Cultural Plan

Help shape the future of arts and culture in Oakville

The Town of Oakville is currently developing its 2027-2031 Cultural Plan in collaboration with STEPS Public Art. Building on our past work, the plan will establish a renewed vision for Oakville’s cultural future and identify tangible actions and strategies to strengthen arts, culture, heritage, creativity, and community connections over the next five years.

We want to hear from people who live, work, learn, create, and connect in Oakville on the future of arts and culture in our community. Your voice will directly influence plans and priorities for the continued evolution of Oakville’s cultural scene. 

Join our memory mapping workshop

Looking to share more in-depth perspectives? Register for our free, in-person memory mapping workshop for hands-on opportunities to share stories, map meaningful places, and identify opportunities for future cultural development:

• Thursday, July 30, from 4 to 6 p.m. (Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre)

Reserve your free spot: Memory Mapping Workshop

Connect with us in the community

Find us at local events this July and August to share your perspectives on Oakville’s cultural future in fun, creative ways. Look for us at:

Oakville’s Canada Day Celebration

• Wednesday, July 1, from 4 to 9 p.m. (Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park)

Summer Splash

• Wednesday, July 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. (Sixteen Hollow Park)

Movies in the Park

• Wednesday, August 5, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. (Clearview Park)
• Thursday, August 13, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. (Fowley Park)

Sunset Socials Music Series

• Thursday, August 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. (The Oakville Museum)

Farmers’ Markets

• Bronte Farmers’ Market: Sunday, August 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Bronte Market Square)

Additional events and opportunities will be shared here as they are confirmed.  

Cultural planning in Oakville

Oakville’s approach to cultural planning has evolved over time in response to community growth, increasing diversity, and a changing cultural landscape. 

The Town’s first cultural plan, Enabling Culture to Thrive in Oakville: Oakville Strategic Directions for Culture 2009 (pdf), established a foundational framework for cultural development. It focused on building cultural infrastructure, introducing cultural mapping, and defining the municipality’s role in supporting arts and culture. 

Between 2010 and 2015, the Town made significant investments in cultural facilities and programming, including the development of the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC). 

The Town’s 2016-2021 Cultural Plan (pdf) built on this foundation and marked a shift toward increasing participation, access, and community impact. The plan focused on engaging more residents, strengthening partnerships, and embedding cultural considerations across municipal planning and decision-making. 

Key priorities included:

• Reaching and engaging the whole community
• Developing a public art program
• Leveraging the corporate art collection
• Investing in “cultural anchors” 
• Strengthening public and private sector partnerships
• Increasing access to arts and culture in more facilities throughout the town
• Applying a “cultural lens” to all projects and programs