Commissioner Blyth’s motion to develop more art in Vancouver
At tonight’s Park Board meeting the follow motion will be put forward by Commissioner Blyth:
Whereas many field houses and other space in Vancouver’s city parks that have remained unused for several years
Whereas the Vancouver PB must be prudent with its resources, and thus be as creative as possible in fostering widespread usage of Park board facilities;
Whereas there are several worthwhile arts, athletic, community and youth organization across the city that would greatly benefit from access to these vacant properties:
Whereas the Vancouver Park Board’s mandate identifies advocacy for the use of the city’s parks and associated facilities as a core principle in order to “benefit people” and “communities”:
Whereas these venues have so much potential to enhance our city for the benefit of all;
Be it Resolved that staff explore the potential use of any surplus facilities such as closed field houses for re-purposing;
And be it Resolved that this process is guided by consultation so that these spaces become expression of the will of the resent of the City of Vancouver.
COPE Park Board Caucus member Vivian Pan is register to speak to the motion to support the initiative. I will post her presentation after the meeting latter tonight.
more on Vivian Pan
Vivian Pan’s presentation:
“Good evening, Mr. Chairperson and Commissioners, thanks for this opportunity to speak to the Board.
My name is Vivian Pan, I am a member of the Executive of the Coalition of Progressive Electors (COPE) and I am also a member of the COPE Park Board Caucus. I am here today representing COPE’s Park Board Caucus.
I am here to speak in support of Commissioner Blyth’s motion. Our Caucus thinks that there is merit in the motion and it is worthy the staff time to explore the possibilities of developing more capacity for the arts and culture in under used Park Board facilities.
In the many conversations that our organization has held with artists and cultural workers we hear a lot of folks speak about the need for space – whether it be for storage or for gathering. Community based artists that produce large community celebrations from year to year need space to store material, to rehearse or to hold meetings and share ideas for events and exhibitions.
There also is a need for affordable production space in Vancouver. The Arts needs to be supported and nurtured, having affordable studio space is a key step in helping artists in Vancouver.
For the Park Board to support the arts a little more through this motion does not equal a zero sum proposition and in my opinion, to suggest that this proposal would take away capacity from sports groups is a false dichotomy.
I think that arts and culture is an integral part of healthy, integrated and vibrant communities. I think that there is a lot of potential to be explored through this motion, and I think that park board can play a very positive key role in promoting affordable and accessible space for the use of facilitating arts and culture in our city.
Thanks for the opportunity to participate in this important debate.”
The motion was passed by the Board unanimous.