Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan

Next Round of Community Meetings Begin September 29 on Cultural Action Plan

2009-09-29T12:32:00.004-04:00

Today, Tuesday, September 29, at 5:00pm, the Steering Committee of the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan will provide an update on progress on the Plan’s implementation and an opportunity to continue discussion on issues facing Richmond’s arts and cultural community.

This meeting will be held at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond located at 1812 West Main Street. Parking is available in the parking lot directly behind the Visual Arts Center and can be entered off the side streets of Allen or Granby.

Today's meeting will be the first in the latest series of public meetings to assure a continuing community conversation on the implementation and continuing evolution of the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan.

Updates will be provided on:

Restructuring of the Arts Council (now CultureWorks)
Educational collaboratives
Creativity in the workplace initiatives
Community calendaring
Dialogues on race and Richmond history

Full copies of the plan are available at www.wolfbrown.com/richmond.

Please plan to attend and circulate this notice to your Boards, staff, family, and friends. For questions about this meeting or the Greater Richmond Cultural Action Plan, contact Bill Martin, director of the Valentine Richmond History Center at 804.649.0711 ext. 340.

Creativity in the Workplace: Second Meeting

2009-07-31T10:08:00.002-04:00

On behalf of the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan Taskforce and in association with CultureWorks

The Richmond Symphony & Greater Richmond Chamber
invite you to the second meeting to promote

Creativity in the Workplace

Meeting Goals are to take the next steps to:

Identify 'Best Practice' organizations and models
Establish parameters for Creative Workplace pilot program
Establish process to share research and information

When: Thursday, 13th August at 4:00 pm
Where: Greater Richmond Chamber,
600 East Main Street, Suite 700, Richmond, VA 23219
RSVP: Kathryn Pullam 788-4717 x 114 or
kpullam@richmondsymphony.com

John Sarvey at Creativity in the Workplace!

2009-07-14T10:21:00.002-04:00

Breaking News!

John Sarvey, of the popular local blog Buttermilk & Molasses, will be facilitating the Creativity in the Workplace seminar presented by the Richmond Symphony and the Greater Richmond Chamber on Wednesday, July 15 at 4:00pm at the Chamber's offices. John will be leading this forum under his latest moniker as owner of the consulting company Floricane.

Don't miss an opportunity to hear John discuss what he knows best..and for free!!

2009-07-13T15:07:00.002-04:00

The Richmond Symphony and Greater Richmond Chamber - on behalf of the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan Task Force and in association with Culture Works (Arts Council of Richmond) - invite you to a meeting to promote

Creativity in the Workplace

Wednesday, July 15 at 4:00pm

Greater Richmond Chamber

600 East Main Street

Suite 700

If you're interested in learning new ways to encourage:

Change initiatives
Cultural transformation
Innovation
Cross-Functional Teamwork
Leadership
Communication
New Level of Performance

This meeting's for you!

Admission is free but we ask that you please RSVP to:

Kathryn Pullam

788-4717 x 114

kpullam@richmondsymphony.com

Arts Council of Richmond Moves Forward on RCAP Recommendations

2009-05-14T08:50:00.005-04:00

This week's Style Weekly features the latest news on the work being done by the Arts Council of Richmond to transform itself thanks to the recommendations of the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan. Already developing a new board structure, updated advocacy and fundraising efforts, as well as a new name - CultureWorks - the Council's new director discusses the plans of this forthcoming dynamic group.

Read more about the changes that John Bryan is taking to turn around the Region's Champion for the Cultural Arts!

http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=07529E1EE7DD440B8CD044F6335A5B52

Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan Released!

2009-03-16T12:15:00.003-04:00

The Task Force of the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan is proud to present at last, the Regional Cultural Action Plan!

Prepared and presented by consultants WolfBrown, after almost a year in the making, the final report provides a cohesive analysis of the area's arts and cultural community and makes powerful recommendations and directives for support. The full report can be found at this blog's resource list, but here are the Goals and Action Steps from the "Call to Action" - Executive Summary.

Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan
Executive Summary Recommendations

What are the Goals and Highlights for the Future?
There are clear goals and action steps that must guide the region in this effort.

Goal I: Increase the contribution of arts and culture to the economic vitality of the region.
• Increase cultural tourism.
• Integrate arts and culture into economic planning for the region.
• Implement a culture-friendly downtown development strategy.
• Foster creative collaborations in the work place.

Goal II: Expand cultural participation of a regional basis.
• Encourage events and activities that address the unfulfilled cultural interests of regional residents.
• Develop a regional network of non-traditional spaces for cultural activities that encourage events and activities at the neighborhood level.
• Foster the growth of satellite programming in the counties by Richmond-based cultural organizations as well as partnerships across geographic boundaries.
• Encourage greater participation and new audiences through improved transportation, subsidizing ticketing, and other audience development strategies.

Goal III: Promote cultural equity and build on cultural diversity.
• Encourage and promote more ethic, historic, and religious festivals and celebrations that reflect the rich multi-cultural traditions of the region.
• Support the reuse of facilities to enhance the historic assets of neighborhoods and provide culturally diverse organizations and artists with low cost performance/exhibition/office space.
• Develop a mini-grant program to provide greater access to funding to culturally specific artists, organizations, and audiences.
• Foster greater dialogue on issues of race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage and their implications for cultural policy.

Goal IV: Build a coordinated, equitable, and innovative system for creative education.
• Develop mechanisms that bring coherence to the organization and promotion of arts and cultural education.
• Offer new approaches to program delivery that overcome barriers of cost, transportation, and safety for families.
• Create sustained pathways for learning that connect young people to arts and culture from pre-school through early adulthood.
• Create a variety of opportunities and rewards that recognize and support young people for their engagement in arts and culture.
• Build support for arts and cultural education through linkages to other types of activities and funding in the areas of after-school, youth employment, crime prevention, and school-to-work preparedness.

Goal V: Sustain the Richmond Region’s artists and cultural organizations.
• Offer incentives for merges, shared services, and strategic alliances for cultural organizations of all sizes.
• Provide opportunities for technical assistance for artists and organizations.
• Develop an online system to assist artists in finding space and connecting with opportunities to show or perform their works.
• Establish programs to assist working artists and emerging cultural organizations in navigating City and county government.
• Develop more rational and effective systems for coordinated funding and grantmaking.

Goal VI: Provide for ongoing coordination, advocacy, and dialogue on behalf of arts and culture.
• Build on the nascent sense of collaboration that has informed the cultural planning process, working together as a sector, avoiding fragmentation, and forging broad networks that cross traditional boundaries.
• Work with the Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau to develop a computerized regional cultural calendar, a cultural tourism initiative, and other vehicles to promote the arts, culture, history, and heritage.
• Complete the plan for a regionally-appropriate coordination mechanism for arts and cultural education in performing arts, visual arts, history and heritage, science and nature, and literary arts.
• Work with the leadership of the Arts Council of Richmond to transform the agency into a regional body capable of coordinating the implementation of this cultural plan after the first year.

In order to accomplish these aspirations, it will be necessary to widen the circle of those involved. Throughout this cultural plan, there are opportunities for groups of citizens to participate on working committees to ensure broad participation in translating recommendations into reality.

What Are the Next Steps?

• A reconstituted Task Force should continue to shepherd the Cultural Plan in its initial phases but plan to go out of business on the one-year anniversary of the delivery of this cultural plan.

• The Task Force should ensure that community dialogue around the Plan continues over the coming months throughout the Region. A series of working sessions (or “studios”) should be held to build the intellectual capital around the recommendations contained in the report.

• The Task Force should explicitly monitor progress in the area of coordination, ensuring that designated entities are prepared to carry the plan forward after the Task Force ceases operation.

• The Task Force should issue a progress report on first year implementation before going out of business.

