Theme CU 1: Arts, Creativity and Entertainment

Theme Statement

Kingston is a place where all forms of creative expression and public entertainment are nurtured, celebrated, and valued as important contributors to the city’s cultural, social, and economic life.

Indicators

Employment in Occupations Related to Arts, Culture, Recreation and Sport (Percentage of the employed labour force).⁷

Goals

Nurture, broaden and enhance established and emerging arts, artists, and cultural organizations.
Recognize and enhance the social value, economic potential, and community vitality of arts, creativity, and entertainment.
Encourage people to be creators of and participants in diverse cultural activities.
Ensure that the community's cultural vitality is sustainable through secure financial support and infrastructure.
Encourage initiatives that ensure that the plans and priorities of the arts community are effectively integrated and represented by “umbrella” arts organizations.

Actions

Action	Action Lead	Target	Status
Host and Annual Garden Competition to encourage sustainable gardening practices.	Kingston Blooms	Increase number of participants by 20% which will increase neighbourhood pride, leading to reduced municipal costs, reduced crime, and enhanced property values.	Annual (Since 1995)
Host an Awards Ceremony for all the winners with one award designated as the "Mayor's Award".	Kingston Blooms	To recognize and applaud the efforts of the gardeners and judges.	Annual
Incorporate visual art whenever possible & design landscapes that make you ‘think’.	Individual Landscapes	Increase private enjoyment and public awareness by ensuring that this action is always a consideration during the planning process.	Ongoing/completed project: City of Kingston ‘Water your Trees Landscape’ on John Counter Blvd.
Domino Theatre Donation support to the new Domino Theatre.	Brown's Dining Solutions		Completed
Save The JK Tett Founding member of Save The JK Tett building and a strong advocate for its preservation and renovation	Brown's Dining Solutions		Ongoing
Grand Theatre Fund Raising Major Donation to the Grand Theatre Fund Raising Campaign.	Brown's Dining Solutions		Completed
Major Gift Committee Volunteered on the Major Gift Committee and assisted with the raise of million.	Brown's Dining Solutions		Completed
ART Produced one of Kingston's most successful theatre productions called ART and donated proceeds to over ,000 to a local family in need.	Brown's Dining Solutions		Completed
First Outdoor Patio Designed and received approval for Kingston's first outdoor patio in front of The Prince George Hotel.	Brown's Dining Solutions		Completed
City Rink Chaired the original Market Square Committee that recommended an outdoor rink behind City Hall.	Brown's Dining Solutions		Completed
Establishment of Calvin Park as the Multicultural Library	Kingston Immigration Partnership (KIP)	Everyone is welcome, newcomers of all ages, and Canadian born residents.	Ongoing
Annual Multicultural Arts Festival	Kingston Immigration Partnership (KIP)	The Kingston community and beyond.	A once a year, multiday festival in September.
RBC Emerging Artists Over 30 projects across Canada help young artists bridge the gap from the academic to the professional world, not only in theatre and musical performance, but also in writing, film-making, glassmaking, playwrighting, curatorship, design and choreography.	Royal Bank of Canada	- Provide a structured curriculum of mentorship and training, typically for a period of three to six months, although shorter more intensive programming may be considered. - Provide an opportunity for interaction between the professional staff, visiting artists and the Emerging Artists. -Serve as a bridge between senior academic programs and the professional world. - Engage the broader community in the art form, through free performances or programming to underserviced or rural communities.	Ongoing
Hold meetings with a variety of speakers	Kingston Field Naturalists	To provide entertaining and informative meetings, that contribute to the city’s cultural and social life.	Meetings held monthly from September to May.
Art Displays Central Library provides free space for art exhibits which reflect diverse cultural interests.	Kingston Frontenac Public Library	To foster community and individual expression.	Ongoing
Funding Through the City of Kingston Arts Fund (CKAF), KAC administers over 500,000 dollars of arts funding to local arts organizations. The KAC is responsible for the Nan Yeomans' Grant for Artistic Development, which helps promising young artists further their education and professional growth. The KAC also acts as an intermediary for Kingston artists and organizations who would not otherwise have access to funding.	Kingston Arts Council	According to the Ontario Arts Council, every dollar invested in arts funding generates four dollars in the local economy. Any financial investment in local artists and arts organizations, benefits the cultural growth of a community. Our target is to increase Kingston's cultural growth.	Ongoing
Communication Our Arts Guides help to build audiences and raise awareness of professional artists and organizations in the Kingston area. Our social media tools and interactive arts portal act as a valuable information hub keeping artists, patrons, and visitors to Kingston informed of a wide range of creative activity. The Arts Council also organizes networking and showcasing events to help the general public become more connected with Kingston area artists and arts organizations.	Kingston Arts Council	The Kingston Arts Council is an information hub for the arts which aims to promote our members, arts events and general arts and culture activities. The KAC connects the dots between not only the artist community but the general public as well. We are here to answer questions and provide information about the arts in Kingston and area.	Ongoing
