More than 45,000 people live in the tiny slice of downtown between Georgia and Burrard, and more than 10 per cent of those that do are employed in the arts, according to John Hewson, one of the founders of WE Arts.
But despite having a wealth of creative talent living and working in the West End, the neighbourhood has little in the way of artistic resources and venues.
Hewson and other members of the community are hoping to change that.
WE Arts, a grassroots community organization that supports the arts in the West End, is hoping to develop a comprehensive West End Arts Plan, which it hopes will act as a guide for the City of Vancouver as it looks at redeveloping the neighbourhood.
“The project was funded by the City of Vancouver CNAD grant, and will result in an Art Plan that the city and developers (amongst others), will use to identify community benefits for the West End community,” says Hewson. “These might include a new arts centre, lane-way live-work studios for artists, an arts market, or an art strip on Robson.”
The group held an initial planning meeting in February that attracted close to 100 from the community, and the biggest issue Hewson said they heard from residents was space.
“There’s no gathering spaces, no artistic spaces. It’s even been next to impossible finding a place to hold this meeting in the West End.”
The next planning meeting takes place this Sunday, April 19, at the Empire Landmark, and again the public is welcome to attend and participate.
“The urgency to have people attend is real, as the planning process will not be repeated anytime soon,” said Hewson. “The city planners, council and staff are listening, and the developers are our friends in delivering the arts and cultural benefits we see the community needs. We need to speak up now, and ask for what we want, so that we are included in the future, making our wonderful neighbourhood an even better place to live.”
- The West End Art Plan meeting takes place Sunday, April 19 at 1pm at the Empire Landmark, 1400 Robson. To register for the free event, visit WEArts.ca