Culture to promote prosperous communities and peaceful coexistence: Canadian initiativesFifth Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate AuthoritiesNovember 9, 2011

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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

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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

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2011: Inter-American Year of Culture

Context

Canada’s commitment to the Year

Providing lasting impact beyond 2011

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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 component

The Remix Project (theremixproject.ca) 6-month internships for at-risk youth Creative industries and education

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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

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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

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Conclusion

Addressing these challenges:

Providing lasting impact Continued financial support

YouTube Video: goo.gl/VihLz