Creative Cowichan arts and culture master plan
Happy Cities worked with the Cowichan Valley Regional District to develop a new arts and culture plan, supporting diverse community goals—including wellbeing, inclusion, and economic development.
Totem pole in Duncan. (Kendra Seignoret / Rusty Travel Trunk)
Arts and culture to support a vibrant region
Happy Cities worked with the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) to develop its first-ever arts and culture master plan. The plan will guide investment in arts and culture over the next five years, building creative capacity and enhancing arts and culture opportunities for locals and visitors alike.
With nine First Nations and four municipalities, this southern Vancouver Island region represents a geographically diverse and growing population. There is remarkable creative talent, showcased through many art galleries, performance spaces, music festivals, murals, totem poles, classes, workshops, and more.
The arts and culture master plan aims to uplift creative voices across the region—artists, community groups, new and long-term residents. It will also be a practical resource for local governments across the region, including Lake Cowichan, Ladysmith, Duncan, and North Cowichan. The plan will identify strategies to support existing programming, spaces, and public art, while also exploring new opportunities to expand creative offerings in its diverse communities.
Recognizing that arts and culture are for everyone, Happy Cities led community engagement to help the CVRD hear community input on priorities for the region. All artists—dabblers, creatives, and appreciators alike—were invited to be a part of this process.
Stay tuned for the final plan!
What is an arts and culture plan?
An arts and culture plan guides local government on how to support and invest in arts and culture services, programs, facilities, and local initiatives in the community. Happy Cities’ approach to developing an arts and culture plan reflects best practices by:
Engaging with the community to understand priorities, identify key opportunities, and share the benefits of arts and culture
Determining a vision and guiding principles that align with the region’s goals and with diverse community priorities, including strengthening reconciliation with Indigenous communities
Evaluating existing assets and programs to understand potential gaps and opportunities
Identifying emerging trends and best practices in the delivery of arts and culture programs, facilities, public art installations, and coordinated governance models
Providing recommendations on how local government can best allocate resources (such as public funding and facilities) toward creative policies, programs, and services
Developing a public art management policy as a framework for purchasing, maintaining, and celebrating public art across the region
