2029: Building Edmonton’s Community Plan for Arts & Heritage
Additional engagement sessions and stories added!
The Edmonton Arts Council, on behalf of the City of Edmonton, is preparing Edmonton’s next comprehensive 10-year Arts and Heritage Plan. Along with project partners the Edmonton Heritage Council, the City of Edmonton, and Arts Habitat Edmonton, work is underway to create a new 10-year Arts & Heritage Plan that will be unique to Edmonton, and will provide strong recommendations that will guide and strengthen the City’s planning, investment, and ongoing development of the arts and heritage sectors.
To create a plan that is truly unique to our city, we want to know your fondest culture memories; the impact of the arts and heritage in your community, on your networks or for your cause; and your aspirations for the future of the arts and heritage sectors in Edmonton.
So far, 41 stories have been shared on the YEG Culture Map and facilitated sector specific sessions are beginning Monday!
Community Stories
Rogers Place
Reconciliation is a gift - watching the unveiling of Alex Janvier's painting rooted me to the heart of Edmonton - A place people have been coming for a thousand years!
Shared by Sanjay Shahani
Image: Tsa Tsa Ke K'e - Iron Foot Place by Alex Janvier, photo by Dwayne Martineau, Laughing Dog Photography.
Queen Elizabeth Pool (old location)
I used to take my children swimming at the Queen Elizabeth Pool. In the summer of 1988, I noticed this big chalk board near the change rooms. I went over to have a closer look. The information on the board was regarding the history of mixed race bathing in Edmonton. That is when I found out that Queen Elizabeth Pool was the first location where Black Edmontonians were allowed to swim in a public place managed by the City of Edmonton.
Shared by Elsa Robinson
Image: Queen Elizabeth Pool c. 1922, photo from the City of Edmonton Archives.
Red Strap Market
This building has had several lives! It is a very important site in the history of women's work and labour in this City, as it once housed the Great West Garment factory, and produced jeans until the early 1980's. Eventually, it became home to the biggest Army & Navy in Edmonton, and was a go-to source for houswares for Edmontonians of all walks of life. This space's last iteration was a the Red Strap Market - a venue for art and craft vendors, host of live music, poetry readings, and dance events, home to artists' studios. A place ahead of it's the by about 10 years. This is a building that needs to be USED and loved, and embraced by the City!
Shared by Sydney Lancaster
Image: Abby Espejo in K O Dance Project YOU/happening, photo by Tracy Kolenchuk.
Harbin Gate
When my relatives visited us, my parents would bring us to the Harbin Gate to take pictures. As a kid, I remember climbing to reach and rub the ball in the guardian lion's mouth for good luck. I didn't realize how special and important the Chinatown Gate was until it was taken away.
Shared by Grace Law
Image: Grace Law at the Harbin Gate c. 1988, photo supplied.
Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park
This is where Found Festival was born! In 2012 Elena Belyea, Molly Staley, Tori Morrison and Andrew Ritchie founded the Found Festival, a multi-disciplinary found space arts event. In the first year we met at the Gazebo to begin our two day adventure to take in eight one-off performances by emerging artists all over Old Strathcona. It is now 2018 and the festival has grown so much in 7 years! It began with just a few artists thinking "Hey what if we did a festival where we didn't pay for a single venue"
Shared by Andrew Ritchie
Image: Festival goers enjoying a live performance at the 2017 Found Festival, photo by Mat Simpson Photography.
Hawrelak Park
As a University of Alberta student in the early 90's I was living on campus, and stayed for the summer. Edmonton opened itself to me as a place that was not just a grey and white winter landscape. The green hues of the mid-summer led to biking and walking around the river valley.
One of those weekends I stumbled upon the Heritage Days festival and was stunned at the variety of different people, food, dance and craft that was on display. I spent much of that weekend walking down from the U of A campus to just hang out and absorb.
One of my lasting memories of Edmonton... arguably that was when I started to be a nascent "Edmontonian" after several years of just visiting for school.
Shared by Stephen M Williams
Image: Traditional dancers at the 2015 Heritage Festival, photo by Inez Paszewska.
>> Click here to add your story to the YEG Culture Map...
Upcoming Engagement Sessions
We are hosting a suite of in-depth facilitated conversations for arts and heritage organizations, artists, collectives, museums, and others. These facilitated sessions are two hours in length, and will provide an opportunity for members of the arts and heritage sectors to engage in focused discussion, and share their vision for the future of the arts and heritage landscapes.
Theatre Session – March 12, 2018 / 11:00am-1:00pm / CKUA Performance Space, 9804 Jasper Avenue
Ward 8 Public Session – March 12, 2018 / 6:00-8:00pm / ATB Financial Arts Barns, 10330 84 Avenue
Ward 6 Public Session – March 13, 2018 / 6:00-8:00pm / Manning Hall, Art Gallery of Alberta, 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Festivals Session – March 14, 2018 / 11:00am-1:00pm / CKUA Performance Space, 9804 Jasper Avenue
Music Session – March 15, 2018 / 6:00-8:00pm / CKUA Performance Space, 9804 Jasper Avenue
Public Art Session – March 16, 2018 / 11:00am-1:00pm/ Art Gallery of Alberta Theatre Lobby, 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Heritage Session – March 21, 2018 / 3:00-5:00pm / Prince of Wales Armouries, Jefferson Room, 10440 108 Avenue
Performing Arts Session – April 3, 2018 / 11:00am-1:00pm / Myer Horowitz Theatre, University of Alberta, 8900 114 Street
Heritage Session – April 5, 2018 / 6:00-8:00pm / Prince of Wales Armouries, Lestock Lounge, 10440 108 Avenue
Film & Media Arts Session – April 6, 2018 / 11:00am-1:00pm / Citadel Theatre, Shoctor Lobby, 9828 101A Avenue
Literary Arts Session – April 6, 2018 / 6:00-8:00pm / City Arts Centre, Drama Room, 10943 84 Avenue
Dance Session – April 7, 2018 / 11:00am-1:00pm / Timms Centre Lobby, University of Alberta, 87 Avenue & 112 Street
Visual Arts Session – April 9, 2018 / 11:00am-1:00pm / Allard Hall, MacEwan University, 11104 104 Avenue
If you require ASL interpretation or other assistance, please contact the EAC at [email protected] with the date and venue of the engagement session you will be attending.
>> Click here for all session dates including community pop-up events...
As arts and heritage in Edmonton touch all aspects of our community, hearing stories and opinions from members of the public, arts and heritage groups and community-based organizations is incredibly important. It helps to represent the many diverse groups and viewpoints in our city. Sharing your experiences and exploring the memories of others on our digital map of Edmonton, provides a visual representation of notable arts and heritage assets, values and experiences in our city.
Your input will shape the future of arts and heritage in Edmonton!