CACV Renews Values

As the ground of our recent strategic planning process, CACV looked closely at our Values, and did a refresh. This was important, because as a values-driven organization we want to do more than post a list of buzzwords. We felt it was important to say more about what the words mean to us, as a living guiding document that can respond to a changing city. CACV has been guided by its values in creating our current programming, and they challenge us to act, and not just talk. Our commitment going forward is to keep returning to these values when creating new programs, evaluating our efforts, reaching out into community, establishing partnerships: in every area of our work and our organization.  Here’s what we are about at the core…

Our Values

Empowering Community: We provide programs that encourage participation and collaboration with communities. We take the time to facilitate meaningful relationships, challenging participants to bring forward their creativity, to contribute, and to have confidence in sharing their experience. We acknowledge and support diverse communities, and the places where our work is done. We seek to connect diverse communities with one another in order to strengthen all the communities where we work.

Accessibility and Inclusion: We actively seek out and provide solutions for all individuals and groups to participate in our work. We lower barriers to participation, and support the advancement of under-represented artists. Through accessible community arts, we strive to increase equity for communities facing challenges, and wherever possible, to channel resources (both financial and otherwise) directly to communities and artists themselves.

Accountability: In all of our work, we will be transparent and responsive to community. The objective and goals of the organization, details of our strategic planning and programming, and how our activities are funded will be available for public review. Any issues which arise as a result of our activities or plans will be brought forward to the Board and action taken for full accountability,

Indigeneity: We will always be mindful of whose traditional and ancestral land we are working on. We will openly acknowledge and respect the land, and the history, of the places where our work is done. We support programs and efforts that actively foster reconciliation between indigenous peoples and all Canadians.  

Social Transformation: Our work will contribute to real and lasting changes for the better in our city. We will build tangible connections with artists and communities, and work in a way that supports the health and wellbeing of artists, organizations, and organizers. We will also share and communicate the social value of community arts as a practice for making positive improvements in the community. The work we do will reveal and explore root causes of challenges facing our communities, and offer creative practices that open up new possibilities.

Creativity: Our work will support the role of the artist in bringing out the creativity that is within everyone. We will create experiences that spark imagination, possibility, joyfulness, and hope.