When people hear how many Culture Days activities are being planned in the North Central Canada region, they often ask how we’ve been so successful. Here are 6 suggestions:

1. When I ask people about a project it is usually more of a request for advice or sharing of information instead of a request for service (although sometimes we do have to beg for help in our field). If the project is exciting and viable, more often than not people will let their imaginations soar and in spite of themselves will become invested at some level. Once that happens, then they themselves have to decide whether they can make the commitment to bring their vision to fruition. Letting them run with the ball gives them ownership and they typically have a few friends that they’d like to work with.
2. Energy level is certainly a key component to moving things forward and keeping the positive energy going. This typically equals meetings! Lots of meetings. People don’t want to get a pat on the back and shove forward without some form of support. The “Great Idea! Looking forward to seeing it happen” approach doesn’t take things very far.
3. No is OK. I tend to get really really excited about projects. At the same time I have to remind myself that I can’t do everything and if some things don’t get pan out, that’s OK. Everyone is busy and not everyone has the time or ability to take things from one level to the next. E.g. One of the activities we were excited to include in Culture Days was an “Amazing Race” whereby participants would run around gathering points for artistic activities and showcases throughout the day…. You know the thing. People were really excited. There was a committee organized. Unfortunately we were all overrun with obligations and could not organize that first crucial meeting and the opportunity escaped from us. Unfortunate, but that’s the way it goes. We did not make a big deal about it, nor even feel particularly bad about it, but will certainly keep the idea in our pocket for the future. Don’t dwell on the negative.
4. Keep the doors OPEN. I kept telling people that NONE of my meetings are “closed door.” Anyone is welcome to visit at any time. All ideas are good ideas and anything is possible. And I mean that on all levels. We are a border community. So many times we have to restrict projects to one municipality or the other. Culture Days is a great opportunity to open the doors and meet new collaborators. It can be easy with this economic climate to be protective of your own turf. It is REALLY important in my mind that we are as inclusive as possible with other organizations, municipalities, arts communities and communities as a whole.
5. LISTEN BETWEEN THE CRACKS: Keep a keen ear out for interesting and outrageous ideas. They are usually floating under the radar. The creative mind may not want to blurt it out at a meeting in case it is viewed as ridiculous. Those are my favourites!
6. THE BIG PICTURE! As some of you know, I will do almost anything to promote my part of Canada. My hope is that everyone will do the same thing. I firmly believe that there is an amazing untapped market and talent throughout our country that is undiscovered and under-utilized. During the national telephone conversation this past Tuesday, an artist from one of the Vancouver Islands had commented that visual artists are often an isolated group. This is definitely the case in our community as well and we are making great efforts to showcase their works locally and making the community aware of the talent we have in our neighbourhood. Culture Days is such an exciting opportunity for communicating and promoting on a broader level. I can’t wait to search the Culture Days website for exciting new artists in Northern BC, central Saskatchewan or wherever. I would love nothing more than if because of this movement a large performing organization found the perfect fit for one of their productions in some remote community because the information was easily accessible. There could be so many future opportunities for collaboration! I look forward to organizing a Northern Canadian Artist Symposium to compare notes with artists from Northern Canada then let Canada take the lead in a Global Northern Hemispheric Art Collaboration. Pie in the sky? Maybe but … We may not be able to catch up to our southern neighbours but we should be able to compare ourselves to Australia re: distribution and arts support and we certainly should be able to take a role in Global Northern Art leadership

So there you have it: Flin Flon/Winnipeg/Manitoba/Canada/ … the WORLD. Five easy steps to global cultural advancement.