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What can Vancouver learn from Amsterdam and other cities around the world to improve its nightlife scene?
A panel discussion on Wednesday evening at The Beaumont Studios presented ideas about what could be done differently to make the scene safer, more fun and preserve venues that support grassroots talent but face rising rents.
Ana Rose Carrico director of Red Gate Arts Society, which provides studio space for artists and musicians said "people need housing first but we're arguing that people need culture almost as much." Red Gate Arts Society has to vacate its space at 855 East Hastings by May 31.
The world's first "Night Mayor," Amsterdam's Mirik Milan, facilitates dialogue between the nightlife industry, local policymakers and the public. Milan considers his largest accomplishment to be the introduction of 24-hour licenses for 10 bars and clubs located located on the outskirts of the city.
"When you have longer operating hours it means you don't have to push people out into the streets all at the same time," Mirik said, which raises the noise levels and bothers neighbours living in the area.
Good Night Out Vancouver coordinator Stacey Forrester highlighted the fact that the SkyTrain doesn't run all night long. She said it would make sense to keep the clubs open until the train started running in the morning.
Milan said they introduced patrollers in Rembrandtplein square who are seen as a "non aggressive entity," which aims to reduce incidents of violence and harassment similar to Good Night Out Vancouver. Forrester said in the fall they ran a successful pilot program involving a street team roaming in the Granville Entertainment District from midnight to 3 a.m. trained in non-violent crisis intervention and first aid.
The conversation moved into a discussion on ideas about how to move forward. Loren Granich of A Club Called Rhonda in Los Angeles said people in the nightlife industry need to "start reframing it as an economic and cultural boon to the city." Granich said cities such as New York and Berlin have a "culture of philanthropy around culture. We don't really have that here," adding that more people should step forward and support the arts because "they've used the culture of Vancouver for their products that have made them billions of dollars. Whether that's in real estate or apparel."
Milan's advice to everyone in the room was to form a think tank to continue the conversation. He said the nightlife community should be diverse, inclusive and self-organize because "having a nightlife, also a 'Night Mayor' doesn't release you of the fact, of the obligation to come up with your own vision and try to influence decision-making."
