GREATER VANCOUVER SOCIETY TO BRIDGE ARTS AND COMMUNITY
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Mission Statement
The Greater Vancouver Society to Bridge Arts and Community (Bridge Society) is the partner organization of the BC Alliance for Arts + Culture. The Bridge Society mandate is to promote, spread awareness, and deliver education about arts and culture initiatives in Greater Vancouver and across the Province of B.C., by establishing bridges between the general public, the private sector, arts organizations, and individual artists through activities including, but not limited to, educational workshops, outreach programs, awards ceremonies, and the maintenance of an arts resource centre. Bridge Society staff work together with a volunteer provincial task force, municipalities, First Nations, arts councils, arts and culture organizations, and individual artists to coordinate plans for the annual Culture Days celebrations in B.C. Culture Days is a national three-week celebration of arts and culture that takes place every fall. As part of the celebration, thousands of organizers offer free or Pay-What-You-May participatory arts and culture events across the country both in-person and online. Through its programs, Culture Days invites millions of people across Canada to get hands-on and behind-the-scenes to highlight the importance of arts and culture in our communities. Culture Days aims to: FOSTER appreciation and support of the artistic and cultural life that is lived, created and expressed across the country in urban, suburban and rural areas alike; PROMOTE direct interaction between creators and the public, as a key to increasing understanding and appreciation of art and culture; and AFFIRM that every citizen is the guardian of the cultural life of his, her or their community.
About This Cause
Through the annual BC Culture Days celebration, the Bridge Society engages and encourages active participation from urban, suburban, and rural citizens in the artistic and cultural landscape of their local communities. By working and networking with an extensive network including municipal organizers, First Nations, arts councils, non-profits, and individual artists, the Bridge Society generates widespread awareness of arts and culture’s impact on individual health and well-being and its significant contribution to Canada's economy. OUR IMPACT We aim to promote and sustain an equitable platform, focused on fostering accessible programming and amplifying the voices of historically underrepresented people, including racialized, 2SLGBTQQIA+, Deaf, and disabled artists and community members through our projects. Our Strategies: PROMOTING - Through Culture Days, the Bridge Society promotes hundreds of free or Pay-What-You-May community-engaged events and festivals, inviting hundreds of thousands of people to experience arts and culture behind-the-scenes, in a participatory and creative way. SUPPORTING - Our BC Culture Days Ambassador Program aims to dismantle systemic barriers by creating professional development opportunities for new artists. In prioritizing applicants living within underserved geographical and/or as part of minority communities, the program bolsters informative activities across B.C., created by emerging Indigenous, racialized, disabled, neurodiverse, and 2SLGBTQ+ artists. CONNECTING - Our staff collaborates with local and regional community organizers to produce culturally rich programming, backing multiple projects and the annual BC Culture Days launch event. Our partnerships enable us to better support our network of artists and cultural workers with event facilitation through co-production, venue assistance, and promotional support. Creating Change: Through the administration and production of BC Culture Days, the Bridge Society is building a unique provincial network of arts and culture workers devoted to fostering creative and cultural growth, prosperity, and livelihood among artists, creators, organizers, and citizens in B.C. We strive to create positive change in our communities, incite curiosity and appreciation for arts, culture, and heritage in the everyday lives of citizens, and provide emerging artists with the experience and mentorship needed to grow their careers and strengthen their connection with audiences and industry peers. Long-Term Desired Outcome: By extending our organizational reach and impact through BC Culture Days, we are working towards strengthening and widening our cultural network across the province. We seek to nourish and grow our working relationships with Northern and remote communities and to develop greater connections with First Nations and Métis organizations. In continuing to recruit and mobilize BC Culture Days Community Organizers, we will ensure regional representation from across the province and the involvement of underrepresented and marginalized individuals and communities. By implementing diverse fundraising strategies, we aim to sustain continued support for the production and growth of our programs and initiatives. This, in turn, will allow us to engage participants in the creative and cultural life of their communities, bridging cultures, inspiring new connections, and contributing to the health and wellbeing of our society as a whole. OUR PROGRAMS: The BC Culture Days Ambassador Program offers the opportunity for a range of emerging artists in B.C. to expand their practice and develop creative, community-immersed programming for Culture Days. The emerging artists act as spokespeople for Culture Days and also participate in one-on-one mentorships with established artists.