The City of Fredericton is developing a new Arts Plan to help shape the future direction, policies and priorities that will support the city’s growing creative community.
This work will be guided by extensive public engagement to ensure the plan reflects diverse perspectives, inspires everyday encounters with the arts, and helps create a plan where residents see themselves in their city.
“The renewal of the city’s Arts Plan is an opportunity to further define our creative sense of place and look to the future to ensure the creative community in our city continues to thrive” said Councillor Ruth Breen, Chair of the Livable Community Standing Committee. “Art, whether that be music, craft, sculpture, painting, or performance, holds a unique meaning for every individual and input from residents at each stage of plan development will be critical.”
A recent Livable Community Standing Committee featured a presentation detailing the first round of public engagement opportunities and the path forward for the development of the new Arts Plan. Fredericton’s Arts Plan will outline a renewed vision to support the city’s development as a creative community and help foster an energetic and supportive environment where artists and arts organizations can thrive.
The plan development process is expected to take approximately 12-18 months, during which there will be additional public engagement opportunities as the plan takes shape. Anticipated timelines for the project are as follows:
- Winter 2026: Preliminary Public Engagement
- Spring 2026: Technical Background Report
- Summer 2026: Comprehensive Consultation and Engagement
- Fall 2026 – Winter 2027: Synthesis and Analysis
- Spring 2027: Final Report Development
The city’s first Culture Plan, adopted by Council in 2014, has guided arts and cultural development for the past decade. Priorities identified in that plan included:
- Integrate the arts and culture into daily life
- Embrace diversity and support collaboration
- Encourage sustainability
- Support the design of great spaces and places
- Highlight the value of culture to the social and economic fabric of our community
Many of Fredericton’s current arts programs came from the Culture Plan including the Poet Laureate, Artist in Residence Program, and numerous public art initiatives.
The new Arts Plan will emphasize the importance of the creative sector as a key industry within the Capital Region. Within the greater Fredericton area, there are over 8,300 individuals employed in creative industries. Having a strong creative sector bolsters the local economy by supporting entrepreneurship, attracting talent, promoting tourism, and fostering a vibrant sense of community.
To help guide the future of arts in Fredericton residents are encouraged to attend the upcoming Ideas Sessions open houses at the Fredericton Public Library on February 4, 2026 (1-3pm and 5:30-7:30pm) or one of the scheduled pop-up sessions happening at the Fredericton Boyce Farmers Market on January 31st(7am-1pm) or at Officers’ Square during the FROSTival Family Skate on Feb. 1st (1-3pm).
Work on the new Arts Plan will be led by the city’s Recreation and Culture division, with expert support from Patricia Huntsman Culture + Communication, the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, and a dedicated Steering Committee. Public updates will be provided through the Livable Community Standing Committee and on Engage Fredericton, the city's public engagement platform.