MINUTES – PUBLIC – ARTS, CULTURE, LITERATURE AND HERITAGE COMMISSION (CACLP)

Ms. Sophie Côté Godin presents the objectives of the presentation regarding the development process of the cultural infrastructure master plan, which aim to inform members of the proposed approach and to collect their comments to improve the process. She specifies that the plan aims to provide the City with a long-term planning tool allowing for a global vision of cultural infrastructures, their uses, and the needs of the community and citizens. The objectives of the plan also consist of drawing up a portrait of existing cultural infrastructures, identifying current and future needs, and supporting the integration of cultural infrastructures into land-use planning.

Ms. Côté Godin then provides context and presents the main lines of the process, including the preliminary vision, the targeted objectives, the associated values, the sectors of activity and suggested cultural domains, as well as the preliminary timeline. She mentions that the process will be deployed in several phases over a period of approximately two years, followed by long-term implementation.

Discussion

An exchange takes place with the members concerning the inclusion or not of event infrastructures, the distinction between infrastructures with a primary cultural vocation and multi-purpose venues, as well as the consideration of private infrastructures accessible to the public. Examples are mentioned, notably community centers, parks, school halls, private performance venues, and religious infrastructures. It is specified that the scope of the plan must be broad enough to reflect the reality of the territory, while remaining coherent.

Ms. Côté Godin continues the presentation by exposing the methodology, roles and responsibilities, as well as the proposed governance model. She presents the next steps, which include notably the finalization of the infrastructure inventory, the holding of site visits, and the hiring of a consultant mandated to draw up a portrait of cultural infrastructures on the territory of the Ville de Gatineau.

Discussion

The members highlight the importance of having the most exhaustive portrait possible of existing infrastructures in order to avoid omissions and to better reflect the reality of the territory. It is suggested to also take into account infrastructures that do not have a primary cultural vocation but are nevertheless used for cultural purposes. It is answered that this type of venue could indeed be integrated into the inventory, the objective being to have an overview, even if some venues do not fall directly under municipal cultural infrastructures. It is also mentioned that a global and structured vision of cultural venues would be beneficial, as actors in the field do not always know who to turn to. It is indicated that the process related to the development of the master plan could contribute to clarifying roles, available resources, and points of contact. It is specified that the comments made will be taken into consideration and will feed into the continuation of the process, particularly regarding the scope of the inventory and the reach of the master plan.