The Arts are Critical to the City's Health, Well-being and Economy

In this program, I interview Laura Grady, Executive Director of Arts NewWest. She has lots to say about the importance of arts to the City of New Westminster. Consider the impact of the artistic communities of Commercial Drive and Main Street in Vancouver, she gives as examples. These areas enticed people and businesses to put down roots. Now they are dynamic economic powerhouses. Similarily, the burgeoning arts community of New Westminster, provides similar impacts. People are attracted to places where there the arts are abundant. ArtsNewWest, along with a number of other organizations, including the Massey Theatre programs, those of the Anvil Center, and of so many more smaller organizations devoted to poetry, opera, theatre, photography among others, have a substantial impact on community vitality and well-being. It's a huge factor in promoting tourism and the growth of business and restaurants, Laura says. The City of New Westminster considers the arts an important pillar in the development of the city. And as Laura explains, the city is now in the process of upgrading its arts plan, which was last solidified in 2019. Arts NewWest is hosting the first session in the city's effort to get public feedback in which community members will provide input into the updating the city's strategy for the future. As a participant myself in the initial arts strategy session by the city, it was interesting to see how the rising demographic of young people – millennials and those generations behind them - have so many great ideas to equip the city for the future. There was a lot of excitement about potential future directions. In this video, you will hear from Laura Grady, who has watched the city's arts develop and change over the last few years.