Culture Strategy

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Culture programs, services and resources are essential to a vibrant and healthy community. Culture builds civic pride, celebrates diversity, shapes a City’s health and identity, and attracts talent and investment for the City to grow and prosper. Culture brings people together, creates conversations, and helps us learn from one another.

The Culture Strategy will build on previous City plans, strategies and policies and will provide a vision and an action plan for strengthening culture delivery and services in Abbotsford.

We are happy to announce that Culture Connect, the City's first Culture Strategy has been approved by Council on March 7, 2022.

The final Culture Strategy can be seen here: Culture Connect


Culture programs, services and resources are essential to a vibrant and healthy community. Culture builds civic pride, celebrates diversity, shapes a City’s health and identity, and attracts talent and investment for the City to grow and prosper. Culture brings people together, creates conversations, and helps us learn from one another.

The Culture Strategy will build on previous City plans, strategies and policies and will provide a vision and an action plan for strengthening culture delivery and services in Abbotsford.

We are happy to announce that Culture Connect, the City's first Culture Strategy has been approved by Council on March 7, 2022.

The final Culture Strategy can be seen here: Culture Connect


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  • Draft Culture Strategy - Goals, Objectives and 5 Big Moves

    over 2 years ago
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    The City of Abbotsford is now in Stage 4 of the Culture Strategy and we want to hear from you! Let us know your thoughts on our overarching Goals, Objectives and 5 Big Moves. This forum will be open until November 30, 2021.

    To see the Draft Culture Strategy visit: PRC 021-2021- Draft Culture Strategy - Stage 3

    VISION – RICH CULTURAL EXPERIENCES FOR ALL

    Abbotsford will be a place of rich and diverse cultural experiences and resources that are the essential ingredients of a vibrant community of connected people and neighbourhoods.

    Goals
    Municipal Leadership
    Spaces and Places
    Connections and Community
    Offerings and Awareness

    		The City of Abbotsford demonstrates active leadership and strategic governance to support a sustainable, flourishing and vibrant cultural sector. Abbotsford is home to quality and versatile cultural spaces and places that encourage creativity and participation. Abbotsford is an inclusive and accessible community where diversity is celebrated and all residents are welcomed and empowered to  participate in cultural opportunities.

    Abbotsford is a creative City where people value and actively engage in culture.
    Objectives Objective 1.1
    Enhance investments in culture through strategic funding, community capacity building and continuous improvement in City processes.    		 Objective 2.1
    Assess and plan for cultural infrastructure and assets to meet short, medium and long-term needs.

    		 Objective 3.1
    Engage local youth and emerging artists in the planning and development of cultural programs, facilities, events and services.


    		 Objective 4.1
    Increase the visibility of culture in Abbotsford and communicate everything it has to offer.

    		Objective 1.2 
    Enable a deeper understanding and appreciation of Abbotsford’s past, present and future by recognizing the value of local cultural, natural, agricultural and built heritage.    		 Objective 2.2
    Use physical and digital spaces to accessibly connect people with culture and their community.


    		 Objective 3.2
    Seek engagement with local First Nations, including Matheqwí, Semá:th, Leq’á:mel and urban Indigenous and Métis Peoples on cultural planning and policy development to reflect local Indigenous knowledge and heritage.    		 Objective 4.1 
    Increase the visibility of culture in Abbotsford and communicate everything it has to offer.

    		Objective 1.3
    Build the local creative economy and leverage culture to boost the City’s economic advantage.
    		Objective 3.3
    Embrace Abbotsford’s cultural diversity and cultivate a welcoming environment where all people and backgrounds are represented.

    		 Objective 4.2
    Attract and build new audiences that support the cultural sector and improve quality of life for residents.


    5 Big Moves

    Culture Connect Abbotsford is the City's first holistic culture strategy, marking a significant step forward.

    There are Five Big Moves that form the basis of the initial implementation of Culture Connect. These moves are foundational to the plan and future success. A separate Implementation Plan will also be developed that outlines how the remaining Goals, Objectives, and Actions will be achieved. 

    1. Culture Recovery

      COVID-19 has had a major impact on the local culture sector. Through this strategy, the City can help support recovery in the sector and provide opportunities for the community to reengage in the cultural activities they have missed through the pandemic.

    2. Indigenous Engagement

      Local Indigenous heritage, culture and Peoples are foundational to Abbotsford’s past, present and future. We must seek ways to engage with local First Nations and urban Indigenous Peoples, and Metis Peoples on cultural planning and create space for dialogue and Indigenous programming.

    3. Service Delivery

      The City’s culture services are primarily delivered by local fee-for-service partners. It is imperative that the City conduct a governance review its service delivery model for Culture Services to ensure alignment with the goals of the Strategy and value for money. 

    4. Cultural Policy

      Many of Abbotsford’s cultural policies require updating and need to be reflective of evolving realities, especially related  to diversity, equity, inclusion and access.

    5. One-Stop Shop

      Lack of awareness is the biggest barrier to access for many in Abbotsford and addressing it will require a joint effort and strong coordination between the City and local cultural providers.