Ottawa’s cultural sector contributes greatly to our city’s economy and our enviable quality of life. The Ottawa Cultural Alliance works collaboratively to strategically address shared opportunities and challenges to further advance the sector’s success. Members of the Alliance have collaborated for many years to advance cultural priorities in the City of Ottawa. In spring 2015, as we advocated for completion of the City of Ottawa’s Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Culture and Heritage in Ottawa (2013-18), the groups agreed to acknowledge this activity by giving our collaboration a formal name.
The Alliance comprises umbrella organizations that collectively serve as the voice for this vibrant sector, including: Capital Heritage Connexion (CHC|CPC), Heritage Ottawa, Ottawa Arts Council, Arts Network Ottawa, Ottawa Festivals Network, Ottawa Museum Network and Ottawa Music Industry Coalition.
On July 10, 2023, Capital Heritage Connexion and the other members of the Ottawa Cultural Alliance sent a letter to Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and our City Councillors to ask that they integrate heritage, arts and culture into their new term of Council Priorities.
The letter emphasizes that heritage, arts and culture are essential to Ottawa’s brand and that investment in these sectors are imperative to our city’s success and growth. The letter also outlines the importance of having a cultural ambassador around the City Council table, someone who can speak for the City’s cultural sector and remind everyone that Culture Counts!
CHC especially wanted to emphasize the important role that heritage plays in placemaking and sustainability in the National Capital Region, including (but not limited to) the reuse and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings when it comes to urban development and densification.
Read the letter here and learn more about how we advocated for City Council to view all term priorities through a cultural lens.
Ottawa Cultural Alliance Members:
Capital Heritage Connexion
Heritage Ottawa
Ottawa Arts Council
Arts Network Ottawa
Ottawa Festivals Network
Ottawa Museum Network
Ottawa Music Industry Coalition