The City of Peterborough is hosting three open houses over the coming week to prepare for the process of developing the city’s new Municipal Cultural Plan (MCP) for 2027.
The city is inviting artists, cultural workers, and community members who want to help shape the future of arts and culture in Peterborough to attend the open houses and to complete an online survey.
“The open houses will feature interactive activities designed to spark conversation about how the city can better support a vibrant, inclusive and accessible cultural sector,” reads a media release from the city issued last Friday (August 8).
The three open houses take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday (August 12) at the Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N.), on Thursday (August 14) at the Art Gallery of Peterborough (250 Crescent St.), and next Tuesday (August 19) at Peterborough Museum and Archives – 300 Hunter St. E.).
“The open houses will feature interactive activities designed to spark conversation about how the city can better support a vibrant, inclusive and accessible cultural sector,” reads the media release.
According to the city’s new cultural services division, the open houses are part of an initial community consultation called “Create the Culture You Want,” which also includes the online survey running until August 25.
The city notes that the open houses and online survey are an “initial phase of engagement” and that a more extensive and in-depth consultation process will take place later this year once a consultant has been retained to help develop the new 10-year MCP.
“As a newly established division, this is also our opportunity to introduce ourselves, connect with the community, and begin building strong, collaborative relationships,” reads a statement on the city’s website. “Your input will help ensure that our work reflects your priorities.”
The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) has issued an urgent appeal for residents to take part in the open houses and to complete the online survey. First established as a signature recommendation of the City of Peterborough’s 2012 MCP, EC3 is an independent, arm’s-length, not-for-profit corporation with a mandate to champion the development of the arts and culture community for the people of the city and county of Peterborough.
“This Municipal Cultural Plan will be used to determine how and where and how much the city will invest in the arts,” reads a media release from EC3 issued on Monday.
EC3 states that the consultations “are a critical opportunity to let the city know what they can do to strengthen a strong arts infrastructure for the municipality,” including increasing financial investments in local arts organizations and local individual artists, providing sustained funding to qualified groups, supporting the arts council (EC3) and its peer-assessed programs and advocacy, providing funding for DEI initiatives and emerging artists, supporting pathways to arts activities in all wards, creating affordable living and working spaces for artists, and supporting performance and rehearsal space that is accessible.
For more information on the open houses and to complete the online survey, visit connectptbo.ca/cultural-plan.
