Culture Plan Update

In 2006, Barrie introduced its first cultural plan, setting the groundwork for cultural development. This plan is now expired and the City is undergoing significant growth in many areas. An updated Culture Plan aims to shape Barrie's cultural landscape over the next decade by guiding decisions, policies, programs and investments to enhance the local creative sector.

Project Goals

• Define Barrie's vision and role in supporting arts and culture.
• Establish community, engagement and economic goals, objectives and targets for implementation.
• Develop tools to monitor progress and evaluate impact.

Arts & Culture Action Plan Goals

• Foster economic growth through culturally diverse initiatives, identifying sub-sector areas and highlighting the importance in driving quality of life, tourism and attracting talent and investment.
• Identify and prioritize activities, potential programs, timelines and investments.
• Develop a retention and capacity building action plan focused on the growth of the cultural sector within the city.

Public Art Strategy Goals

The Public Art Strategy was approved in June 2025. 

• Develop a 10-year vision for public art (e.g. location, scale, type etc.)
• Identify new potential and priority sites around the city.
• Determine funding models to support the strategy, as well as utilizing best practices to evoke community engagement.
• Improve the City's current Public Art Policy to align with industry and municipal best practices.

Project Timeline

A Public Art Strategy was developed in conjunction with the Culture Plan Update and was approved in June 2025. The Culture Plan Update was referred back to staff in the Economic and Creative Development Department to review the recommendations in context of a future operational plan for the Performing Arts Centre.