Below is an open letter to the Summer in the Park Committee.
To the Members of the Summer in the Park Committee,
North Bay’s Coordinating Body of Arts, Culture and Heritage (CBACH) believes that proper investment in local culture is not reflected in the 2016 festival budget and therefore we will not be participating in the planning process of this year’s event.
After the doubling of city financial investment in Summer in the Park in late 2015, the festival committee held a public forum in January to invite community members to share their ideas, comments and suggestions.
The overwhelming consensus was clear - North Bay residents want a mid-summer event that features a greater local arts and culture presence.
In response to this need, the CBACH board was happy to accept an invitation to discuss our proposal for a more community inclusive festival in 2016. We presented a comprehensive plan to showcase our diverse local artists, artisans, performers, heritage and vendors. We requested a $25,000 investment to execute our plan, a request that was rejected by your committee.
We believe the means to finance this endeavour is possible within the existing festival budget. Furthermore, it is our belief that the planned $200,000 in nightly entertainment spending is not in line with the interests of our community.
CBACH respectfully offers the following recommendations on how our community can move forward to make Summer in the Park a festival that focuses on celebrating the local arts, culture and heritage of North Bay, while at the same time promotes the city as a tourist destination.
- Identify a clear festival vision, goals and objectives for Summer in the Park.
- Expand the committees to have a collaborative representation from the local arts and culture community. As well form sub-committees of local music programmers, performing artists and marketing experts.
- Committee membership should rotate on a regular basis to encourage fresh ideas.
- Committee should be governed by the same transparency, accountability, and conflict of interest guidelines as required for bodies supported by the municipality.
- Conduct a comprehensive survey to determine why attendance numbers have decreased.
- Earmark $25,000 of the additional $80,000 of city financial support for investment in local community arts and cultural showcases.
CBACH is committed to supporting the local arts and culture community and believe an event like Summer in the Park provides boundless possibilities to showcase our local cultural capital to visitors as well as city residents. We are confident that a more inclusive process can create a festival that generates community pride and serves as a showcase for what North Bay has to offer. Our organization would welcome the opportunity to contribute to such a process. Sincerely,
Katie Bevan,CBACH board Chair.
The CBACH Board of Directors