How Can Accountability be Assured?

The region must hold itself accountable to keep the promises it makes regarding the bright future that is represented by this cultural action plan.

The Task Force will monitor progress during the first year and issue its progress report to the community. Each year thereafter, new targets should be established for the cultural action plan and the realization of those targets must be assessed by the designated agency responsible for plan coordination. An annual scorecard on plan implementation will be an integral part of demonstrating that the cultural sector can deliver on its promises.

In addition, there must be a continuing role for the public – those who work in the cultural sector, those who volunteer, those who are consumers, and those who believe that local arts, culture, history, and heritage are critical ingredients for their children and their communities. Everyone must have a stake in continuing to set the cultural agenda from year to year and sharing pride in its accomplishment.

*Section taken from the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan – Call to Action
March 2009

Outstanding Coverage of our Outstanding Report

2009-03-11T08:57:00.004-04:00

WolfBrown's recommendations for the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan are almost out! And we're happy to report that the Richmond Times Dispatch and Style Weekly have coverage this week of the forthcoming report. Thanks to the RTD and Style for your continued support of our Region's outstanding arts and cultural community!

Check out the Richmond Times Dispatch story here (March 10, 2009):

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/entertainment/theatre_arts/article/RCAP10_20090309-222830/227403/

Check out the Style Weekly intro piece here (March 11, 2009), and watch for a follow up story in a couple weeks:
http://www.styleweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=9B6FFC446FF7486981EA3C0C3CCE4943&nm=Articles%2FArchives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=1C802FA0207D43DE971FBD5E08D3928D

Hot off the Press News!

2009-02-06T13:04:00.003-05:00

Hot off the Press news is that WolfBrown will not only be presenting information on their extensive arts education and financial evaluation research, but they will also be discussing the topics of Cultural Tourism and the future arts and cultural Coordinating organization. Basically, this will be everything you always wanted to know about the Cultural Action Plan but were afraid to ask!

While there will be opportunities to express your views on all this important work, there will not be breakout sessions due to the limited time available and all that needs to be covered. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing you at 5:30pm at the Visual Arts Center!

Calling All Artists!

2009-02-05T10:36:00.002-05:00

Do you have the next Community Meeting on your calendars?
I do hope so since we need as much understanding of this project out in the community as we do insight from it. It's a win-win.

I thought I'd share a link to Buttermilk & Molasses piece on the Cultural Action Plan.
If you don't read this blog, you're missing out.

See you Monday night!

http://floricane.typepad.com/buttermilk/2009/02/art-bolsters-culture.html

You're All Invited to February 9 Community Meeting!

2009-02-01T14:28:00.003-05:00

We need EVERYONE at the next Community Meeting!

On Monday, February 9 at 5:30pm, we will have another opportunity to hear from, and work with consultants WolfBrown on this historic effort to create a comprehensive plan for our arts and cultural community. Actually, this will be the last time that WB will be in town, so this is your last chance for that in-person opportunity to say what's been on your mind. And remember, this isn't just for those directly involved in the arts/culture. It's for the entire community to be engaged with! We need everyone's ideas and support in order to make our community a thriving cultural destination and leader in the creative economy. Whatever your vision, bring it on!

So what's happening on Feb 9?

WolfBrown will start with a brief review of key comments from earlier public meetings and interviews that have taken place throughout this process since June 08. We'll see the ways in which the Plan has evolved and how the community's input is driving this process. Then, WB will present their key findings and implications from their research on arts/cultural education and on the financial information from many of the local arts and cultural organizations. We'll then break out into working groups following the presentation so that the participants (you) can comment on these two important research areas. Everyone will have plenty of time to comment on what's presented, ask questions, or address the strategies.

This event will be informative and interactive!

Where are we meeting?

Visual Arts Center of Richmond

1812 West Main Street (in the Fan)

5:30pm

Monday, February 9

Who should be there?

Come one, come all...bring yourself, and your friends!

