Ottawa's next culture plan

In 2025, the City of Ottawa is embarking on an exciting journey to develop a new Municipal Culture Plan. This is the first city-wide cultural planning exercise since 2012 and aims to help the City better serve the evolving needs of Ottawa’s culturally diverse populations.

Led by Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services, the new Culture Plan will be created collaboratively with residents and community groups. Together, we will:

• Define Culture: Update the municipal definition of culture to reflect how residents understand, use, and live the word, informing City supports and programming.

• Set out a vision for the next five years: Establish a strategic vision and goals to guide the City in supporting residents' access to, expression of, and participation in culture.

• Create an action plan: Develop a concrete, realistic, and achievable action plan to make measurable progress towards these goals.

• Map Cultural Resources: Compile a comprehensive public access inventory of Ottawa’s cultural resources, including spaces & places, artists, and groups.

The Plan will align with key corporate plans and strategies, including the Official Plan, the City of Ottawa – Anishinaabe Algonquin Host Nation Civic Cultural Protocol, the Anti-Racism Strategy, Women and Gender Equity Strategy, Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan, and the Climate Change Master Plan, among others.

Research for the Culture Plan began in June 2024, and the development process will be launched publicly in April 2025. We aim to engage 10,000 residents through various activities, including a culture roadshow, online surveys, focus groups, interviews, and community-led engagement sessions.

This process will help us understand what culture means to our residents and identify critical needs, such as those around spaces and places.

Join us in shaping Ottawa's cultural future! Your voice matters. Together, we can create a vibrant, inclusive, and culturally rich city.