What will Oshawa’s arts and culture scene look like in 10 years?
This is the question city staff are posing to residents as they work on a new culture plan – a guide meant to steer Oshawa’s cultural efforts for the next decade.
This plan will be the city’s second, taking over from one established in 2014, according to Catherine Richards, the city’s senior manager of special events and culture.
“Now that the city has changed so much, it’s time to embark on new directions and adventures,” she said.
Richards mentioned that they want feedback on what residents value about Oshawa’s cultural life while also understanding any challenges people face when attending events – like transportation costs.
“What would they see as the most important change that could really propel Oshawa even further?” she asked.
Richards noted that several goals from the 2014 culture plan were met, including promoting public art through initiatives like a legal graffiti wall at Donevan Recreation Complex skate park.
As part of shaping this new plan, the city is organizing pop-up events throughout Oshawa to gather public input. A complete list of locations can be found on the city’s website.
Residents can also complete an online feedback form until December 15.
The finalized culture plan will likely be presented to city council for consideration in early 2027, Richards shared.
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From left to right, RUCKUS co-founders Hayde Esmailzadeh, Chrrie Carley and Deanna Hood. They started the collective last year. (CBC)
The city invited RUCKUS’ co-founders – Hayde Esmailzadeh, Chrrie Carley and Deanna Hood – to facilitate a zine-making workshop during an engagement session last month.
A zine is described by Esmailzadeh as a small booklet or magazine “dedicated to something you love,” which can feature creative elements like poetry or collage. RUCKUS shared several photos with showcasing zines created by participants during this session.
RUCKUS mentioned they also provided their own input for the culture plan highlighting a need for third spaces where community members can come together.![]()
While RUCKUS guided zine-making during one engagement session , the collective said they also provided their own feedback forthecultureplan-including emphasizing theneedforthirdspaces.<(Deanna Hood/RUCKUS)
Another concern raised was about affordable studio spaces available in Oshawa , said Esmailzadeh.
“A lotofartistsin Oshawahavebeenforcedtotravelfromthecitytoaccessserviceslikekilns , markerspacesorotherspecializedtools ,” shesaid.
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Inside Biltmore Theatre duringa2023concertby The Doozies. Thetheatrehasbeenadvocatingforincreasedaccesstoartsgrantswhicharetypicallyonlyavailabletonon-profits, saysgeneralmanager Jacob Hamayda.(Conor Gray Photo)
Biltmore Theatreisalreadydoingchallengingworkbydrawingartistsandservingasa hubforculturalevents , Hamaydasaid.
The venue aims tosustain itselfinafieldwheremanyothervenuesdon’tlastlongerthanfiveyears. Hamayda remarkedthatthe Biltmoreoriginallyopeneditsdoorsin1941accordingtoitswebsite.
“We stillneedalittlebitofsupportto.. runasuccessful, long-termsustainablebusiness,”hesaid.
“Ithinkwe’renotaloneinwantingpublicengagementthroughoutthisprocess,”Hesuggested.
“We reallyneedtoseethepublicstandupandsharewhatthey’dliketosee.” Hesaid.
CEOoftherobertmclaughlingallery Alix Vozissimilarlyhopingfordialoguefromcommunitymemberswhoarereadytoengageinthefeedbackprocess.
“Otherculturalinstitutionsaround Oshawadon’thavecapabilitytopulloffbroadresidentsurveys,”shetoldus.
“Wedoreallywanttomeetsomanypeoplewhereverpossible;”sheadded..”We’rehereascommunityservice.”
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Art Collective Calls for More Studio Spaces in Oshawa
A number of arts and culture organizations have already taken part in city engagement sessions, including staff from the Oshawa Museum. Kat Akerfeldt, executive director of the museum, expressed being “blown away” by how many arts, culture, and heritage organizations exist in Oshawa after moving from Toronto. “Oshawa has a really strong community spirit,” she noted, attributing some of it to the city’s rich industrial past. Richards referred to Oshawa as a “cultural powerhouse” within Durham Region due to its many venues and museums but also highlighted emerging groups like RUCKUS, an arts collective formed in 2024.Downtown Venue Seeks Access To Grants
The Biltmore Theatre , aneventvenueindowntown Oshawahasalsoengagedinlocalcitysessions. General Manager Jacob Hamaydasaysitfaceschallengesasafor-profitbusiness. Heexplainedthatmostartsgrantsarenotavailableforthembecause they’re usually designatedfornon-profits. Hamayda notedthathe’sbeenadvocatingforgrantspoliciesbeextendedtoincludefor-profitentitiesincludingatboththelocalandprovinciallevels alongwithnationalgrants.Source link
