A Municipal Arts Program Policy was adopted by the Sooke Program for the Arts Committee (SPA) in October 2009. This policy was developed to provide a framework for the acquisition, placement management and protection and care of public art in all disciplines. The policy aims to support a range of efforts that would aesthetically enhance Sooke’s public spaces, enrich the cultural life of the community and improve the visibility of art and local artists.
 

The District of Sooke is now moving forward with the help of community groups, to do cultural mapping of all arts and heritage locations. The purpose of this exercise is to decide what the District can do to raise awareness of the importance of culture and how it can be an economic driver for Sooke.
 

As a municipal Councillor, a member of the SPA committee and a working feltmaker, I have
encouraged creating Sooke as a visible arts community. The arts are an integral part of the District’s
Official Community Plan (OCP). Many articles have been written about how important the arts are in the economics of towns. The cultural mapping could lead toward the creation of an Art Center, hopefully to be built in the town core of Sooke.
 

The Sooke Region Tourism Association (SRTA) reinvented itself in 2008 with the help of Tourism BC and the Vancouver Island Tourism Association. The District of Sooke and Juan de Fuca Economic Development Commission have also contributed to help the tourism initiative.
 

The Sooke to Port Renfrew logo Wild by Nature reflects the nature of our beautiful area. Sooke received accolades for our booth on the BC Streets in Richmond during the Olympics in February 2010. With the help of over 60 volunteers from the Sooke area we showed the world what an exciting and creative region Sooke is – where we are lucky to live.

~ Sheila Beech, May 5, 2010