The report was prepared by local resident and cultural advocate Anne Popma, and examines lessons learned from previous host communities including Calgary, Lillehammer, Salt Lake City and Sydney with a brief overview of Expo ’86 and the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, B.C.
The Report covers the historical context of Olympic Arts Festivals, and examines cultural festivals and tourism, types of Olympic arts events and opportunities for participation, budgets, sponsorships and financial considerations, and involvement of First Nations communities.
The 11 page "Lessons Learned" section will be instrumental in upcoming strategic planning sessions in November Arts Council Director Doti Niedermayer pointed out.
The Arts Council maintains the intent of the report is "to provide a frame of reference for planning initiatives by the arts and culture community of the Sea to Sky Corridor in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver/Whistler."
The research was funded by the Office of Learning Technologies of Human Resources Services Division, and is being called "the first step in a Strategic Planning process being undertaken by the Whistler Arts Council in order to incorporate new opportunities presented by the 2010 Games. The strategic plan as a whole is funded by Arts Partners in Organizational Development and will be completed by December, 2004.
Copies of the report are available to the public from the Arts Council. For more information call 604-935-8419, or go to www.whistlerartscouncil.com to download a pdf version of the report.
