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Arts Strategy Update

Project Update - July 21, 2026:

Thank you for your input on the Arts Strategy Update! Staff are now reviewing the engagement responses and will be preparing a What We Heard report to summarize the survey and pop-up responses, which will be shared on this page once it's ready.

If you completed the Community Survey and have entered yourself into the prize draw, please expect to be reached out via email in the coming week.

In the meantime, here's what community members shared in response to one of the survey questions! 👉

What types of arts and cultural experiences are you most interested in?

What's Happening?

The City of New Westminster is updating its Arts Strategy to reflect current conditions, community priorities, and the City's role within the local arts ecosystem. This update is intended to reflect on what's working well, identify challenges, and establish high-impact actions for the future of arts in New Westminster.

What is an Arts Strategy?

An Arts Strategy lays out the overall plans for how the arts will shape our city over a long period of time. New Westminster's current Art Strategy 2019 – 2024 was approved by City Council at the end of 2018.

What does it provide direction on?

The Arts Strategy helps connect the creative energy of the arts community with the City's efforts and support. It lays out plans for arts development and the tactics to achieve them. The Strategy is used to help set priorities and allocate available resources.

Mushtari Begum Festival of Indian Classical Music and Dance. Photo taken by Glen Glee Photography

Royal Canadian Youth Ballet Company. Photo taken by Jennifer Gauthier

Royal Canadian Youth Ballet Company. Photo taken by Jennifer Gauthier

Who's Listening?

Stephen O’Shea

Manager, Arts Services

artservices@newwestcity.ca

Updating the Arts Strategy is about:

  • Reviewing what is working currently
  • Acknowledging where challenges remain
  • Addressing changes across the arts, culture, and creative sectors.

Your input shared through this engagement will help shape what the City will focus on as we make updates to the Arts Strategy.

The process will involve:

  • Inviting residents’ lived experiences and interest groups’ input from a broad cross-section of the arts community
  • Reviewing the City’s funding model for arts and informing future funding model considerations
  • Clarifying the City’s role in the local and regional arts ecosystem
  • Establishing priorities, trade-offs, and implementation actions that are achievable
  • Providing the City with a practical framework to guide future decisions related to arts investment, partnerships, and programs.

Engagement for the Arts Strategy Update will happen in phases, so community input can inform the work at the right time.

How can I engage?

We want to know what matters to you when it comes to the arts in New Westminster.

⬇️ Scroll down to take the Community Survey for arts audiences, supporters and those interested in arts activities and performances! Survey closes end of day July 19.

Other engagement activities with artists, arts organizations, arts audiences, and key interest holders include:

🎨 Arts and Culture Sector Survey for people and groups actively involved in arts and culture. Survey closes at the end of day July 19.

Take the Sector Survey!

💭 Priority Setting workshops, June 9-20, 2026: Click here to sign up for an upcoming in-person or online workshop

  • One-on-one leadership interviews with arts professionals (completed)
  • Arts Strategy launch event (completed)
  • Reflection workshops to discuss the current Arts Strategy (completed)

💬 Visit us at the following pop-up events to learn more and chat directly with staff.

How will input be used?

We will use community and arts sector input to inform the vision, goals, priorities, and actions for the updated Arts Strategy.

We will report back what we heard, and a draft strategy will be shared before it goes to Council for approval.

Please check this page for updates as this project continues.

George Rahi Artist in Residence @ New Media Gallery. Photography by Rachel Topham

International Guitar Night. Photo taken by Minnie Marks

Phases

Phases overview
Phase 1: Work on Arts Strategy begins
Work on Arts Strategy begins
Phase 2: Priority-setting and broader community input
Priority-setting and broader community input
Phase 3: Draft strategy development
Draft strategy development
Phase 4: Validate and Refine
Validate and Refine
Phase 5: Finalize Strategy
Finalize Strategy
Phase 6: Present Strategy to Council
Present Strategy to Council

Validate and Refine

October 19, 2026 7:00 a.m. - December 31, 2026 7:59 a.m.

To refine the draft Strategy, the City plans to host a series of workshops during this phase to confirm the proposed strategic direction, identify any necessary refinements, and ensure the strategy accurately reflects earlier input.

Events

Past events