Hello Gabriola community, artists and beyond

Thank you for the trust and vulnerability you have shown me through this short but intense process. There are many more people I wanted to speak to and groups I wanted to connect with, but the Canada Summer Jobs funding was only for 8 weeks (one of which I spent prepping for and working at the Cultivate Festival). I have shared with the GAC Board as much community feedback as possible, and I feel genuinely hopeful about the future of the Gabriola Arts Council. The Arts Council is also aware that 8 weeks is not nearly enough time to build long-term relationships or make meaningful change, this is the beginning of a long process that from my perspective is being approached thoughtfully, with great care. 

One thing contributing to the slow rate of change that I want the public to be aware of is the timeline of grants and funding obligations. The grants that pay GAC staff today have legal obligations that need to be fulfilled into the year 2027. If it feels like your feedback is not being heard, it may just be that shifts within the non-profit financial world take a long time. The next AGM will be in spring 2027, which is plenty of time to consider joining the board, especially if you feel underrepresented and feel passionate about contributing to the future of GAC.

I’ve had some folks asking if the results of the survey will be public. I am torn between wanting to honour your desire for transparency, and wanting to protect the privacy of your neighbours who took the time to write very personal and vulnerable comments. After much thought I’ve decided to share some general statistics and repeated themes, and leave the comments for the Board and staff to chew on. 

There were also several respondents who expressed an interest in getting involved with the Arts Council as volunteers, committee members, or workshop/event organizers, but did not leave their name or contact info. If you are interested in being involved, I encourage you to reach out to GAC directly! My email address (outreach@artsgabriola.org) will likely not be monitored until the next community consultation process. If you did leave contact info in the survey, I have included that as part of my report to the Board and someone from the Arts Council will reach out when they are ready to explore things further. 

Community Survey Results

We received 172 responses to the survey. 32 provided names and 140 were anonymous. 95% were Gabriola or Mudge residents, the rest were visitors or former/less frequent residents. 57% were GAC members, 36% were not members, and 7% were not sure, or wished to specify that they were former members. 

12% of respondents indicated that they do not have a creative practice, and among those who did identify as artists, the most common disciplines were visual art (39%), music (30%), and writing (28%). I sincerely apologize for missing theatre as an option on the survey, we spent days trying to develop a list that was comprehensive without being overwhelming, and in the end things fell through the cracks. Theatre fans and performers were well represented in survey responses and expressed their discontent with my oversight. 

44% of respondents said that GAC’s current programs and events appeal to their creative interests, and over 60% reported that they feel welcome and included at Arts Council events. There was overall support for the annual Studio Tour and Breaking Bannock programs, but less enthusiasm for the Cultivate and Isle of the Arts Festivals. 

The most commonly requested support for artists were opportunities to develop or improve creative skills, along with non-creative professional skill development, and exhibition opportunities. Over 50% of respondents said that GAC should focus on supporting local artists to grow their practice and career, with almost as much enthusiasm for networking opportunities and increasing creativity more widely on Gabriola.

The survey comments and my wider conversations highlighted several repeated themes (in no particular order)

1. The community would like more transparency, especially around GAC finances, Board roles, and Board election procedure.
2. There is a desire for more diversity in the organization, especially more age diversity on the Board.
3. Many musicians do not feel their interests are represented by the Arts Council, and see it as an organization that primarily supports and promotes visual art.
4. Many feel that the Arts Council should re-evaluate its events and programs in the current local and global financial context, and prioritize behind the scenes work supporting artists to host their own events (as one example), rather than just trying to be the “face” of arts on Gabriola.

This is just a sample of the comprehensive feedback we received which would take a novel to describe entirely. If you don’t see your sentiments represented, be assured that they have been recorded and shared with the folks who need to hear them.

A message that I have passed on to the Arts Council Board that I also want to share with each of you: 

Every organization on the island (and there are many) is made up of passionate individuals with a remarkable amount of expertise and overwhelmingly good intentions. I have seen in the past eight weeks how much love and care there is for arts and artists on Gabriola. Tensions arise because we all care so deeply about this community. Our joy and safety are more important than any event, by-law document, festival, or organization. Additionally, every organization is built on human interactions, be that in person or online. Every conversation becomes community, and the way we make each other feel becomes the way Gabriola feels. I encourage you to keep sharing your experiences, keep organizing together, keep challenging yourselves and each other to have tough conversations and learn something new. Change happens when people feel seen, understood, and supported. 

It’s like art that way.

In solidarity and joy,

Emily (they/them)