Arts and Culture

Vision

Brandon is an important cultural centre for the southwest region of Manitoba. With such excellent cultural facilities, programmes, and events such as the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, Brandon University’s Fine Arts and Music Programmes, the Brandon Folk, Music & Art Festival, and various theatre and dance schools, this city serves as a pivotal point for cultural connections.

The City of Brandon strives to 1) create a thoughtful and dynamic cultural programme which recognizes, enhances, and supports the existing cultural and ethno cultural communities and infrastructure of our city, and 2) initiate projects and partnerships wherever there is a need and an opportunity.

 

Guiding Principles:

  1. Diversity: Respect, honour, and raise awareness of ethno cultural diversity, through celebratory and educational opportunities
  2. Accessibility: Ensure equal access to all community members
  3. Opportunity & Inclusion: Provide opportunities for community members to engage in cultural activities in various ways, for instance: volunteerism, attending events, sitting on planning committees, performing, etc.
  4. Quality of Life: Enhance the quality of life in Brandon by developing appropriate cultural programming which has the capacity to stimulate economic growth and promote social cohesion
  5. Partnership: Build meaningful and supportive partnerships with existing cultural community groups and organizations in response to the changing needs of our community

This Culture Plan lays out a 5-10 year vision for culture in Brandon and is built around three strategic objectives:

  1. Build a strong and Vibrant Cultural Community
  2. Enhance access to Cultural Resources
  3. Expand Culture's Role in Economic Development

To view the Action and Implementation Plan, please click on the following link: Culture Plan - Action and Implementation Plan

The Culture Plan also outlines the role that the City of Brandon can plan in culture as:

  • Planner and Policy Maker - Integrating and considering how culture can add value to plans and policies across departments
  • Partner - Establishing and sustaining relationships with external partners, organizations within the cultural sector, and with community and business partners
  • Facilitator and Convenor - Building connections and strengthening collaboration
  • Promoter and Champion - Acting as an advocate for cultural development within the City and beyond
  • Funder and Provider - Investing in cultural development including support for cultural programs and facilities

To answer the question "what cultural assets does Brandon already have?", we used a cultural mapping process.

The following definition for cultural mapping is widely accepted by municipalities across Canada:

"Cultural mapping is a systematic approach to identifying, recording, classifying and analyzing a community's cultural resources in support of economic and community development agendas".

For a municipality, cultural mapping is a tool for understanding the assets in the community. These assets can be both tangible (cultural organizations and facilities) and intangible (unique stories and traditions specific to a community). The focus of the Brandon Cultural Mapping Inventory is on tangible cultural assets.

The report makes recommendations related to a variety of ways in which mapping can be continued, including addressing intangible cultural assets. Together, tangible and intangible cultural assets fuel cultural development, contributing to defining Brandon's unique identity. By identifying and mapping these resources in Brandon, we now have a solid base of information and knowledge that will inform subsequent planning and development initiatives.

To view the Cultural Mapping Findings, please click on the following link: Culture Plan - Cultural Mapping Findings

Resources

Dance

 

Galleries and Studios - Visual Arts

Literature

Museums

Music

Theatre

Multi-disciplinary/Other

 

Contact Us

City of Brandon
410 9th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A2 
Phone: 204-729-2186
Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 5pm
Sat - Sun: Closed 
Stat Holidays: Closed

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