Victoria, BC– The Capital Regional District (CRD) Arts & Culture Support Service has begun adoption of a first phase of recommendations intended to support the progression of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the region’s arts and continues to advance an Equity Implementation Framework to develop future recommendations.
Approved by the CRD Arts Commission, these initiatives come on the heels of the December 2021 Arts Champions Summit, wherein CRD Arts & Culture virtually convened the arts sector for conversations and presentations about the development of equity in the region’s arts. The What We Heard Report: 2021 Arts Champions Summit (PDF) summarizes summit activities and identifies key themes from participants, and in turn supports the work of the EDI subcommittee charged with proposing changes to CRD Arts & Culture operations and grants.
“We clearly heard a call from the community for urgency to continue making access to funding more equitable,” says Jeremy Loveday, Chair of the Arts Commission. “We recognize much work remains to be done and believe that the approval of this implementation framework and first phase of recommendations takes important first steps and puts us on a good path moving forward.”
The approved Implementation Framework proposes a timeline and phased approach for changes to operations and granting to be developed, approved, implemented and reviewed, while the first phase of recommendations provides specific actions modifying project-based grants in-line with actions taken by arts funding bodies across the country.
Initiatives are in support of CRD Arts and Culture’s 2020-2023 Strategic Plan (PDF)Goal 3, “Make access equitable,’ as well as an October 2020 commitment from the Arts Commission to “an equity lens to operations and granting.” The CRD Arts & Culture Support Service is supported by Saanich, Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, View Royal, Highlands, Metchosin, Sooke and Southern Gulf Islands. For more information, visit www.crd.bc.ca/arts.
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
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