City of Medicine Hat invites diverse perspectives for Arts, Heritage, and Entertainment plan. Rawpixelimages/Dreamstime.com

By Jayk Sterkenburg

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat invited to join focus group for city’s Arts, Heritage, and Entertainment Plan

Jan 28, 2025 | 10:00 AM

The City of Medicine Hat has begun putting its Arts, Heritage, and Entertainment Plan in action.

The first step in the five year program involves community collaboration, with the formation of an implementation focus group.

Aaron Nelson, manager of cultural experiences and events with the City of Medicine Hat, said that the city wants different perspectives from the community.

“We’ve already filled in some preliminary things that the city can do,” he said.

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“We’d like the focus group to look at that and come up with ideas of what the community can do, what community groups are doing,” he added.

“We’re hoping that some of our larger cultural community groups in the community join this focus group, so we can really hear what their voice is.”

“This is the plan that will really bring all of the sectors in our community together”, said Nelson. Ross Lavigne/CHAT News

The city is looking for 12 different perspectives in order to make sure that relevant entertainment, arts, and heritage experiences are provided to all.

It lists them as youth, legacy, festival, volunteer, visual art, newcomer, 2SLGBTQ+, theatre and music, marketing, tourism, heritage and Indigenous.

The focus group will meet four times as a group in 2025.

Nelson said what the plan will bring to the table that is new is “alignment with the entire cultural sector”.

It provides a framework for all cultural providers to work together towards a common goal.

This will create less conflict, and provide a better selection of entertainment to the community.

“There’s a good saying in public participation, it’s ‘Nothing about us without us’,” he said.

“Culture is about people, so the more we hear from people and the different areas of our community, the more rich our cultural tapestry will be.”

The first round of community engagement was conducted in January and February of 2024. The input collected was used to inform the draft AHEP.

A second round of engagement asking the public to review the draft plan concluded on Oct. 4, 2024. Feedback from the community was used to refine a final plan.

Applicants for the new focus group will be selected after they highlight how they meet the criteria. This will be to ensure multiple community perspectives are represented.

Applications close Feb. 27, 2025.