January Community Meetings a Success!

2009-02-01T13:58:00.004-05:00

Many thanks to the over 200 people that ventured out on January 12 and 13 to attend the recent Community Meetings about the Cultural Action Plan!

People from across the region took part in the vibrant and open discussions that were held in Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and the City of Richmond. We had artists (writers, musicians, painters, graphic artists, photographers, and more), teachers, arts professionals, bloggers, funders, government representatives, historic preservationists, tourism reps, board members from cultural organizations, and so many more. Most importantly, we had folks who want to see Richmond flourish as a cultural destination with a well supported cultural community. We just love you! We can't do this work without the help of the greater community. We also want to thank the county and city officials who helped coordinate these important events and the wonderful venues which served as host - Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center, Cultural Center of India, Pine Camp Arts Center, and Hanover School Board.

We look forward to having even more people come out on Monday, February 9 to the Visual Arts Center of Richmond for the next round of meetings. Bring your ideas, roll up your sleeves, and take part in this historic effort to make the Richmond Region a vibrant and creative community!

Community Meetings Held Tonight & Tomorrow!

2009-01-12T13:24:00.003-05:00

Who Should Attend?

Anyone who lives in the Richmond Region.
Anyone interested in seeing Richmond's arts and cultural community flourish.
Anyone with any questions on the region's creative community.
Anyone with any ideas on how to improve the region's creative community.
Anyone that wants to know more about the region's cultural offerings.
Anyone interested in getting more involved in the region's cultural community.

When & Where Are these Meetings?

Monday, January 12, 2009
4:00-6:00pm
Hanover School Board
200 Berkley Street
Ashland, VA 23005

Monday, January 12, 2009
7:00-9:00pm
Pine Camp Cultural Arts Center
4901 Old Brook Rd
Richmond, VA 23227

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
4:00-6:00pm
Cultural Center of India
6641 Ironbridge Parkway
Chester, Va. 23831

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
7:00-9:00pm
Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
2880 Mountain Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060

What's the Agenda of the Meetings?

-Introduction about the project
-Overview of the main topics of disucssion
-Breakout sessions for discussion and brainstorming
-Report back to the group
-Conclusion and how to stay involved

We look forward to seeing you all there!

So What Are We Going to Be Doing At These Meetings, Anyway?

2009-01-09T18:17:00.004-05:00

The purpose of the upcoming meetings is to update the community about the progress of the Regional Cultural Action Plan and get feedback on the topics that have emerged from the consultants fact finding work so far.

In order for you to have a better idea of what we're going to be discussing on January 12 and 13, here's a very brief overview and the Big Topics to think about before you come. (You will be there, won't you?)

What's Been Done So Far?

The process began in June 2008 and will be completed in March 2009. It's involved a series of meetings with the Task Force and several sessions open to board, staff, and volunteers of cultural organizations and artists attended by over 100 people. It's also involved individual and group interviews with almost 100 people as well as several research components, including:

- A survey of cultural participation among over 2,700 regional residents (for details of the findings, go to http://www.wolfbrown.com/richmond/)
- A review of the financial activity of the largest cultural organizations in Richmond
- An inventory of cultural educational programs that will augment the research conducted by CenterStage.

It's now time to reach more deeply into the community and listen to your ideas, opinions, and priorities. To make that process more fruitful, we're providing this brief summary of some of the important themes that are emerging from our research. While WolfBrown consultants are developing their own thoughts about these areas, it is critical to check in and invite community members to air their views. Use this as a framework for thinking about things you want to comment on at the community meeting.

Emerging Themes of the Cultural Action Plan

1. The Economy and the Plan
In light of the rapid decline in the health of the national economy, both public and private sectors have been forced to make dramatic cut-backs. On the other hand, there's much enthusiasm for discussions of collaboration, consolidation, mergers and other ways to reduce the demands on funding. In light of the reality that the resource base for arts and culture will be under stress, there are important questions of positioning and timing to consider relative to the Plan.

