About
What is Cultural Mapping?
Cultural mapping is recognized as an essential planning and economic development tool in municipalities across Canada and around the world. Cultural mapping is defined as:
A systematic approach to identifying, recording, classifying, and analyzing a community’s cultural resources.
How is this useful?
Cultural Mapping informs municipal planning:
Identifying and mapping cultural assets strengthens the base of information that can be used to inform future planning and decision-making in any municipality. Cultural planning of course benefits from cultural mapping, but so does land use planning, economic development, and tourism.
Cultural Mapping raises awareness of cultural assets:
Consolidated databases of cultural assets support marketing and promotion to both residents and tourists.
Cultural Mapping supports cultural development:
The subjective nature of what “counts” as culture can lead to disconnection and distinction within the cultural community. A cultural map is a stronger base of information that strengthens and creates networking and partnership opportunities, and encourages people to view their community using a cultural lens. More collaboration contributes to a higher quality of life and overall community well-being, and stimulates new economic opportunities in multiple sectors.
For additional information on Cultural Mapping in Canada, see:
Municipal Cultural Planning Toolkit
