.
In the summer of 2023 we were back for final round of engagement to make sure we understand your vision for arts, heritage and the creative industry in Guelph that takes us into 2030.
We created a plan together!
Over the months of June, July and the first half of August, 2023, we had three quick on-line activities to help us understand where, what and how culture is and could be part of the fabric of Guelph
- Complete a survey: Take ten minutes to dig into topics and share your thoughts and experience with us. - there were also printable translated versions of the survey in Dari, English, Nepali, Spanish, Tigrinya and Ukrainian.
- Please email completed surveys to: gregory.peddie@guelph.ca
- Put a pin in it: Where are the important places around town to experience or reflect on arts, culture, heritage and events, and where are our leaders in the creative industry?
- Create a vision for future Guelph: What does Guelph's culture scene look like in 2030?
What's next?
We've reviewed everything we heard and will share a summary of our findings shortly.
We're also finalizing the culture plan based on everything we heard through this round of engagement plus all of our research and engagement that got us to this point.
We're presenting the report and Culture plan to council on October 3, 2023 Find the full council packet here including the new Culture plan 2030: 'Everywhere, Everyday, Everyone' (starting on page 53 of the packet).
The community is invited to attend in person or watch online.
To talk with our team directly, please contact:
Gregory Peddie
Coordinator, Cultural Programs and Events. City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2629, TTY 519-822-9771
gregory.peddie@guelph.ca
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Create a vision for future Guelph. Tell us what Guelph's culture scene would look like if we have a great Culture Plan leading the way.
Come back again before the project closes on August 6 to up-vote ideas other participants share.
View All Ideas10 months ago
Perhaps this is an initiative for Guelph Arts Council members, rather than a collection of spur of the moment generalized thoughts?
What is "culture"? How does it come about? What is the future of local culture in a transient 21st century world? Does cultural identity help us in becoming "one" or does it emphasize differences rather than similarities? Is culture therefore "good?" Where does culture come from: religious beliefs, survival habits, climate/environmental influences... More specifically, rather than a discussion, this might be the foundation for a theatrical presentation, yet Guelph doesn't have a resident theatre co charged with bringing Guelph's 'culture' to life and theatre is where it begins as theatre is ALL of the art forms combined in one place. The River Run Centre is like a hospital with no dr.s or nurses. There is RCMPI - producing mostly USA musicals. A local symphony, but no professional resident theatre co. GLT is a community theatre co, not a CAEA professional group The work is not done. A building is EASY, operation is hard. But perhaps this is not the work of municipal cultural departments but rather an organic process?? Perhaps the River Run should be driven by a board of directors not civic employees?
10 months ago
Free outdoor concerts
We should have free outdoor main stage concerts that start with emerging local artists and end with JUNO or Grammy Award winning performers.
10 months ago
Community Building initiatives for amateur and professional artists.
It would be great if the city could help facilitate a “meeting of the minds” whereby local artists of various interests, sectors, mediums, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, spiritual and otherwise, ages, levels of skill etc could all gather, exchange ideas and with City guidance, create a community wide project or installation.
11 months ago
I think all cultures should be included, this means white people as well as all other cultures.
Use white males as well. It seams like were against them.
9 months ago
Invest in small independent cultural producers
Support the ability of local artists to be self-sustaining with access to venues and resources. Perhaps a role, or roles, at the City to specifically nurture the local arts scene with everything from funds to opportunities to showcase work. Imagine if we closed off Macdonnell at Wilson to Wyndham, closed off Wyndham from Macdonnell to Quebec street, and Quebec street from Baker street to Wyndham as a permanently walkable marketplace of music and art throughout the year!
Who's Listening
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GP
Email Gregory.Peddie@guelph.ca -
Email tammy.adkin@guelph.ca -
Email tracy.suerich@guelph.ca
Documents
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Printable and translated surveys
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Ukrainian Culture plan 2023 - translated.pdf (309 KB) (pdf)
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English - Culture plan 2023 for print and translation - Final.pdf (249 KB) (pdf)
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Tigrinya - Culture plan survey 2023 - translated.pdf (262 KB) (pdf)
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Dari- Culture plan survey 2023 - translated.pdf (269 KB) (pdf)
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Arabic - Culture plan survey 2023.pdf (1.05 MB) (pdf)
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Nepali_Culture plan survey 2023.pdf (103 KB) (pdf)
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Spanish- Culture plan survey 2023.pdf (250 KB) (pdf)
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