Idea Exchange

A dancer in the Cambridge International Festival

by Sandra Sydor, Coordinator: Marketing and Outreach, Idea Exchange

Idea Exchange is transforming the way people experience their local library and gallery space. There is an abundance of programs and services for all ages, inspired by a passionate focus on art, reading, knowledge sharing, creativity, and culture.

An importance is placed on free public access to art and ideas, encouraging arts appreciation, discussion and debate, and the value these provide to our lives. With 35 years of presenting contemporary Canadian exhibitions of art, architecture, and design in three gallery spaces, and home to one of the largest contemporary textile collections in Canada, Idea Exchange has a long history of collaboration with artists.

The re-branding of Cambridge Libraries and Galleries to Idea Exchange was a journey that began five years ago to better position our organization within our community and to align our name with our new vision of being a place for the exchange of ideas.

The re-branding of Cambridge Libraries and Galleries to Idea Exchange was a journey that began five years ago to better position our organization within our community and to align our name with our new vision of being a place for the exchange of ideas. Strategic marketing campaigns and shifts in our service delivery models began to have an impact on how residents of Cambridge and our dedicated members perceived our organization. Questions regarding our new goals and objectives were answered with the emergence of dynamic program offerings and updated spaces at our four locations.

Our outreach efforts were strategically planned to support the new brand philosophy of sparking conversation and engaging our community beyond the walls of our organization. Our goals and objectives to connect with youth and newcomers and move beyond our spaces guided our partnerships to initiate Summer Art Project featuring local artists, National Youth Arts Week activities, Cambridge International Festival performance stage and the Cambridge Comic Arts Festival showcasing regional comic artists.

The Idea Exchange Summer Art Project enables us to have a unified message at all of the festivals and events that our outreach team attends from May to September each year. A selected artist designs the community art project to include a collaborative art activity that is featured at the Idea Exchange discovery tent that attends various festivals. Over the course of the summer contributions are collected and featured in the finale event at one of the season-end festivals. The Big Print and Big Weave were in collaboration with A Day & A Night Festival, Riverside Print Group and local textile artist Sue Sturdy. Last year’s Summer Art Project Art in Motion was designed by kite artist Dennis Ische and the Cambridge International Festival. All three initiatives have been successful in community participation and essential in positioning Idea Exchange as a destination for discovery at local festivals and events.

The Big Print

Sue Sturdy and Dave Olsen working on The Big Weave

National Youth Arts Week provides an opportunity for young people across Canada to create a celebration of youth led events showcasing their talents, expressing and exchanging ideas, getting excited about the arts and celebrating their positive contributions in their communities. Idea Exchange in collaboration with The City of Cambridge Neighbourhood Associations, YWCA Newcomers Youth, YMCA, Waterloo Police Services, Cambridge Youth Orchestra and various secondary schools work together to create a week of events that focus on all the components of healthy youth – arts, leisure activities, education and empowerment. Through the outreach efforts of Idea Exchange, a Youth Friendly Committee was created that works each year to promote youth programming in Cambridge.

Newcomers to Canada were identified as an area of focus in the Idea Exchange strategic plan. Outreach to new Canadians include our partnerships with the YMCA and the Connecting the Cultures group to provide Conversation Circles that are held regularly at all of our locations. An event to celebrate Canadian Multiculturalism Day began with a small celebration in 2012, and has grown to the Cambridge International Festival, an event attended by over 4,000 participants. This growth can be attributed to the power of collaboration with the YMCA and numerous other social agencies and organizations in Cambridge. Idea Exchange provided the administration of the Performance Stage which in 2015 grew to over 25 performers including dance, vocals and head-liner bands. This has established not only a connection with new Canadians in our community but also promotion for local musicians and performers.

Academy Ballet Classique

In 2013, Alfonso Espinos comic book artist and director of Studio.com.ix approached Idea Exchange about creating the Cambridge Comic Arts Festival. In short time, the festival has matured from a small group of participating artists to 20+ artists, vendors and costumed characters. Strategic partnerships are crucial to the success of this festival and the implementation of concept to reality. Collaborating with a local and recognized professional within the comic arts community provided industry affiliations, anchoring new artists and facilitating outreach at various comic cons and comic book gatherings.

Comic Creations: Sandra and a pair of enthusiastic cosplayers

Coffee Powered Comics

Get involved in initiatives that share similar goals and are actively working towards a unified outcome.

So how do you foster partnerships that position your organization within your community? First take time to evaluate your goals and objectives, designate your areas of focus in terms of demographics, and plan a strategy. Get involved in initiatives that share similar goals and are actively working towards a unified outcome. Listen and discover the needs within your community – don’t get caught up in preconceived perceptions of what is desired. Offer to support services that align with your organization’s strengths so you succeed and build a reputation of reliability and quality both amongst your partners and in the community you seek to serve. Strive to increase your impact and in return you’ll experience successful tangible outcomes!

Want More? 

• This piece is part of a forthcoming series on the Library as Incubator Project– so stay tuned for more in February and March!
• You can also get in touch with Sandra directly at ssydor@ideaexchange.org

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