May 28, 2024
Residents of Prince Rupert believe arts, heritage, and cultural activities are vital to their community, according to the results of a recent survey undertaken by the Lester Centre of the Arts and the Museum of Northern B.C.
On average, respondents gave a 9.3 out of 10 rating to the importance of arts, heritage, and cultural activities in Prince Rupert, driving home the necessity of facilities that provide vibrant spaces for audiences and museum-goers alike.
“We’re very happy with the results, which showed that respondents really value the art gallery exhibits and receptions, as well as the school programs,” says Susan Marsden, the Director of the Museum of Northern B.C. “We’re grateful to everyone who took time to respond to our survey and we plan to put key suggestions, such as more planning for youth, into effect as soon as possible.”
Results from the survey also showed that respondents would like to see more programming for children and youth, and they would also like to see Rupert’s many cultures reflected in what they see on stage and in the museum. Most noticeably, they really want more live music.
“The vast majority of respondents said they loved watching live music at the Lester, and they want to see more of it in the future,” said Chris Armstrong, General Manager of the Lester Centre of the Arts. “We’re definitely going to take these findings into account when we come up with our future theatrical seasons.”
The survey was both quantitative and qualitative in nature, asking respondents specifically what kind of a rating they put on arts, culture and heritage activities, while also posing open-ended questions about what they liked at the theatre and the museum, and what they would like to see more of.
Many of the comments stressed the importance of these institutions on the quality of life and the nourishing of the mind and soul.
“I think art is the gateway to a healthy mind, whatever form it comes into,” wrote one respondent. Another wrote: “Anything that drives cultural/historical/artistic engagement helps drive community integration and pride.” And another simply wrote: “Keep it weird.”
The surveys were filled out online and in printed form between February 24 and April 5. More results from the surveys will be released in the coming months.
