Iowa: 2014 Cultural Caucuses
The tradition of community dialogue and personal expression runs deep in Iowa, as Americans witness every four years when the state begins the nationwide presidential nomination process. Dynamic conversations about the future of the arts and culture are just as important to Iowans, which is why the Iowa Arts Council (IAC) has held the Iowan […]
Illinois: Charting the Future of Arts Organizations
With the assistance of the Illinois Arts Council (IAC), cultural organizations across the state of Illinois have come together to assess their needs and identify possible new pathways to success in a climate characterized by uncertain economics, new demographics and a rapid pace of change. The Arts & Business Council of Chicago, in collaboration with […]
Vermont, Massachusetts, Texas, Michigan: Recent Strategic Plans
This month’s edition of State to State features recently completed strategic plans from four state arts agencies. Each of these plans is different, showing the agency’s unique approach to planning and adapting its goals and objectives to address its legislative purpose, its current environment and the needs of its citizens. Vermont Arts Council Inspiring a […]
Colorado: Colorado Blueprint
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, of which Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) is a division, has released Colorado Blueprint, a strategic plan for advancing economic development. This new plan integrates the arts, culture and creative industries into the state’s vision for the future and in the strategies the state will pursue to […]
North Carolina: SmART Cities / SmART Towns Initiative
The North Carolina Arts Council (NCAC) is spearheading a collaborative initiative for arts-driven economic development: SmART Cities/SmART Towns. SmART Cities/SmART Towns is about using the arts, design and culture to strengthen the economies of North Carolina’s communities. A task force comprised of business, civic, government and arts leaders recently released a draft framework for the […]
Idaho: Cash-Flow Model
To help the state’s arts and cultural organizations remain financially solvent, the Idaho Commission on the Arts (ICA) has begun to educate constituents about financial forecasting. In their latest strategic planning process, the ICA identified as a goal for the agency to provide “practical arts business management and arts-learning information to Idahoans.” To achieve this […]
New York: Cultural Blueprints
Cultural Blueprints is a statewide series of public forums initiated by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to identify regional and statewide strategies for the arts to serve as a catalyst for cultural, economic and community development. Over the past several months, NYSCA staff, working with Empire State Development’s (ESD) regional directors […]
Ohio: Focusing the Light: The Art and Practice of Planning
In fall 2008, the Ohio Arts Council released Focusing the Light: The Art and Practice of Planning. The seven-volume series is comprised of texts that provide strategies, tips and techniques for successful planning, advocacy and evaluation for those who work in the arts and nonprofit industry. The series covers arts advocacy and strategic planning as […]
Maryland: Imagine Maryland Strategic Plan
In spring 2008, the Maryland State Arts Council launched Imagine Maryland, a broad-based strategic planning process to guide its work in the coming years. As part of the process, the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development’s Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts commissioned Maryland’s first statewide survey of the arts. A total of […]