Presentation KAC plays a lead role in the Juried Arts Salon, The Kingston Cultural Kaleidoscope, The Kingston Portrait Prize and other high quality local events. KAC offers year round workshops, internships and professional development opportunities.	Kingston Arts Council	Our first and foremost goal is to present and celebrate the work of our members at events such as the Juried Arts Salon and the Kingston Cultural Kaleidoscope. Additionally the Arts Council works in collaboration with other arts organizations such as the Kingston Jazz Festival to further present local excellence in the arts.	Ongoing
Advocacy The KAC regularly attends City Council, Cultural Services and Arts Advisory meetings on behalf of all members. We work with political representatives on a provincial and federal level to ensure arts and culture issues remain at the forefront of Kingston area political agendas.	Kingston Arts Council	To keep up to date on current and important information on arts related issues in the city of Kingston. To pass on that information, on a regular basis, and in the most effective way possible, to our membership and other interested individuals. To ensure that artists and arts organizations voices are heard by our elected members of government.	Ongoing
Local Community Coverage Through the production of Kingston Life magazine, we are committed to raising awareness of the important issues and personalities influencing our city.	Kingston Publications	To help engage Kingstonians in their community and increase community involvement within the area. With an emphasis on arts and entertainment, we seek to enhance the city's cultural environment. We are committed to keeping all content and photography locally produced by writers and photographers living in the region.	Ongoing
Local Community Programming Partnering with local community organizations and associations in order to help foster community development and to provide awarness of community initatives and services in the city of Kingston.	TVCOGECO	To help increase community involvement within the Kingston area.	Ongoing
Dinner and Entertainment Series Wintergreen Studios offers dinner followed by a concert or a reading.	Wintergreen Studios	In 2011 we expect to attract over 300 people to the 9 events that have been planned to date.	Ongoing
Fare in the Square The annual harvest celebration at the Kingston Public Market. This event showcases the quality and variety of local food available at the market and the talent of Kingston’s farmers and chefs. The celebration includes local food tasting, chef cooking demonstrations, live music, face painting, and more.	Downtown Kingston! B.I.A.	- To increase the awareness of local food at the Kingston Public Market and at Kingston restaurants. - To provide the Kingston community with high-quality, family-oriented, outdoor entertainment and activities while supporting Kingston’s downtown core.	Ongoing (annual event)
Limestone City Blues Festival The festival runs for four days in August and includes close to 70 live performers playing on 3 large outdoor stages, and in over 12 downtown venues. With over 50,000 in attendance, the festival is a valuable contributor to the cultural signature of the City.	Downtown Kingston! B.I.A.	To bring authentic blues entertainment to the Kingston community while supporting Kingston’s downtown core.	Ongoing (annual event)
Busker's Rendezvous Ranked as one of the top busker festivals in North America, the festival showcases over 50 performers from Kingston, and around the world. The festival draws a crowd of over 100,000 during the 4 days and includes outdoor events and activities for all age groups.	Downtown Kingston! B.I.A.	To provide the Kingston community with high-quality, family-oriented, outdoor entertainment and activities while supporting Kingston’s downtown core.	Ongoing (annual event)
Feb Fest Kingston’s premier winter festival providing the community with an opportunity to enjoy outdoor winter entertainment and activities. It takes place in and around Kingston’s Historic Springer Market Square.	Downtown Kingston! B.I.A.	To provide the Kingston community with high-quality, family-oriented, outdoor winter entertainment and activities while supporting Kingston’s downtown core.	Ongoing (annual event)
Cultural Master Plan The purpose of the Kingston Culture Plan is to articulate a sustainable, authentic, long-term vision for cultural vitality in Kingston; to identify possibilities for connections between cultural organizations and other stakeholders as well as opportunities for collaboration among City departments to achieve municipal strategic objectives; and to develop strategic directions, initiatives and recommendations for action and an implementation timeline.	City of Kingston	Completion by July 2010.	Underway

7 Measuring the “sustainability” of culture is difficult. While employment in the cultural sector is important to measure, it is also important to gather information about the number of producers and consumers of culture. This concern will be addressed in the Kingston Community Cultural Policy Plan. For a list of cultural organizations in Kingston, please visit, www.immigrationkingston.ca/ethnocultural