Five areas of focus
Propelling the Plan provides a framework for continued progress and new approaches to be identified and explored following extensive engagement with the community. It captures the status, vision for, and desired direction of culture within the Municipality of Port Hope.
The key focus areas will ensure that the plan is activated and continues to evolve along with the community. Note - many of the focus items will have an impact in several different priority areas.
1 Raise awareness and leverage existing cultural assets
- Clearly communicate municipal and non-municipal facilities and venues available for cultural programming and define assets of each
- Create efficiencies and supports in permitting processes
- Identify and support opportunities to connect culture and event producers with the broader community
- Maximize space allocation and develop independent use of facility access where feasible.
2 Increase cultural participation
- Maintain and enhance barrier free (no cost, accessible) municipally produced events
- Leverage diverse engagement tactics including existing networks, online platforms, digital and non digital solutions
- Revival of Business Community Update page on the municipal website to empower cooperation and promotion of local experiences
- Champion interdepartmental strategic communications to align and strengthen event calendar to maximize amplification e.g. pop up tourism activations, sharing of third party content
3 Be aware of and respond to current and future cultural space needs
- Create inventory of available municipal Audit municipal assets and supports for events and cultural activities.
- Audit municipal spaces compared to community demand to identify gaps
- Identify and promote consideration for refurbishment of current spaces to enhance and augment usability e.g. bandshell – acoustics and backstage, relevant storage
- Advocate for infrastructure and design that enables participation e.g. transportation, parking, making performance spaces accessible, multi-functional and appropriate.