(Originally published in TOURISM)
Saskatoon was selected as a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2006, along with four other communities across Canada, under a national program to recognize and support Canadian municipalities "for special activities that harness the many benefits of arts and culture in community life."
The goal of the national program is to promote arts and culture in Canadian municipalities through recognition of excellence and support for special activities that integrate these values into overall community planning. Funding from the federal government (up to $2 million for a city the size of Saskatoon) is to enable communities to invest more in arts and culture, increase and improve cultural services, and strengthen connections with other communities through shared cultural experiences.
Internal research to develop a cultural tourism strategy for the city involved a two‑part series of focus group sessions to generate broad‑based community input. Participants represented a wide range of cultural organizations, as well as representatives from the business, education, municipal government, and tourism sectors.
Tourism Saskatoon took the innovative approach that staff would not participate in these sessions, feeling this would help ensure a fully-open dialogue between the players. Participants discussed their vision for cultural tourism, the challenges and opportunities in developing and implementing a strategy, and their views on creative elements that should be incorporated into the visual identity. (The process was managed by Fast Consulting, Terry Schwalm and Associates, and the Marketing Den.)
Saskatoon City Council voted to accept the finished report (Cultural Tourism & Marketing Strategy Saskatoon, March 2007) without further action at this time.
Saskatoon was selected as a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2006, along with four other communities across Canada, under a national program to recognize and support Canadian municipalities "for special activities that harness the many benefits of arts and culture in community life."
The goal of the national program is to promote arts and culture in Canadian municipalities through recognition of excellence and support for special activities that integrate these values into overall community planning. Funding from the federal government (up to $2 million for a city the size of Saskatoon) is to enable communities to invest more in arts and culture, increase and improve cultural services, and strengthen connections with other communities through shared cultural experiences.
Internal research to develop a cultural tourism strategy for the city involved a two‑part series of focus group sessions to generate broad‑based community input. Participants represented a wide range of cultural organizations, as well as representatives from the business, education, municipal government, and tourism sectors.
Tourism Saskatoon took the innovative approach that staff would not participate in these sessions, feeling this would help ensure a fully-open dialogue between the players. Participants discussed their vision for cultural tourism, the challenges and opportunities in developing and implementing a strategy, and their views on creative elements that should be incorporated into the visual identity. (The process was managed by Fast Consulting, Terry Schwalm and Associates, and the Marketing Den.)
Saskatoon City Council voted to accept the finished report (Cultural Tourism & Marketing Strategy Saskatoon, March 2007) without further action at this time.
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