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The arts are part of all our lives and around us everywhere. Civic
leaders understand the importance of creating a sense of place
in the urban environment, and how citizens interact with that
space. In 2001, Saanich Municipal Council approved a
Comprehensive Arts Policy to show its support for the arts,
to provide policy direction, and to consolidate all
arts-related policies together.
A SUMMARY
The Vision:
Saanich as a lively and creative community
accessible to artists, to a broad range of artistic expression
and to the participation
of all its residents.
Goals:
Encourage, promote, and support the arts and artists, municipally
and regionally for the benefit and opportunity of all Saanich
residents.
Arts Objectives
- Development of community spirit.
- Individual growth through access to the arts.
- Public awareness of local and regional artistic talent.
- Education, participation, and enjoyment of the arts, locally
and regionally.
- Recognition and promotion of excellence and diversity
within the artistic community.
Arts Policies
Saanich residents benefit from both municipal and regional
arts.
The ongoing participation of municipalities within Greater
Victoria is crucial to the success of a coordinated regional
arts program and strategy. Saanich seeks to provide
funding and support for individuals and groups through close
working relationships with the CRD, other municipalities,
school districts, Chambers of Commerce, Tourism Victoria,
and other agencies.
Access to and participation in the arts is integral to a healthy
community, and starts at the municipal level. Saanich
seeks to create artistic opportunities for all Saanich citizens
through:
- Recreation planning
- Parks programming
- Garden art
- Venue establishment for performances and events (theatres
and park space)
- Annual events
- Arts inventory and maintenance
- Neighbourhood Development Grants and Matching Grants
- Public art
- Incorporation of artistic elements and high quality design
in new developments.
Public Art
Public art is an important aspect of public
spaces, yielding social, physical and economic benefits. Saanich
has made a financial commitment to the promotion of public
art
in the community by adopting the following policy:
Allocate
- 1% of the value of the capital budgets for above ground
projects towards the purchase or commission and maintenance
of public art to be integrated into or displayed in public
areas; and
- 1% of the budget for municipal building construction/renovation
projects, or park redevelopment, in excess of $250,000
to the purchase or commission of public art for that building,
structure or park.
Support for Arts in Schools
Saanich and local School Districts 61 and 63 have long been
partnering on projects.
Examples include: the Art 2000 Millennium Mural Project,
Totally Teen Talent, and Saanich Family Christmas.
Private Sector Public Art
The vast majority of the urban
environment lies within the private sector. As a result, architecture and public
space are dependent on private developers taking an interest
in good urban design and in art. Good urban design contributes
to public enjoyment, and art can enhance that enjoyment. Art
on urban land, whether incorporated into the architecture
of a building, as a stand-alone piece or landscaping, contributes
to public pleasure and enjoyment. Business owners know
it is in their best interests to make their site aesthetically
pleasing - it brings customers in. Good overall design
costs money, bad overall design costs more money.
Public art in urban public spaces is one aspect of incorporating
art into creative urban design. Art challenges, inspires,
and incites the beholder.
How:
Encourage private enterprise to integrate Public Art into
developments with significant public areas or developments
which are in areas designed for or intended to be used
by the public. Providing a cash donation for Civic
Public Art is an Alternative.
Through the development application process, applicants will
be informed of the District's Public Art Program.
As an incentive to encourage public art on private developments,
and if a developer requests it, the Municipality offers a
jury process to individual projects that contain a public
art component.
As well, a plaque inscription program will recognize cash
donations.
Please click below to view the document in PDF format or you
may obtain a copy at the Planning Department for $10.00.
Arts Policy
- Part 1 (PDF
448KB)
Arts
Policy - Part 2a (PDF
2.0MB)
Arts Policy - Part 2b (PDF
1.5MB)
Arts Policy - Part 3 (PDF
1MB - includes
appendices)
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