THE VISION: by 2020...

DOCUMENTS

ABOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS

THE VISION: by 2020...

The Pierce County Arts and Cultural Plan, presented to the County Council and Executive in the spring of 2010, was the result of a county-wide effort to engage residents broadly to examine and prioritize arts and culture opportunities. The plan is a 10 year road map that articulates the community's prioritites, goals, and vision. Cultural plans are used by communities nationwide to develop and maximize cultural/artistic assets.

We asked, 'What is needed?' to a county-wide Steering Committee of 22 community leaders and Pierce County Arts Commissioners, over 90 participants in individual interviews and focus groups across the county, and over 50 participants at two open, public meetings. Their answers fit into four general themes:

• cohesive vision
• communication
• collaboration
• education

The plan addresses two main questions: What is the County's role? Where do other community participants (individuals and organizations) fit in? Those roles are set out in the following 7 goals, with 23 strategies for achieving success (see the full plan below).

'Our county and its leadership, the community partners and others who helped shape the report, and most importantly, YOU, have the ability to make a huge impact in every area of the region over the next ten years. Together we must recognize and act upon the following:

• The power of public art and arts strategies to draw our community together and support local businesses.
• The importance of marketing the region as a cultural destination.
• The importance of viable arts experiences for youth and the underserved rural and outying areas of our county.

Our advisory committee met over six months with the serious task of constructing a cultural plan that could help this county. Like you, we love this county and this region, and we realize how fragile our cultural and economic future may be. The result of this work is not a tribute to any single agenda, but is a rigorous and considered strategy to assure arts and culture will continue to contribute to the future of our county and its communities.'

-Comments by Lucas Smiraldo, Associate Director for Education at the Broadway Center for Performing Arts, spoken word artist

Pierce County Arts and Cultural Plan - Final document including an executive summary.
Appendix A: List of Participants
Appendix B: Best Practices

Arts and Cultural Asset Map - The asset map is designed to help tell the story of the county's arts and cultural landscape.

Findings and Questions (December 30, 2009) - A summary of key findings and related questions from the Critical Issues Report.

Critical Issues Report (December 15, 2009) - A comprehensive overview of issues that need to be addressed for arts and cultural development in the county to thrive.

Emerging Themes Memo (November 2, 2009) - The first set of themes to emerge from meetings and interviews to date.

ABOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS
Pierce County Arts and Cultural Services with the Pierce County Arts Commission initiated a process in September 2009 to establish the value of arts and culture to the community and within the broader goals of Pierce County. A team of experienced consultants facilitated this project: Marc Goldring, WolfBrown, Boston; Claudia Bach, AdvisArts Consulting, Seattle; and Bonnie Berk, Berk & Associates, Seattle.

Purpose of the process:

• To identify issues, strengths, and challenges for cultural development in dialog with the community.
• To develop a strategic needs assessment that defines the role of the Pierce County Arts & Cultural Services Division and the Pierce County Arts Commission in supporting the arts and culture, and the role of the arts and culture in accomplishing the County's broader goals.
• To develop a clear set of priorities that is supported by both policy and a commitment of County resources.

Goals of the process:

• To engage the participation and ownership of community members, arts organizations and artists in the needs assessment and cultural plan.
• Integrate consideration of the arts and culture into overall County planning.
• To raise the visibility of arts and culture as a valuable community resource that contributes to identity, sense of place, and quality of life.
• To partner with other agencies necessary to support the needs assessment and cultural plan.

TIMELINE AND MEETINGS
The first stage of the process began in September 2009 and the final report will be presented in April 2010. During the course of the process the steering committee convened four times and a series of focused group meetings and public meetings were held to gather input from the community. View a detailed project timeline.

Steering Committee Meetings

• October 2, 2009
• January 7, 2010
• February 3, 2010
• March 17, 2010

Community Forum Public Meetings

• January 6, 2010
• March 17, 2010