- What do we see as the implications of the current economic situation for the recommendations, the tone, and the approach of the cultural plan?
- How might the positioning and timing of plan strategies shift to reflect that current reality?
- Are there obvious creative consolidation strategies that speak to the stated desire of some funders?

2. Regionalism
Events and interviews have confirmed the difficulty of developing regional cooperation in the area. Yet regional cultural development has been articulated as a priority by local leaders and is a major goal of the cultural plan.

- How might the cultural plan respond to the challenges of developing regional solutions to cultural development?
- Are there specific issues or initiatives in the cultural sector that lend themselves more readily to regional solutions?

3. Coordination
Among the most frequently articulated concerns, both in the cultural sector and more broadly among civic leaders, is the lack of a central coordinating entity to oversee a range of roles – including serving as a spokesperson and advocate for the sector as well as raising and regranting funds. Arts councils traditionally play this role in other communities. With that in mind, imagine an entity that is the spokesperson for culture regionally, whose divisions might include such areas as advocacy, resource development, leadership, creative learning, cultural tourism/marketing, and access/equity/neighborhood initiatives.

- Does such an entity have appeal?
- Is there any organization currently that might be nominated for this role? If so, what kind of restructuring would be required?
- Are there organizations that collectively could come together to play the role?
- What would be the pros and cons of creating a new entity?

4. Cultural Equity
Richmond has made great strides in addressing the legacy of racism in the community. But there remains a divide between African American and white communities, and in particular a divide in how the two groups experience, participate in, and practice cultural pursuits. Our research shows that, in many ways, these communities function as distinct, unconnected silos and that communication between these two groups is not as effective as it might appear to be.

- What inclusive mechanisms can be proposed to bring the two distinct but related sectors together?
- Additionally, can different distribution mechanisms be developed for providing resources to these cultural communities so that they can serve their distinct constituencies?

5. Cultural Education
Cultural education – and its component elements like arts education, creative learning, history and heritage education – represent one of the most promising areas for joint forward movement for the cultural plan over the next decade. It is an area of increasing national focus and funding in light of concerns about the effects of “No Child Left Behind” and America’s vanishing competitiveness. It is of interest to local funders. And it is an activity in which many cultural organizations already have a profile. The cultural plan is looking at what exists and what could exist.

- How can the cultural plan ensure that the recommendations in the area of cultural education are valued by the community.
- Since coordination will be an important hallmark of whatever is recommended, are there candidate organizations that could serve as managing partner for an effort that went well beyond arts education?

6. Artists and Emerging Organizations
Richmond, more than many communities of its size as a vibrant community of artists and young and emerging organizations, in part the result of the arts programs at VCU. This rich ferment of local artists complements the wealth of larger and well-established cultural institutions to which it is also home. As a community, it has shown its social and economic impact through the gallery scene on Broad Street and it is recognized by many civic leaders as a potentially significant element in the City’s revitalization. Yet at the same time, it is hard for artists and small, informal, and emerging groups to flourish.

- Are there mechanisms that can be employed to assist artists and emerging organizations without creating cumbersome bureaucratic structures that impede creativity?
- Are there existing rules or regulations that might be modified to make it easier for artists to live and work in all areas of the City?
- Are there partnerships that could be created or strengthened with existing organizations and entities that would be beneficial to this constituency?

7. Cultural Tourism
The Region has a wealth of cultural assets that can play a significant role in tourism. For example, aside from the broad range of arts activities, there are historic houses and museums, major outdoor events (such as the Second Street Festival and the recently completed and successful Richmond Folk Festival), Civil War battlefields, a world-class museum that is opening a major addition, and a new performing arts venue that will come on line this year. And with the coming Sesquicentennial of the Civil War, beginning next year, many opportunities to link history and heritage to tourism are possible. Yet the City and the region is not perceived as effective in using these assets to attract tourists and visitors.

