Glenn Gordon’s job is to use computer technology to map a New Westminster arts scene that’s off the charts.
The cultural consultant is coordinating the creation of an interactive, web-based map that will put the profiles of hundreds of Royal City artisans on your screen at a click of the mouse.
“It’s the new frontier in social media mapping,” said Gordon, coordinator for the New Westminster Cultural Mapping Project.
“It tells you what’s going on in New Westminster – and the arts scene there is exploding.”
Gordon says cutting-edge arts repository will be the first of its kind in B.C. and one of the few in Canada. It taps into the contemporary passion to find online info about other services like restaurants and theatres. Once completed, visitors to the layered site will be able to hover over an arts category icon, drop down into it and have images and information pop up.
“It’s like one of those old beautiful maps that had little side maps, illustrations and graphics along the borders,” said Gordon, head of the Regina-based Public Art Group. “The difference is, our graphics and illustrations pop up on the screen.”
Gordon, who helped create a similar project for Regina, said the New Westminster map will be all-encompassing. It will include visual and performing artists, architects, designers, furniture makers and “all the creative resources and cultural assets in the city.”
The project will also interview a wide array of artists, from members of performing troupes like the Vagabond Players to artisans working in the film and TV industries.
While Google maps and directories like Yelp are now ubiquitous, comprehensive interactive cultural mapping of communities “is rare” in Western Canada.
“New Westminster is first up to do this kind of interactive site,” said Gordon. “There is nothing as extensive as what we’re planning – the closest one to New Westminster is Regina.”
The high-tech map will also include information on and the locations of heritage homes and historic buildings.
New Westminster Arts Council president Rick Carswell said mapping New Westminster’s vibrant arts scene is a bigger task than the project partners thought.
“New Westminster is full of artists, performers, authors, artisans, painters, dancers – you name it,” said Carswell.
“Add to that the vibrant multi-cultural arts scene of the South Asian, Chinese and Filipino communities.”
He noted that New Westminster ranks fourth in Canadian cities in terms of the number of resident artists per capita.
The project is a joint venture of the Arts Council of New Westminster, Douglas College and the city. Funding comes mostly from a B.C. Creative Communities Grant from the Arts and Culture Branch of the government of B.C. City hall is pitching in by providing staff time and equipment. Staff trained in GIS technology will help assemble the interactive, web-based map, which will be web-hosted by the city.
Douglas College provides students to do the marketing and computing work.
The project was launched Sept. 26 in a special event at Douglas College. The official unveiling is slated to take place by April 2014.
