Guelph Poised for a Cultural Awakening

From Arts in Guelph - July/August, 2007

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following in an excerpt from the key-note speech that Guelph Mayor Karen Farbridge made at Guelph Arts Council's Annual General Meeting on May 14, 2007.

Culture is one of my priorities, as I said in my inaugural address. I believe that, while we are rich in culture and heritage, Guelph is far behind other cities in recognizing the benefits of investing in our own cultural assets to enhance economic prosperity, quality of life and community identity.

The idea that culture can help drive economic growth is not new, but it has gained a lot of currency among city planners, particularly in Europe and Australia, in the last 15 years. In this context it's important to understand the role that culture plays in the new economy.

We are an urban society. Today many more Canadians live in cities than in rural areas. Alongside the move to cities, there has been a global shift from manufacturing-based industries to knowledge-based industries. Cities all over the world now face the challenge of attracting and retaining a very mobile class of creative workers and entrepreneurs.

How do we do this?

Richard Florida, an economist from Carnegie Mellon University, says cities need to nurture a "social structure of creativity," which he defines as "a supportive social milieu that is open to all forms of creativity - artistic and cultural as well as technological and economic." In other words, a city that is able to nurture and support a vibrant music scene or diverse artistic community is likely to be attractive to - and supportive of - those who are creative in other spheres, such as business and technology.

In this scenario, culture resources are seen as strategic urban assets, with an important role to play in economic development and quality of life. Cultural resources are more than art galleries or concert halls, more than festivals or galas - although these all make an important contribution to any culture.

Culture is defined by how and where we live, work and play. So we are involved in a cultural activity when we stroll down the street, by virtue of the buildings and the public spaces we use. Sitting in the park, eating at a restaurant, going to church or to temple - these are all cultural activities.

This broader definition of cultural resources gives us a new perspective on local cultural development. It is a significantly more inclusive and integrated approach that helps break down those "silos" which are barriers between different cultural constituencies, and strengthens partnerships within the community.

We begin to develop a more holistic view of how to best use our cultural resources in urban and community development. It gives us a cultural lens through which to evaluate all our planning decisions. It allows us to make connections with more traditional planning initiatives, for example with economic development objectives, with housing and public works and with recreational planning.

Cultural planning - that's what this discipline is called - is more inclusive, more supportive of cultural diversity. It demands that we include all areas of the city in our cultural plan. It inspires us to fund new creative activities. It encourages us to move away from a tourism-focused cultural strategy.

Glen Murray, former mayor of Winnipeg and a consultant who is working with the province and the city to come up with a plan for the York District Lands, sees cultural planning as a way of developing "quality of place." Quality of place is defined by uniqueness and authenticity. It is the result of a distinctive local history, built and natural landscapes, as well as vibrant and diverse arts and cultural communities. Murray has described quality of place as a key competitive advantage for cities in the new economy to attract and retain a skilled and creative labour force.

But let's not think that the emphasis on culture is a blatant marketing ploy - just another way to differentiate ourselves from Cambridge, or Kitchener-Waterloo or Peterborough. Culture has an important role in the development of our community identity.

Colin Mercer was Britain's first Professor of Cultural Policy who now specializes in freelance strategic research and development for the cultural sector. In a recent paper on cultural planning, he reminds us that one of the primary functions of cities is to produce citizens. He went on to say: "Our fundamental emphasis in planning should not be on the production and development of goods and commodities but of people, of citizens. We need to relearn some of the civic arts of citizen-formation if we are to aim not just for "urban" but for civic renewal. The cultural life - institutions streets, programs, activities - of a city has a crucial role to play in this…."

Great things happen in a community when civic pride is strong. We draw pride from our sense of place and history. Mitchell Farmhouse and the Loretto Convent are both important parts of Guelph's heritage that were threatened, and in one case lost. We need to do a better job of protecting our heritage and finding creative, new uses for the historic fabric of our community. The adaptation of the Post Office - The Dominion Building - by the County of Wellington is a brilliant example.… The number of people who attended the grand opening is all the proof we need to know the value of heritage building in defining who we are and our place in our community. Everyone had a personal tale to tell about that building.

We have countless stories of excellence in arts and cultural programming, and in neighbourhood development. But when our community facilities are not well maintained, when soccer pitches are an embarrassment or when our heritage buildings are lost, our cohesiveness as a community is hurt. City Hall has to play a leadership role in finding ways to maximize the value of these important community resources.

We are poised for a cultural awakening in Guelph.

By providing some assistance - with planning, funding and promotional support - we can ensure that culture and heritage play a significant role in our future.

Partnerships allow us to harness the many talents and energies in our community. We will work with key stakeholders in the community to ensure Guelph is recognized for its support of culture and for the strength of its community. Together we can take advantage of all the opportunities that are open to us.

A commitment to culture will be part of achieving our economic and community development goals and celebrating beauty in the places and people that create Guelph.