- What are the mechanisms that can build on these openings and anniversaries to create permanent change in how cultural tourism is conducted in Richmond?
- What are the most effective ways to increase tourism using arts and culture?
- How might communication be improved between the cultural sector and tourism and hospitality interests and what permanent structure should be put in place?

8. On-going Public Process
A priority for the cultural plan is to develop an ongoing model for the Richmond Region to engage in community dialogue about the arts and culture. The City’s recent master planning exercise is considered by some to be an excellent model for how such dialogue can occur. During the course of the planning process, there will need to be more dialogue. But with the economic downturn and the challenges of coordination within the cultural sector, the goals and strategies of the cultural plan will have long timelines. This means that permanent strategies for on-going dialogue need to be put in place now.

- What kinds of on-going community sessions will be most effective as the planning process moves toward completion?
- What kind of steps should be put in place during that time to have an ongoing mechanism for dialogue?
- How can all segments of the community be engaged?

Can Creativity Flourish in Richmond's Economic Downturn?

2009-01-09T08:06:00.002-05:00

Recently on Buttermilk & Molasses, a wonderful thought appeared about how creativity has flourished over the years during times of economic downturns.

http://floricane.typepad.com/buttermilk/2009/01/the-creative-upside-of-the-financial-downside.html

Well, we're are in that state now (unfortunately), but maybe it'll be a call to action for us all to get off the couch to make our community that much better. A New Year's Resolution to become more creative? I've tried that and it doesn't always work. What instead? A change in mindset. For one, that you don't have to be "creative" to take part in and support the arts. And two, that those involved in the creative community come together and take the lead in making Richmond a destination for culture. It's already here, we just ALL have to recognize it.

A historic Plan for supporting and promoting the Region's arts and cultural community is currently in the works, and attending one of the upcoming community meetings (ala Downtown Master Planning charette style). Come one and come all!

We're Famous!

2009-01-06T17:31:00.002-05:00

Locally famous blog and a necessary daily read - Buttermilk & Molasses - picked us up and we've got to shout about it!
Thanks John for helping to spread the word about this incredible project.
Check it out at...
http://floricane.typepad.com/buttermilk/2009/01/cultural-plan-new-website-launches-public-meetings-set.html

Community Meetings Announced!

2008-12-31T10:43:00.002-05:00

Work on the creation of a comprehensive Plan for the Richmond Region's arts and cultural sector is rolling right along, and we need the entire community to get involved!

There will be multiple opportunities for people throughout the area to participate in this very important project in the coming new year. You can attend one or all of the following meetings, and we've scheduled them across the region so it couldn't be easier. There will be a presentation about the Cultural Action Plan and then we'll go into some hands-on activities to get everyone's ideas and opinions. So if you want to see our local arts and cultural communities thrive and prosper, then roll up those sleeves and head on down! Get out those new planners and Save the Dates!
We look forward to seeing you soon!

Monday, January 12, 2009
4:00-6:00pm
Hanover School Board
200 Berkley Street
Ashland, VA 23005

Monday, January 12, 2009
7:00-9:00pm
Pine Camp Cultural Arts Center
4901 Old Brook Rd
Richmond, VA 23227

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
4:00-6:00pm
Cultural Center of India
6641 Ironbridge Parkway
Chester, Va. 23831

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
7:00-9:00pm
Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
2880 Mountain Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060

What is the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan?

2008-12-29T16:23:00.001-05:00

Why is a Cultural Action Plan important for the Richmond Region at this time?
Over the last decade, the Central Virginia region has witnessed dramatic positive changes in its cultural life. New organizations have emerged like Richmond CenterStage Foundation and Curated Culture. Existing organizations (e.g. Richmond Ballet, Virginia Historical Society, Visual Arts Center and VMFA) through major capital improvement programs have expanded/are expanding and their programs transformed. Others, like Theatre IV and the Valentine Richmond History Center, have creatively joined with organizations with similar missions and programs to enhance their own programs. Individual artists and independent galleries flourish. VCU School for the Arts continues to grow. New venues have created opportunities (and challenges) for the Richmond Symphony, the Virginia Opera, the Richmond Jazz Society and the Richmond Ballet. New activities are occurring not just in the city but across the region.

