City of Kelowna asks if there are enough public art spaces

Residents and organizations in Kelowna are being asked if there are enough creative spaces in Kelowna.

Staff members spoke to council on Monday about a survey and a number of focus groups that are going to be launched.

The survey will be posted on the City of Kelowna website and will be handed out to businesses and organizations in the city. It will focus on if there are enough public creative spaces for artists.

According to the City of Kelowna recent data has shown that performance and rehearsal spaces at two major civic centres, the Kelowna Community Theatre and the Rotary Centre for the Arts, is at or nearing capacity.

“These studios are not designed for active or heavy fabrication involving chemical processes, large machinery or high temperature kilns. In the last several months privately-owned collective studio spaces have become available – anecdotal information indicates that the spaces are in high demand,” the City report stated.

The survey will help understand space requirements for different art disciplines in the city ranging from stage arts to studio practices.

The survey will be available for three months.

A consultant will also work with the City to provide a series of focus groups with invited individuals, non-profit organizations, educational agencies and private businesses. The hope is that these talks and the survey will discuss a number of things:

· Information about the type of spaces used/available

· Understanding of space related issues/challenges

· Identification of opportunities for collaborative space sharing

· Discipline-specific space requirements

· In conjunction with the survey, development of an inventory of existing or potential creative production spaces

The information gathered will be used when the City of Kelowna updates the Cultural Plan in 2017.