Lawrence Arts Commission

STRATEGIC GOALS

* Create a unified Arts Community that is integrated and well-coordinated.

* Increase accessibility to the arts through participation, spontaneity, and as an everyday encounter in the lives of all citizens.

* Encourage an open public attitude toward the arts by improving awareness, acceptance, mutual respect and by inspiring the community.

* Nurture diversity in the arts and encourage appreciation of all types of art.

* Increase the economic viability of the arts for artists, arts businesses, and for the community.

Lawrence Arts Commission

STRATEGIC PLAN

Actions to focus on in the next 12 to 18 months

High Priority: Build networks with other community groups.

Tasks	Champion	Status
· Make a list of contacts we have.
· Make assignments for committee members.
· Publicize ourselves.
· Make contact with other city boards.

High Priority: Highlight the Percent for Art Program.

Tasks	Champion	Status
· Develop a plan for conservation and maintenance.
· Identify all art in the program.
· Do a regular survey of the art and work with departments.

High Priority: Catalogue the city’s Art Collection.

Tasks	Champion	Status
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High Priority: Formalize procedures of the Arts Commission

Tasks	Champion	Status
· Make a list of the procedures.
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Lawrence Arts Commission

STRATEGIC PLAN

Other tasks identified at the Retreat in order of priority

· Have regular contact with the City Commission, city manager, and media. Invite the public to our meetings.

· Develop an information packet for the public. Identify distribution points. Post agendas. Raise awareness and correct public perceptions.

· Begin fund raising efforts with outside sources – state, national, and private partnerships.

· Maintain our focus and stay on task. Set agendas, use rules of order, and respect each other.

· Find a home in the city government; one with political power and visibility.

· Return to sponsoring workshops, such as lecture series on art, how to help artists.

· Modify the Outdoor Sculpture Program. Research other communities. Increase participation and awareness.

· Refresh our identity through consideration of our scope, our name, and our procedures.

· Do more work by committee. Get information before the meeting.

· Complete an annual arts plan. Obtain amount for Percent for Art well in advance.

· Look into Economic Viability – what does it mean, gather data, develop a plan, show arts as a resource.

Lawrence Arts Commission

STRATEGIC PLAN

Our New Role as an Arts Commission

* Be more inclusive.

* Reach out.

* Build bridges. Build our own network and organization.

* Raise awareness of opportunities.

* Increase attendance at public meetings and events. Share the arts with the public.

* Include the public and arts groups more in our activities.

* Re-integrate with city departments, other advisory boards, and with other groups in the city.

* Be more efficient in our procedures.

Lawrence Arts Commission

STRATEGIC PLAN

Our Strengths

· Good attendance.

· Willingness to do the work.

· Strong commitment.

· Programs:

o Phoenix Awards – unifies community, encourages open attitude, nurtures diversity in the arts.

o Outdoor Sculpture Program – increases accessibility, encourages open attitude, nurtures diversity in the arts, increases economic viability.

o Grants Program – increases accessibility, encourages open attitude, nurtures diversity in the arts, increases economic viability.

o Percent for Art Program – increases accessibility, encourages open attitude, nurtures diversity in the arts, increases economic viability.

o Website – unifies community, increases accessibility, encourages open attitude, nurtures diversity in the arts.

Lawrence Arts Commission

STRATEGIC PLAN

Our Dreams for the Arts in Lawrence

Unified Arts Community

· Arts businesses downtown – bustling, landscaped, eclectic mix, lots of color, small cafes, displayed art, no cars.

· Unified and diverse artistic expressions. Lawrence is the Arts Capital.

· Professional artists are integrated into art education. Art teachers and students are connected to the community. They bring the discipline of art to others.

Increased Accessibility

· Children playing in a park they designed.

· Wide participation by different citizens in the arts. Inclusion beyond artists, respect for creativity and all the arts.

· Spontaneity in the arts, especially street art and performance.

· Sensory gardens and parks – well-designed, smell wonderful, are interactive, can touch and see.

· Open studio for artists.

· Many music opportunities.

Encouraging an Open Public Attitude

· Planned gateways to the city that are welcoming and distinct.

· Regular folks are proud of the arts in the community. People are open to the arts. Arts Commission is progressive and leader in unifying the arts.

· Arts Center that engages the public at a variety of levels. Coordinated efforts of classes and exhibits.

Nurturing Diversity in the Arts

· Diversity of architecture in Lawrence.

· Public art is thought-provoking, classic, traditional, off-beat. It is in more places – every park, school, public building.

· Diversity of green space with integration of art.

Increasing Economic Viability of the Arts

· Old buildings are well maintained.

· Developing artists can afford to live and work here. Assistance available for artists to make it work for them.