The Plan aims to take advantage of this momentum in the cultural sector and establish a unified voice for ongoing civic dialogue.

What is the big picture goal of the Cultural Action Plan?
The plan will look broadly at the importance of arts and culture in our region to create a collective and inclusive vision for the area’s cultural sector. It will identify strategies to increase participation, financial support, awareness and collaborative opportunities that will lay the foundation for a thriving cultural landscape.

Cities across the nation have developed cultural plans that have successfully guided the promotion, planning, development, and funding of their community’s arts and cultural organizations.

Who is leading this effort?
A Task Force comprised of representatives from cultural organizations, corporations, and local area governments formed in the spring of 2008 to work toward the common goal of creating an inclusive, collective vision for arts and culture in the Richmond Region. Supporting them in this initiative are the Arts Council of Richmond, Affiliates and Board of the ArtsFund, members of the Richmond area group of museums, member organizations of the Alliance for the Performing Arts, the executive committee of CenterStage Foundation and members and Board of the Arts and Cultural Funding Consortium. The Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond & Central Virginia is serving as the fiscal agent for the process.

What is the process for developing the Plan?
Consultants, WolfBrown, were selected by the Task Force in order to develop the cultural planning process after a nationwide call for proposals. WolfBrown enjoys a reputation as one of the country’s leading advisors to foundations, public agencies and charitable organizations.

The process synthesizes two planning streams: public participation and information gathering/research. Focus groups, in-person interviews, community forums, and a public survey are the components of the public participation segment. Budget and attendance surveys and educational systems questionnaires are being used to gather information on the current state of arts and cultural institutions.

What is the timeline of the project?
The project is about three quarters finished as of December 2008. The Plan is scheduled for completion in March/April 2009.

How is the Plan being funded?
The project is being funded through the generous support of: Altria, Dominion, Wachovia, MeadWestvaco, Genworth, The Community Foundation, The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, First Market Bank, SunTrust Bank, Bank of America, and the University of Richmond.

How Can the Community Get Involved?
The public is encouraged to attend and participate in any of the upcoming Community Meetings, which are being held across the Region.

Monday, January 12, 2009
4:00-6:00pm
Hanover School Board
200 Berkley Street
Ashland, VA 23005

Monday, January 12, 2009
7:00-9:00pm
Pine Camp Cultural Arts Center
4901 Old Brook Rd
Richmond, VA 23227

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
4:00-6:00pm
Cultural Center of India
6641 Ironbridge Parkway
Chester, Va. 23831

Tuesday, January 13, 2009
7:00-9:00pm
Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
2880 Mountain Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060

Background of the Cultural Action Plan

2008-12-29T16:08:00.000-05:00

As of summer 2008, substantial progress has been made to create a Cultural Action Plan for the Richmond Region. Reaction to the development of the plan has received very broad support from the cultural community, corporations and foundations, and local governments.

The following steps have been taken to move this important initiative forward:

The Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond & Central Virginia agreed to serve as the fiscal agent for the process.

ConnectRichmond has agreed to serve as the clearinghouse for communications for the process. To assure transparency, a special e-mail group has been established for all who are interested in the process. This site will permit any interested group or individual to sign up for updates on the process and to submit ideas. Connect Richmond will alert all of those organizations that get its Weekly Update to the creation of the new group, to encourage broad participation in the process. The “Cultural Plan” group is active and a description of the proposed process is now available at the site.

Based on the structure in the initial plan proposal, a Regional Cultural Action Plan Task Force was established to provide collaborative leadership and to give direction to the project. The Task Force held its first meeting in April. The Task Force’s structure and composition follows that originally suggested in the original Plan document.

