Why do we need a Cultural Plan? What will the Cultural Plan do?
We’ve shown that creativity is not a luxury—it’s a catalyst.
A cultural plan provides a shared vision and actionable roadmap for how arts, culture, entertainment, and recreation can drive a community’s growth and resilience. It identifies where we are today, where we want to go, and the work needed to get there.
Through deep community engagement and data-driven strategies, the plan will:
Strengthen quality of life by ensuring creative, recreational, and cultural opportunities are accessible to everyone.
Guide public and private investment to attract and retain talent, support local businesses, and grow our regional economy.
Align efforts across sectors — from education and economic development to public safety and tourism — to maximize the impact of cultural resources.
Elevate our identity as a vibrant, welcoming, and forward-looking region where creativity thrives and people want to live, work, and visit.
In short, the Cultural Plan is not just about celebrating what we already have — it is about unlocking the full potential of arts, culture, entertainment, and recreation as essential drivers of a stronger future.
Who Paid for the cultural plan?
Two of the region’s key philanthropic partners — GAR Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation — came together to fully fund the creation of the Cultural Plan, which was completed and released in 2020.
Since then, support for the work outlined in the plan has grown far beyond its initial investment. Through ArtsForward and other collaborative initiatives, public, private, and nonprofit partners continue to invest in projects and programs that bring the plan to life. Municipal governments, corporate partners, neighborhood organizations, and individual donors alike are aligning resources to advance shared priorities — demonstrating that this work is not owned by any one organization, but driven by a collective commitment to strengthening our region through arts, culture, entertainment, and recreation.
Who is in charge of the plan?
We all are. The Cultural Plan was designed as a community-wide roadmap, and its success depends on the shared commitment of nonprofits, businesses, government, community leaders, neighbors, and residents. Everyone has a role to play in celebrating the work already happening and bringing the plan to life.
ArtsNow serves as the steward of the process, coordinating check-ins, gathering data, and issuing reports to track progress over the plan’s fifteen-year timeline. But the work itself belongs to all of us — it is powered by the collaborations, partnerships, and creativity happening every day across our region. It is powered by you!