By Mike Straus/Contributor

Sandra Kochan says that arts and culture is a fundamental expression of community identity, and it香蕉视频直播檚 that guiding belief that has led her to her position as cultural services manager for the City of Kelowna.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 really work in arts and culture 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檓 a public servant. That means I香蕉视频直播檓 more involved in managing the public sector budget and finding ways to support and enable arts industry non-profits. I work on some of the broader issues involving the city香蕉视频直播檚 role as a funder,香蕉视频直播� Kochan said.

Kochan香蕉视频直播檚 work typically involves liaising with local arts organizations, community members and city officials to determine how the city can best nurture a growing arts industry.

Over the course of thelast seven years, Kochan香蕉视频直播檚 largest project has involved significant contributions to the city香蕉视频直播檚 official strategic plan for arts and culture, which city council adopted in 2011.

Kochan says that working on municipal projects for the arts industry presents a variety of opportunities,  the biggest challenge being the city香蕉视频直播檚 cultural services division faces is in pursuing multiple opportunities at the same time.

香蕉视频直播淎ll of us at the City of Kelowna are very aware of community needs, and we香蕉视频直播檙e always juggling competing demands for time, attention, and resources. It香蕉视频直播檚 partly a pacing issue 香蕉视频直播� you can香蕉视频直播檛 get to everything right away, and some projects will take longer than others. Some projects have resource challenges 香蕉视频直播� assembling resources for a large project (like the Rotary Centre for the Arts) will take years, maybe even decades. So it香蕉视频直播檚 important to be patient and plan carefully,香蕉视频直播� Kochan said.

Part of that careful planning involved the creative spaces consultation process, which took place earlier this year. While the city is still compiling the results for an official report, Kochan says the eight focus groups presented a series of unique insights as to what an ideal creative space would look like.

香蕉视频直播淓very single focus group gave us at least one 香蕉视频直播榓ha香蕉视频直播� moment,香蕉视频直播� Kochan noted. 香蕉视频直播淭he next step will be a gathering next year to bring everyone back together to share information. We香蕉视频直播檒l also be looking at examples of shared facilities to learn more about co-located models, and then we香蕉视频直播檒l talk about what a made-in-Kelowna solution would look like.香蕉视频直播�

The focus group results will also be used to provide insights for an update to the cultural plan that is slated for 2018.

Not content to simply manage the public policy side of art, Kochan is also an avid creator herself. When she香蕉视频直播檚 not managing the city香蕉视频直播檚 arts agenda, she can be found busking on the streets of Kelowna as part of the local ukulele ensemble Ukenagan.

香蕉视频直播淚 also have lots of projects on the go around the house 香蕉视频直播� I like to cook and preserve a lot. Plus, this time of year I香蕉视频直播檓 an enthusiastic gardener. We香蕉视频直播檙e harvesting tomatoes and beans right now.香蕉视频直播�

Lately, Kochan has been contemplating the value of mentors and role models.

香蕉视频直播淭his has been on my mind, partly because this is the Women to Watch series and partly because I was involved in a presentation through the Chamber of Commerce香蕉视频直播檚 Inspire series. As a public servant, there are several women who stand out to me. They speak truth to power, and they香蕉视频直播檙e admirable because of their determination. One of them is Cindy Blackstock, a First Nations advocate for childcare. She香蕉视频直播檚 had to face a lot of backlash speaking out on government policies,香蕉视频直播� Kochan said.

香蕉视频直播淚 also admire Sheila Fraser for her ability to be impactful, to speak uncomfortable truths, but to do it in a fair manner.香蕉视频直播�

Kochan says that her three careers have taught her a variety of lessons that are now helping her to promote arts and culture in Kelowna.

As a lawyer, she quickly learned the importance of having accurate information.

Her career in sales and marketing for wineries impressed upon her the importance of storytelling, as it香蕉视频直播檚 through stories that work takes on meaning.

And as a public servant, Kochan discovered that providing the best possible advice to civic leaders involves creating innovative solutions based on the facts at hand.

Kochan is now putting those skills to use to encourage Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 residents to explore the city香蕉视频直播檚 arts amenities.

香蕉视频直播淒on香蕉视频直播檛 take it for granted,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淥ur citizen surveys tell us that people are very satisfied with what香蕉视频直播檚 available, but we also know that event organizers don香蕉视频直播檛 always get the levels of participation they hope for. That香蕉视频直播檚 why community support and involvement is important 香蕉视频直播� artists need to have audiences for what they do.香蕉视频直播�

Kochan says that much of the struggle arises from Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 great variety of arts events香蕉视频直播攐ften, there are so many options available that would-be arts supporters don香蕉视频直播檛 know which events to attend.

香蕉视频直播淕et out there and support what香蕉视频直播檚 happening. If artists can香蕉视频直播檛 make a living here, they香蕉视频直播檙e not going to stay 香蕉视频直播� and without artists, we don香蕉视频直播檛 have a cultural scene,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Crowe MacKay香蕉视频直播檚 Women to Watch program is a weekly feature that profiles remarkable women in our community. This feature series is a joint initiative between Crowe MacKay, the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and the 香蕉视频直播. To nominate the exceptional woman in your life, email womentowatch@kelownachamber.org.