The Central Okanagan Music Strategy now launched
It’s official! The Central Okanagan has its very first music strategy.
After two years of research and community input, the Central Okanagan Music Strategy
(COMS) has been created to help guide the local music industry towards a more accessible, collaborative, diverse and inclusive future.
The Strategy was successfully launched last week in Kelowna at the Rotary Center for the Arts.
The launch event was sold out and met with enthusiastic community support.
Initiated in the fall of 2019 the project was a community-led initiative to support music industry development for the communities of Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and Peachland.
Part one of the process was released in December 2020 as the “Industry Profile and Public
Engagement Summary for the Central Okanagan”. It summarized results from a literature review and the extensive public engagement that was conducted including an online survey, focus groups, interviews and the UPBEAT music summit.
The ideas that were discovered and discussed led to the foundational principles, four main
themes, 16 strategic goals and 48 supporting actions identified in the report.
“The process of creating a regional music strategy has been incredible. Being able to meet (virtually) and discuss the future of local music during a pandemic, for me, was such a positive thing. Because the future of music is bright in Okanagan.”
– Kris Hargrave – Leadership Ensemble
Read the full Central Okanagan Music Strategy.
Within the COMS is information on the next steps, implementation, and the short and medium term priorities. With priority one being to set up a Music Action Committee (MAC) along with a local advisory group.
Interested in doing more?
Additional information can be found at www.CreativeOkanagan.com
- Full strategy with 4 pillars > 16 goals > 48 supporting actions
- Full Industry Profile and Public Engagement Summary – 2020 December
Volunteer:
- Music Action Committee (MAC) – to help lead
- Music Advisory Group – to provide feedback and guidance
- Volunteer – to help out
Comments, questions, suggestions, ideas – talk to us! Contact us at musicstrategy@creativeokanagan.com.
“We are recognizing and actualizing music for it’s community building potential and the sector’s impact on our local economy, directly and indirectly through increased tourism and hospitality engagement. I feel like all my work in the region has been working towards this and I’m looking forward to continuing my career here!” – Karma Lacoff Nieoczym, Leadership Ensemble & Executive Director of Creative Okanagan
The strategy was completed with direct support from our Leadership Ensemble, Advisory
Group, the team at Nordicity Vancouver, and financial support from FACTOR and the
Government of Canada, Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia and the City of
Kelowna.
