1. Cultural Information Management Systems Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago March 17, 2006 Vladimir Skok, Director, eCulture Joelle Mader, Senior Content Development Cooridinator, Canadian Cultural Observatory Canadas Cultural Gateway

2. Gateway to Canadian culture on-line Targeted at all Canadians Specialized portal and interactive hub of the Cultural Observatory For cultural development professionals, media and students

3. An Essential Tool: Mapping Canadian culture on the global Internet landscape Internet Phenomenon 2 in 3 Canadians use the Internet 1 in 2 Canadians have home Internet access Household spending on Internet access: $3.0 billion Canadian Culture Online (CCO) Strategy Key element of CCO Strategy providing access and visibility to Canadian digital content CCO National Advisory Board Commended the Department for launching the Gateway Envisions it providing an important public digital space akin to public broadcasting 50 years ago

4. Launched November 2003 PartnersMore than 100 organizations in Heritage Portfolio, government, cultural stakeholders and private sector content, media, new media, and industry partners Collections Listing and featuring more than 12,000 quality Canadian cultural Web sites catalogued in partnership with Library and Archives Canada SRC-CBC and NFB Archive capsules, Canadian Encyclopedia records, Virtual Museum of Canada features, etc. ShowcasesIn depth features created with stakeholders in cultural sector on popular Canadian cultural topics PerspectivesCanadian views on cultural life NewsCultural News Feeds with CBC Culture.ca engages Canadians in cultural life, educates and entertains Web surfers with the stories of many peoples and provides access to the best of Canadian culture on-line.

5. Target Audience All Canadians, plus youth, diverse and Aboriginal communities Initial focus on influential 25-49 segment Addition of Kids Zone (for 9-12 age group) Working with CCO and Department to showcase new Aboriginal cultural creation and Canada Council on role of the artists User Traffic 3.7 million visits since launch Visitors from more than 150 countries Citizen Engagement Over 5,000 comments and perspectives from users 60% included link suggestions On-line surveys and usability testing supporting development Bi-monthly subscriber-based e-Newsletter

6. As a collaborative gateway, Culture.ca provides access to cultural content produced by Canadian organizations, individuals, and enterprises Culture.ca supports the Ministers objective of promoting Canadian cultural content and engaging Canadians in cultural participation Culture.ca receives requests for guidance from counterparts all over the world 81% of those who visited Culture.ca enjoyed their experience 77% of visitors would recommend Culture.ca to friends and family Note : Minister Frula became acquainted with Culture.ca at the Montréal Salon du Livre (Fall 2004) and announced the launch of a Culture.ca showcase on Giant Screen Cinema at the CMCs Imax Theatre a week later. Accomplishments

7. Culture.ca Live Site Tour

8. Canadian Cultural Observatory What is the Canadian Cultural Observatory? The Observatory collaborates with partners in order to inform and advance cultural development by providing specialized services that: Fostering more responsive research (access to cultural policy research, data, statistics, and analysis). Encourage informed decision-making for policy and planning. Stimulate community debate and improved knowledge exchange (collaborative virtual work spaces and outreach events). Funding support from Department of Canadian Heritage, and as part of the Canadian Culture Online strategy. Consulted by organizations around the world on innovative implementation strategy and approach.

9. Services: Information synthesis and analysis Support to projects and initiatives that aim to synthesize and analyse research and statistics across sectors and regions in Canada. Bi-monthly newsletter, daily news clippings, events listing Culturescope Groups Culturescope.ca The only national collaborative online knowledge base for cultural research, statistics, and analysis available to Canadians and the world. Editorial support provided by the Culturescope Editorial Working Group– the first of its kind in PCH. Gold medal winner at GTEC national e-Government Distinction Awards for most innovative pilot project. 2 nd ever GTEC medal for PCH in the history of the awards. Canadian Cultural Observatory

10. Highlights: Partner with Aboriginal Affairs Branch at Canadian Heritage to develop Indigeneous Knoweledge In Focus; further developed into first In Focus Speakers Series event. Partner with Creative Cities Network of Canada to develop Sustainable Communities In Focus. Partner with Tourism Directorate, PCH, to develop Culture and Tourism In Focus; upcoming Speakers Series event and possible Sustainable Tourism conference. Partner with Director of Task Force on New Technologies to facilitate discussion and analysis of impacts of new technologies. Substantive contributions to World Urban Forum, Metropolis, Inter- provincial study of cultural policy. Synthesis and Analysis

11. Culturescope.ca Culturescope.ca Culturescope features: Over 4000 links to cultural statistics, research, analysis, case studies and research projects. Current and comprehensive events listing. Daily news clipping service. Directory of over 150 cultural e-Bulletins. Directory of over 200 cultural organizations in Canada and abroad. In Focus thematic features and Speakers Series. Bi-monthly subscriber-based e-Newsletter. Culturescope Groups. Guide to Cultural Statistics: Statistics Canada data now more accessible. Ask a Librarian: reference support provided by Library and Archives Canada.

12. Culturescope.ca Culturescope.ca Operational Processes: Supported by basic content management system, Tomoye Simplify. Editorial risk is mitigated by collaboration with partners and monthly advice from Editorial Working Group. Approvals process, with delegated authority from Communications Branch for external content and communications and advice from legal services. Daily scanning of e-bulletins and relevant Web sites; content and content sources tracked on spreadsheet. Input from Senior Advisor (and others), who participates in wide-range of committees and collaborative projects. In Focus thematic features chosen strategically to capitalize on hot events and projects. Incorporating consistent editorial guidelines for both official languages.

13. Culturescope.ca Live Site Tour

14. Contact information: Vladimir Skok Director eCulture Guy-Marc Dumais Manager – Culture.ca Gateway Joelle Mader Acting Manager – Canadian Cultural Observatory