The Community Arts Council of Vancouver supports community development in the downtown eastside because of our commitment to support arts-based community development. Our interests include ensuring it remains an affordable home for the community’s many artists.

Public Realm Project

One of our most notable community arts projects was the Woodward’s Mural. As we ready to move into the Woodward’s Heritage Building, we are proud of our history with this project.

Creative Pathways

In spring of 2010, we were affirmed as the coordinator for the Creative Pathways project which is presenting with 10 partners, twelve outdoor events in the downtown eastside neighbourhood.

Choose Creative Pathways in the blog list to the right to learn about some of the people and events involved in this exciting project.

Events as they are confirmed will be listed in our DTES email list which goes out at least monthly and on the social network site http://communityarts.ning.com.

Thank you to the funders for the Creative Pathways project

Background

The Downtown Eastside is the historic heart of our city. It is a neighbourhood challenged by gentrification, illegal drugs, and poverty – yet it has a history of overcoming challenges.

We believe the arts are a powerful resource in the development of the community and a highly accessible means for people with limited resources to expand their knowledge, skills and talents.

CACV has facilitated and supported accessible opportunities for participation, creative expression, and experience through arts and cultural activities for all in the community who are interested.

We have collaborated with individuals, groups, and organizations to plan, organize, and create arts programs in the Downtown Eastside and facilitate cooperation among groups within and beyond the community.

We desire to:

• contribute through the arts to the social, cultural, and economic renewal of the Downtown Eastside
• create a healthy, artistically vibrant, and culturally rich community
• build a neighbourhood where people from predominately low incomes with diverse life styles, abilities, and financial means feel at home
• support individuals and groups in determining their own futures

by

creating opportunities for residents of the Downtown Eastside to experience the arts as an audience

creating opportunities for people to acquire skills and knowledge to encourage personal growth and expression as aspiring and practicing artists

developing the community from the knowledge, skills, and talents each participant brings ensuring participation stays open to all with similar interests and ideas providing individual and collective voices for advocacy on issues affecting the community

creating a locally-led sustainable economic and social renewal collaboration with local resident, community and business organizations.

building bridges with people and organizations within and beyond the Downtown Eastside that strengthen understanding and appreciation for the people of this community and their accomplishments.

We can:

• Undertake joint communications, promotion and media activities
• Collaborate in raising funds and in-kind resources
• Develop joint arts programs
• Bring arts programs and arts experiences to the community
• Share resources
• Provide training and work-experience opportunities in the arts and in activities that support arts programs
• Provide volunteer and employment opportunities in the arts
• Enable emerging and professional artists to work together and to learn from one another