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 2007 Brings our Arts Community onto Centre Stage
In Edmonton we have always been proud of our arts community. This year it is being formally recognized with Edmonton being selected as Canada’s Cultural Capital. This is something we already knew, but this makes it official.
It is testament to the strength and diversity, not only of our arts community, but of the thousands of volunteers, donors, supporters and audience members who make the arts part of life in Edmonton.
Along with the recognition comes nearly $3 million in additional funds for our arts economy this year. These funds will be a boost to our arts activities overall and will allow us to launch new efforts including:
- Nightworks: Two citywide celebrations with performances and light displays, focused on northern-ness, urbanity and light.
- Edmonton Explorations: A grant program for new artists, encouraging innovation and fresh ideas.
- Cultural Inventory: A research project to identify and record Edmonton's cultural people, places and organizations.
- Community Arts: An artist-in-residence program, designed to bring art and culture to Edmonton's marginalized communities, by working with a professional artist.
- Poetry Festival: A year-long celebration of poetry and the spoken word, inspired by the city's fall poetry festival.
- Cultural Symposia: A two-day ideas festival, with renowned thinkers and speakers, capped with a performance arts gala.
This is a well deserved reward for the people of this City, and I encourage everyone to take full advantage of these, and many other events and activities taking place throughout the City this year.
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Mayor Mandel is joined by Poet Laureate Alice Major, Hon. Rona Ambrose, Rahim Jaffer, MP and Councillor Michael Phair in announcing cultural capital designation.
Photos are courtesy of the Edmonton Arts Council
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Enough Is Enough
In December, the City teamed up with Police, the Edmonton Oilers, the Edmonton Eskimos, and the media to create a campaign focused on a simple truth: it’s time for our whole community to take a stand against violence. Managing this issue means taking personal responsibility to put an end to the senseless and pointless violence that has been too obvious on our streets.
In a campaign, covering all media in the City, all of us are reminded that there are right choices that can be made in difficult situations – that violence is the wrong answer.
“Enough Is Enough” is not just a series of commercials. The public face is only one part of a multi-stakeholder approach. We have already set up a new interagency team to work with licensed drinking establishments to make sure their patrons can enjoy a safe environment, and that problem situations can be identified and dealt with before they escalate.
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A Coordinator is being brought on staff to manage the Whyte Avenue area like a single venue. This Coordinator will work with area merchants and establishments to improve crowd flow, entrances, exits and other safety issues for the area. Additionally, new alley lighting will be installed in Old Strathcona, Alberta Avenue and parts of Downtown.
Later this year, we will be working with the Provincial Government to develop programs designed to work with young Albertans, teaching them how to avoid violent situations, and how to find non-violent solutions.
Violence is a black mark on our community and it is up to all of us to prevent the spread of this problem. Working together, I know we can make a difference.
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| Contact Us
Visit our website at edmonton.ca or call the Mayor’s Office at 496-8100. |
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