I City of St. Petersburg Arts Advisory Committee t I I t I Vi 1s,1ons... fi.. _,:or a M Mi. 11.. 1 /ew, 1.,/1: ienn1um Executive Summary of the Community Cultural Plan
. ~.... Plan s and Weave the arts into the fabric of St. Petersburg to create a comprehensive mosaic of cultura l activity in all aspects of city government and all neighborhoods. This tapestry focuses on St. Petersburg's recognition that everyone deserves opportunities to experience the richness and diversity of St. Petersburg's artistic accomplishments. St. Petersburg works to make the best of the arts available to all residents and visitors.! Create a City office of cultural affairs staffed by a director trained and experienced in community arts administration to provide focus, visibility, and direction to all arts and culture related activities of St. Petersburg. :,... Staff the Public Art Commission. :,... Coordinate the public art program. :,... Staff the Arts Advisory Committee. :,... Coordinate the cultural grants program. :,... Transfer arts and culture related functions now fragmented among numerous staff assignments to this office. :,... Create a guide to City cultural programs and services. :,... Assist in the creation of an arts and cultural component in the City.'s comprehensive plan. }.- Enhance the monitoring and take positions on legislation affecting the arts in St. Petersburg.! Enhance public art programs. :,... Increase the creation and placement of"signature" works of art throughout the City by revisiting the exemptions and limits placed on public art. J.- Select sites that foster wider geographic distribution of public art with the goal of reaching every area/neighborhood within the City. :,... Seek projects that require active collaboration between the artist and community members. >' Promote the City's public art collection to improve awareness and access to the City's public art collection for both residents and visitors alike. Y Promote the availability of tax credits to private business to encourage inclusion of public art. 9
....,... '! Increase public use of cultural facilities. };;. Increase the number of city sponsored or co-sponsored concerts, exhibits, festivals, and special events in public parks, recreation and community centers. Develop a nd maintain strong and sta ble arts organizations. New market forces, information technology, and financing structures require museums, theaters, orchestras, galleries, festivals, science and history centers, dance companies and arts centers to find new management techniques. St. