View the Inspire St. Catharines: Culture Plan 2020, which identifies the many cultural assets we enjoy and recommends priorities for the future. Culture helps make St. Catharines a distinct and vibrant place providing us with:
- Creative business
- Engaged community members
- Diverse experiences
Purpose
The Culture Plan is designed to inform City decision-makers when considering investments, programming, facilities and policies that affect the creative sector, our built heritage and our urban fabric.
Priorities
We've identified the following priorities to allow for future opportunities:
- Communicate the experiences and value of culture to all residents in St. Catharines
- Foster participation in arts, heritage and cultural experiences
- Cultivate the growth and development of the creative sector
- Continue to develop the planning, management and coordination of heritage assets and historical services
- Recognize and embrace the City's cultural diversity as a cornerstone of civic engagement
- Leverage culture to strengthen St. Catharines' distinct sense of place and community
- Foster the cross-departmental management and delivery of arts and heritage services, planning and community development
Vision statement
The City of St. Catharines boasts a dynamic and robust cultural sector, and values the arts, heritage and culture as essential to community building and sustainability. St. Catharines supports and promotes culture to enrich the lives of its residents, attract new people and ideas, bolster economic development and social inclusion and celebrate its unique identity. The City will nurture, support and celebrate St. Catharines distinct identity, creativity and diversity through the promotion and advancement of a wide range of cultural activities, events, facilities, programs and services that serve all citizens of St. Catharines regardless of age, ethnicity or income.
Developing the Culture Plan
We used a three-phased approach to develop the Culture Plan. This includes:
- Researching the state of culture in St. Catharines. View our State of Culture Report.
- Consulting with the community and key stakeholders
- Conducting an internal analysis of the City's committees, departments and plans that relate to culture. View our Internal Analysis Report.