Okotoks has a plan to incorporate arts, culture and heritage into its future growth. Council approved the Culture Heritage and Arts Master Plan (CHAMP II) at its Nov. 26 meeting. Entitled Growing Together, the plan focuses on bringing residents together to celebrate the unique culture of Okotoks through its development. “It focuses on connecting and engaging citizens of all ages and backgrounds to nurture grassroots cultural development,” said Allan Boss, Okotoks culture and heritage manager. The plan speaks to goals like creating a public arts policy, commissioning works of art, designating heritage resources, identifying economic development opportunities in the arts sector, and looking into events and facilities that can foster culture and heritage in Okotoks. Some items are listed in a timeline, such as commissioning a piece of art in 2019 and annually thereafter, with the idea of bringing residents together and fostering the value of culture in town. The estimated value of the artwork is $2,500 each. Though facilities are mentioned in CHAMP II, they are not the sole purpose of the master plan, said Boss. “CHAMP II is not a document that specifically focuses on building a performing arts centre,” he said. “It is a framework for readying the community for the potential of a performing arts centre and to build arts and culture and heritage within our community.” Cultural assets listed in the master plan include not only facilities that promote arts, culture and heritage, but also people, groups, the creative community and organizations that make up Okotoks, he said. There is opportunity to create economic value from promoting the town’s culture and heritage, he said. “We’re going to work forward and together with economic development and build the culture and arts and heritage of this community,” said Boss. Coun. Florence Christophers said the master plan shows the Town is engaging and moving forward with the community. She said connecting culture with economic development is the way to go. “I feel like the piece that’s dovetailing really well is with our economic development conversations around harnessing and leveraging arts and culture, in particular towards economic development and how they’re coming together at the same time,” said Christophers. “I think it’s really exciting to see where we’re going to take our culture in our town.” The Okotoks Arts Council commended the Town for its work on CHAMP II and the intent and spirit of the plan. A letter of support said the new plan showed promise with new and shared roles with regards to arts policy, events and initiatives between the Town, the arts council and Intelligent Futures. “We are also very pleased to see a number of short term art projects proposed within this plan that will engage the broader community and visitors to our community with the arts and creative processes wherein we learn and grow together,” wrote Cheryl Taylor, Okotoks Arts Council president. She said the projects, such as annual commissioned artwork and public art, can add to the tourism offerings of the town and enhance the local economy by bringing more visitors to Okotoks. “They are important, immediate action items that are investment in Okotoks and are long overdue,” Taylor wrote.
