Arts Council of Surrey

Arts Council of Surrey (ACS) President Carol Girardi and Director James Crosty went to the office of Mayor Doug McCallum to update him after his 14 year hiatus from sitting in the Mayor’s chair. The meeting, which was to last only 20 minutes, ran over 40 minutes in length. It turns out that the Mayor’s support for the Arts has not diminished and encouraged the ACS that the Arts will continue to receive his full support during his term in office.

The exchange of information between the ACS and Mayor ranged from membership and events, to the #ARTSPOT and the beneficial financial impact our vibrant arts community has on the city. His Worship expressed his continued support for the ACS going forward in his return to the Mayors office. If history is any indication of what is in store for the future of Surrey Arts, one only has to look at the Mayor’s track record over his previous four terms in office as Mayor from 1996-2005 where he was a solid supporter of the ACS and Surrey Art as a whole.

President Girardi reviewed highlights in a ‘Summary’ provided to the Mayor. A key point in the Summary was the ability of the ACS to potentially reach upwards of 100,000 people. Girardi also pointed out our current membership numbers including 82 Groups, 170 Associates, 115 Businesses, and 100’s of Individuals. The ACS Team also emphasized the importance the our newsmag ‘Spotlight on the Arts’ – a 28 page monthly comprehensive publication promoting Surrey Arts for over 25 years – to which the Mayor responded that he like our mandate to become the go-to regional publication for Surrey’s ever-growing arts scene.

Director Crosty reviewed the financial impact to Surrey for the small investment in the Arts that translates in to millions of dollars in economic returns to our city. The Mayor was presented with an ACS membership and informed the ACS Team that he will attend as many of the events as possible in the coming year.

In summary, the ACS believes that the Arts in Surrey will not only survive but thrive under the purview of the new Mayor and council and we look forward to working with them all to forward the important work of promoting the Arts in our great city.