Arts & Culture Strategy

Our Municipality of Chester is moving forward with its first Arts and Culture Strategy. This is a five year strategy that will help build a solid foundation for our Art and Culture community to thrive from. All updates on work and activities will be shared here. Community involvement is key to the strategy's success. Please follow along and share any ideas and opportunities.

Vision:

MOC will be a vibrant arts hub with a solid foundation that fosters community connections, celebrates diversity, and supports artists and creatives drawn to its quiet, natural landscape, nurturing a growing cultural economy.

Mission:

To cultivate a thriving, inclusive arts ecosystem that enhances community engagement and well-being through creative expression.

To further strengthen the arts and culture sector, MOC will focus on policy development, capacity building and planning that not only fills gaps experienced by the sector and community, but also advocates for the cultural community and how the arts contribute significantly with social, economic and cultural benefits. By bringing together diverse community partners such as local businesses, entrepreneurs, non-profits, and artists from all disciplines the municipality can help create a cohesive network that promotes growth and sustainability in the arts.

The MOC also plays a crucial role in promoting inclusivity and eliminating barriers to participation, ensuring that arts and culture is available and accessible to all residents, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Over the next five years MOC will focus on building a strong and stable foundation so Arts and Culture can thrive, adapt and have long-term sustainability.

Priorities:

1. Integrate and prioritize arts and culture in municipal planning
2. Build cultural leadership and capacity
3. Leverage creative sector for cultural tourism opportunities
4. Embed equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in arts and culture sector planning
5. Build community by strengthening arts and culture programming
6. Improve public spaces, cultural infrastructure and access to spaces

The implementation of the strategy is broken down into three phases - Phase 1: year 1-2, Phase 2: year 3-4, Phase 3: year 5+

Illustration of the each priority's action items over the three phases of the A&C Strategy

Priority 1:

phase 1 - action items 1-6, 8
phase 2 - action item 7

Priority 2:

phase 1 - action items 1-3

Priority 3:

phase 1 - action items 1, 6
phase 2 - actions items 2-5

Priority 4:

phase 1 - action items 1-3
phase 2 - action items 4-8

Priority 5:

phase 1 - action items 1-3
phase 2 - action item 4
phase 3 - action item 5

Priority 6:

phase 2 - action items 1, 3
phase 3 - action items 2, 4, 5-7

Currently Working On:

Research national pay models

Artist professional development workshops

Communication Strategy

Completed

Conduct a review of current MOC grants to assess alignment with arts and culture.

Reviewed existing organizational structure and flagged positions and departments impacting Arts & Culture

Conduct a scan of similar municipalities - review how arts & culture is managed internally.

EDI statement & guidelines for grants

Reviewed event services and incentives provided nu the Municipality

Grant Proposal to Council. Final approval 2026.