The Task Force members as of this date are:

o Charlie Agee – Altria
o Janine Bell - Elegba Folklore Society
o John Bryan – Arts Council of Richmond (Steering Committee)
o Mary Ann Curtin – Chesterfield County
o Linda Dalch Jones – CenterStage Foundation (Steering Committee)
o George Drumwright - Henrico County
o Mike Falzone - Arts Council of Richmond
o David Fisk – Richmond Symphony (Steering Committee)
o Rachel O’Dwyer Flynn - City of Richmond
o Mike Gooding – Richmond Triangle Players & Richmond Alliance of Professional Theatres
o Marjorie Grier – Dominion
o John Hodges – Hanover County
o Jo Kennedy - Visual Arts Center of Richmond (Steering Committee)
o Ana Ines King – Latin Ballet of Virginia
o Brian Little – City of Richmond
o Bill Martin - Valentine Richmond History Center (Chairman & Steering Committee)
o Christina Newton - Curated Culture (Steering Committee)
o Amy Nisenson - Wachovia & Wachovia Securities
o Kathryn Strawn – MeadWestvaco
o Peter Wagner – Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
o Phil Whiteway – Theatre IV/Barksdale (Steering Committee)

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was developed and was mailed in April 2008 to over 30 individuals and consulting firms that have experience with similar projects in other cities, to secure an independent, credible expert to lead and facilitate the process. The consultant list was provided by Americans for the Arts and others in the cultural community.

A smaller Selection Committee was established to review proposals and to recommend to the Task Force the selection of a proposed consultant. The members of the committee were:
o Victor Branch - Bank of America
o Mary Flynn - New Virginia Review
o Bob Halbruner - Richmond Symphony
o Bill Martin - Valentine Richmond History Center
o Keith Martin - Richmond Ballet
o Alan Rudnick - Arts Council of Richmond

By the end of April 2008, bids had been received, and consultants were shortlisted and interviewed by the Selection Committee. The Connecticut-based firm of Wolf Brown was selected and approved by the Task Force.

Initial conversations had been held by this stage with potential funders for the planning process, and it was clear that there was broad-based support for the initiative among corporations, foundations and individuals. Full funding for the project of $125,000 has now almost entirely been secured from diverse funders consisting of Altria, Bank of America, The Community Foundation, Dominion, First Market Bank, Genworth, MWV, SunTrust, the University of Richmond and the Wachovia Foundation. A contract is in place between The Community Foundation and Wolf Brown to cover the scope of work.

Additionally, individual meetings have occurred with major institutions and stakeholders in the cultural life of the region such as Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, Virginia Union University, Venture Richmond, and the Mayor’s office of the City of Richmond, to build high-level support for the Plan.

The scope of work and schedule of the plan is as follows (to date):

Phase 1: Pre-planning May 2008
Phase 2: Initial Public Process June 2008
Phase 3: Comprehensive Research Summer 2008
Phase 4: On-going Public Visioning Sessions
Phase 5: Data Analysis and Draft Planning Report Submission late Fall 2008
Phase 6: Review and Revision December 2008
Phase 7: Presentation of Revised Report February 2009

These are all important steps in creating a new vision for the Richmond region’s arts and cultural community. This new vision must encourage improved awareness, and participation in the diverse programs and educational opportunities offered by our museums and arts and cultural organizations. It must also provide a strategy to increase the support needed to sustain and grow this vital element in the life of the region. I have been very gratified by the support this project has received from cultural, corporate and foundation communities. I would like to particularly thank my Steering Committee colleagues David Fisk at the Richmond Symphony, Jo Kennedy at the Visual Arts Center, and Phil Whiteway of Theatre IV / Barksdale for their dedication to moving this project forward.

Please contact me at wjmartin@richmondhistorycenter.com or (804) 649-0711 ext. 340 if you have any questions or suggestions. I would also encourage adding your name to our group list on www.ConnectRichmond.org

William Martin
Director, Valentine Richmond History Center
Chairman, Cultural Action Plan Task Force
October 2008