Port Coquitlam’s cultural roundtable is making the links it was designed to do, says the city’s manager of cultural development and community services.
Carrie Nimmo told The Tri-City News on Monday that more than 50 arts and cultural leaders are signed up to be part of the monthly gatherings.
And last Thursday, they talked about the city’s Canada 150 party on Aug. 26 and got a sneak peek from a festival performer: dancer Julie Lebel.
“It’s not a dry meeting,” Nimmo said. “There’s lots of excitement about what’s happening around Port Coquitlam for the summer and beyond.”
The diverse representation on the roundtable includes writers, artists, musicians and Tri-City-based organizations invested in the arts scene.
Nimmo said they are offering suggestions to the city about how to move forward as well as learning about what the municipality has in the works. In turn, they are also offering their services and programs and connecting with others at the table — some of whom have not been present in the past such as the Kwikwetlem First Nations (the band members will have a canoe display and tell stories during the Canada 150 festival in downtown PoCo).
“The feedback does make a difference,” Nimmo said.
As well, the roundtable is also giving artists and non-profits a heads-up about opportunities to apply for grants, she said. Soon, it will hear about the city efforts to develop an event toolkit so that organizations can put together special events easily.
The roundtable is a result of the city’s Imagine Port Coquitlam Cultural Plan, a blueprint for the arts and culture over the next 10 years; it was adopted by city council last spring.
• Port Coquitlam’s next cultural roundtable is on July 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Michael Wright Art Gallery in the Gathering Place (200-2253 Leigh Sq.). To join the city’s roundtable, email [email protected].
