B.9 Oxford County Cultural Plan (2009)
The cultural sector has gone from anonymity to being the centre of many new economic development strategies. The emerging consensus is that arts and culture is increasingly more important in supporting economic development and quality of life. Oxford County, like many communities around the world, is currently being challenged to adapt to economic, demographic and cultural changes. Community leaders and elected officials must respond to these challenges on a daily basis. The Oxford County Cultural Plan is a result of a visionary planning process that defines a clear blueprint for cultural development for Oxford County over the next five years with some components spanning twenty years. This will assist Oxford County in the development of a comprehensive strategic direction for an arts and culture program and will grow over time as recourses allow. This creative planning process will also assist in building stronger, healthier and more sustainable cultural organizations within Oxford County by strengthening partnerships and alliances among the cultural and business communities. It provides timelines and potential participants for implementing strategic directions and also includes very specific milestones to achieve these objectives. The Plan aims to attract and sustain both corporate and individual resources. It will raise awareness of the value of culture to our community and lead to the implementation of recommended action plans. The plan includes eight strategic priorities established for the creative community. They are as follows:
Strategic Priorities: • A framework for networking within the cultural sectors in order to foster and promote creative and sustainable relationships. • Cross-sector alliances and partnerships to promote creative and sustainable relationships between cultural sectors and businesses. • Educational opportunities to support future development of cultural groups. • Opportunities and events for the cultural community and general public and build on events already in place. • Marketing and communications to create a marketable cultural identity for Oxford County that effectively connects the people to arts and culture. • Quantify the benefits / achievements of the arts and culture sector to the entire population of Oxford County. • Increased child and youth involvement and recognition in arts and culture activities. • A county-wide strategy to attract new investment will be developed with input from Planning and Economic Development Departments.
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