Bruce County is gathering people's thoughts on local arts and culture.
Director of Library Services Brooke McLean said people can share input in the 2024 State of Culture Survey by Sunday, July 28, 2024.
"We're asking what cultural events people have attended in the last year. We're asking how often they attend cultural events and what types of facilities or businesses that they've visited in Bruce county in the last year," she explained. "We're also interested in knowing if there are things that prevent them from participating in cultural activities. So maybe they didn't know about it, maybe they weren't able to get childcare, or the facilities aren't accessible."
The survey follows the completion of the county's Cultural Action Plan created in 2021. McLean pointed out a survey was completed at that time.
"We have some good baseline data, but we want to do it again and find out if things have changed over the last few years, certainly, kind of post COVID. Has there been a shift?" she added. "And we're looking at sharing this information, then, with the cultural organizations in the county to help them with their planning and their thinking about the future and how they may be able to differently engage with residents or tourists."
McLean said arts and culture are a big part of Bruce County's economy.
"They are absolutely an important part of our life and an important part of our economy in Bruce County as well. So many of our businesses are directly related to culture," she noted. "When we think about it, we think about the food that we eat or the activities that we attend, right? And there's definitely large cultural components there."
McLean stressed that arts and culture are also a key factor for people who are thinking about relocating to Bruce County.
"People want to live where there are things for them to do, that are of interest to them," she continued. "And Bruce county certainly has a great deal of activities and cultural attractions that appeal both to residents and also attract the tourists to the area."
People can call or email to request a hardcopy of the survey at 1-519-881-1291 or bmclean@brucecounty.on.ca
Paper copies of the survey are available at:
Walkerton Administration Centre (P.O. Box 70, 30 Park Street, Walkerton, ON)
Penetangore Hub (529 Gary Street, Kincardine, ON)
Lakeshore Hub (1243 MacKenzie Road, Port Elgin, ON)
Peninsula Hub (268 Berford St, Wiarton, ON)
Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre (33 Victoria Street North, Southampton, ON)
Any Bruce County Public Library Branch (see Branch Locations)
People can also provide feedback to the 2024 State of Culture Survey by clicking this link: 2024 State of Culture Survey