The Central Okanagan has significant potential for cultural tourism. To realize this potential, the Arts Development Office recommends:

1. That the City of Kelowna assumes a leadership role in working with the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Kelowna Association, the Economic Development Commission of the Central Okanagan, the Kelowna Hotel Motel Association, the Restaurant and Food Services Association, the cultural community, and other interested parties seeking to develop Kelowna's cultural tourism potential.
   
   
2. That the City of Kelowna creates a strategic plan for developing the Kelowna Cultural District, including a strategy for coordinating cultural activity within the District, and recommendations for District financing, marketing, signage, and a compatible retail/commercial component.
   
   
3. That the City of Kelowna implements all recommendations contained in the 1997 management review of the Kelowna Community Theatre, enabling the Theatre to become the performing arts "anchor venue" within the Cultural District.
   
   
4. That the City of Kelowna considers means by which to increase its investment in non-profit arts organizations, including contributing to a new fund administered by the Kelowna Arts Foundation to help launch cultural tourism initiatives.
   
   
5. That the development of local arts festivals is encouraged, and, to this end, that the City of Kelowna and the Arts Development Office create a strategic plan for developing arts festivals.¹
   
   
6. That, in developing arts festivals, every effort is made to position such festivals in the shoulder seasons and the off-season, when Kelowna's tourism industry can benefit most.
   
   
7. That the City of Kelowna animates its downtown parks with entertainment throughout the summer and, to this end, that the City provide stable funding to its Parks Alive! program.
   
   
8. That, in partnership with corporate or community interests, the City of Kelowna upgrades Island Stage in Waterfront Park to provide the dressing rooms, washrooms, lighting and sound system, and audience seating required for a fully functioning outdoor venue.
   
   
9. That the City of Kelowna, the Regional District of Central Okanagan, the Central Okanagan Historical Society, the Catholic Church, the Arts Development Office, and other interested parties work to restore the Father Pandosy Mission and develop its tourism potential.
   
   
10. That the wineries of the Central Okanagan integrates art and music into the Okanagan Wine Festival and other winery events, and, to encourage this activity, that artists and arts organizations approach wineries and propose partnership initiatives.
    
    
11. That the development of cultural tourism in Kelowna is aided by:
    
    The creation of cultural tourism marketing vehicles, including: (a) a destination marketing vehicle (for distribution outside the Okanagan) that clusters Kelowna's exportable, "market-ready" cultural products; and (b) an event marketing vehicle (for distribution within the Okanagan) that promotes the full range of Kelowna's cultural events.
    
    The creation of shared cultural/non-cultural product packages where the cultural product provides entertainment in the evenings and in the event of poor weather. (Golf offers a particular opportunity in this regard.)
    
    The creation of shared marketing vehicles for cultural attractions and Central Okanagan wineries. (Cultural attractions and wineries share a large crossover demographic.)
    
    Targeting the in-bound tour-bus market, which caters primarily to mature markets and international travellers (both of which have a high cultural participation rate).
    
    
12. That the City of Kelowna's new public art program encourages sculptures, murals, and other significant works of public art at the gateways to the city, and within the Cultural District and the downtown core.
    
    
13. That every effort is made by the City of Kelowna, the Regional District of Central Okanagan, the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, and other relevant players to improve the aesthetics of Highway 97 and discourage the billboard development on the Westside approach to the floating bridge.
    
    

1 The City of Victoria recently created such a festivals plan.

The Cultural Industries
The Central Okanagan has considerable potential as a centre for the cultural industries. To realize this potential, the Arts Development Office recommends:

1. That the Economic Development Commission of the Central Okanagan and the Arts Development Office research a cultural industries strategy appropriate to the region, identifying the support infrastructure, the development partners, and the funding required.
   
   
2. That the City of Kelowna investigates appropriate sites for the establishment of artists' live/work studios, and amends zoning by-laws to encourage such developments.
   
   
3. That the newly created Okanagan-Similkameen Film Commission works to: (a) attract film and video projects to the region; (b) identify local technicians, talent, and service companies to service such projects; and (c) determine training needs and opportunities to assist the local industry.