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CVA Presents Arts & Culture Questions for Candidates – Bob Wells

Oct 10, 2018

CVA Presents Arts & Culture Questions for Candidates - Bob Wells' answers

I was involved in community and professional theatre for decades. 

While I lived in South Africa I was able to not only perform in several plays but also watch dozens more at their National Arts Festival.  The first organizations I joined when I moved to Courtenay was the CYMC (Comox Valley Youth Music Centre) that was on hard economic times.  I created a financial plan and took the board through a visioning process to come up with our strategic plan – and with that common vision we were able to turn things around.  We are always blown away by the amazing musicals that CYMC puts on along with Jazz and Classical performances.

This one was an easy answer for me. Read the rest of the questions, and my answers, below.

  1. How you see Arts and Culture fitting in with the development of a vibrant economic futurein the City / Town / Village / Regional District (depending on where you are running)? 

    • I have worked hard supporting the arts in the Comox Valley since moving here.  I see Arts and Culture as the centre of our community that helps attract tourists, new companies to invest and of course provide activities for our own citizens to enjoy.   As leader of Startup Comox Valley and as a mentor for Futurepreneur Canada I have worked with many companies across Canada and one of the main determinates for choosing to start or relocate to an area is the arts community.  As past president of CYMC and supporter of Island Musicfest I have seen the economic spin-offs for our community and will continue to support the arts as Mayor of Courtenay.

  2. What do you believe the role of your Council / Board should be in developing and supporting the region’s arts and cultural infrastructure and increasing accessibility to the arts? 

    • Having a member of council sit on the Arts Council to look for opportunities for the city to promote and support the Arts.  

  3. Would you work towards developing a public art policy/program?

    • Yes

  4. Is there a meaningful experience you have had with art (theatre, music, media arts, visual, written, etc.) that you would like to share with stakeholders and constituents? 

    • I was involved in community and professional theatre for decades.  While I lived in South Africa I was able to not only perform in several plays but also watch dozens more at their National Arts Festival.  The first organizations I joined when I moved to Courtenay was the CYMC (Comox Valley Youth Music Centre) that was on hard economic times.  I created a financial plan and took the board through a visioning process to come up with our strategic plan – and with that common vision we were able to turn things around.  We are always blown away by the amazing musicals that CYMC puts on along with Jazz and Classical performances.