SURREY FIRST CULTURAL POLICY PLATFORM

CULTURAL POLICY BACKGROUND:

Surrey’s Sustainability Charter has several socio-cultural and economic objectives that support civic participation by all Surrey residents. Cultural activities are recognized as an important way for individuals to integrate with their communities. Culture is an essential tool in understanding the values shared, meanings and goals of residents within a community. Wide, inclusive participation in cultural activities contributes to community vitality, economic development and supports sustainability.

Surrey is BC’s second-largest and fastest growing city, rich with diversity having 43% of its residents speaking a first language other than English.

  • The City was awarded Cultural Capital of Canada designation in 2008.
  • Theme of the 2011 Cultural Plan is “Enhancing Urbanization Through Arts and Heritage”.
  • The City created a Surrey Cultural Inventory of over 400 records and 31 facilities (22 publicly and nine privately operated), 60 public art installations, 120 arts and heritage organizations representing dance, music, history lectures, theatre, pottery, visual arts, photography, natural heritage and writing of cultural significance.
  • Artist/cultural workers involved in all types of media, and their endeavours have been documented.
  • Enhancement strategies aim to:
    • Reinforce the pivotal roles of the City Centre and Town Centres.
    • Make compact urban settings more attractive as a development concept.
    • Help foster communications among diverse cultural groups.
    • Communicate the history of Surrey which puts the present in context.
    • Reinforce a sense of pride in the community and its appearance.
    • Mobilize the full potential of the artistic and heritage talents in the community.
    • Bolster tourism.
    • Diversify the local economy.
  • Strategic goals include:
    • Complete construction of a Performing Arts Centre (subject to senior government levels of funding)
    • Host exhibits, shows and performances that draw regionally, nationally and internationally as facilities become available.
    • Enhance partnerships with Surrey Arts Council, educational institutions and the private sector to leverage improved arts and heritage initiatives within the City Centre.
    • Construction of Phase 2 of the Surrey Museum expansion.
    • Showcase national and international exhibits in new exhibition space.
    • Explore potential to enhance sustainability of the Surrey Cultural Grant Program and with strategic partnerships.
    • Facilitate the establishment of hybrid organizations that combine business with community arts, heritage and education groups.
    • Construction of the Contemporary Art Gallery and Café.
    • Build a 350-seat Performing Arts Centre in South Surrey.

SURREY FIRST CULTURAL POLICY

Surrey First’s Cultural Policy aims to create neighbourhoods that have distinct identities, diverse populations, lively public spaces that promote social connections and a range of accessible services and opportunities. Surrey First will create the Surrey Cultural Corridor, a unique hub of cultural and arts facilities that concentrates heritage and arts groups in a critical mass to facilitate ease of access for citizens, collaboration and synergy within artists and groups and to create an economic hub that draws investment and entrepreneurs who want to invest in the creative economy.

The Surrey Cultural Corridor will extend from Surrey City Centre down through South Surrey along King George Boulevard and include:

  • Surrey Centre Stage at City Centre
  • Simon Fraser University School of Interactive Arts and Technology
  • Artist Umbrella Centre to engage young people in the arts
  • Performing Arts Centre
  • Holland Park
  • Surrey Arts Centre Gallery with 400 seat studio theatre and studio space
  • Newton Cultural Centre
  • Artists and Cultural Hub with studios and shops to display their works
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University School of Design
  • 350-seat theatre for the Performing Arts Theatre in South Surrey
  • Contemporary Arts Gallery and Cafe

The Cultural Corridor will be a regional and international tourist destination and a signature landmark of Surrey’s rich cultural diversity. It will be an economic engine, with students from SFU’s School of Interactive Arts and Kwantlen’s School of Design getting work experience and launching careers with companies that locate along the Cultural Corridor and Innovation Boulevard in order to access the creative talent of Surrey’s young workforce. The Corridor will connect the different sectors within the arts community and broader business world to create opportunities for collaboration not possible when workers and creators of different skillsets are separated geographically and by organizational silos. Partnering with the Surrey Board of Trade, investment will be attracted to Surrey, turning the arts community from a niche entertainment sector to a vibrant, accessible and growing job-creator.

FINANCING

$57.5 million Performing Arts Centre and Contemporary Arts Space and Gallery, a Public-Private Partnership managed by the Surrey City Development Corporation with a density bonus clause.

$3 million for the Surrey Museum Phase 2 completion funded through the Build Surrey fiscal framework.