Culture to promote prosperous communities and peaceful coexistence: Canadian initiatives Fifth Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate Authorities November 9, 2011

2 Overview  The use of culture in promoting prosperous communities and peaceful coexistence  Ignite the Americas  2011: Inter-American Year of Culture  Canadian Projects during the Inter-American Year of Culture  EsArtes Suchitoto-Stratford Project

3 Ignite the Americas  Youth Arts Policy Forum, Toronto, Canada, 2008  Engaging vulnerable youth through arts and culture and providing them alternatives to violence  Importance of maintaining links with policymakers

4 2011: Inter-American Year of Culture  Context  Canada’s commitment to the Year  Providing lasting impact beyond 2011

5 Canadian Projects during the Inter-American Year of Culture  Manifesto: Festival of Community and Culture (themanifesto.ca)  Uniting a community around arts  Domestic and international componen t  The Remix Project (theremixproject.ca)  6-month internships for at-risk youth  Creative industries and education

6 EsArtes Suchitoto-Stratford Innovative collaboration between CUSO- VSO, Stratford Festival and Suchitoto Historical background Stratford, Canada Rebuilding a local economy around arts Success story Origins of the current project Suchitoto, El Salvador 4-year program debuted in 2010 Initial results

7  November 2011 events  Media outreach  Outreach to Hemispheric Partners, NGO's, Community Art Groups and local Salvadoran Diaspora  Performances and receptions  Discussion panels and workshops  Goals  Economic growth  Prevention and reduction of violence EsArtes Suchitoto-Stratford

8 Conclusion  Addressing these challenges:  Providing lasting impact  Continued financial support  YouTube Video: goo.gl/VihLz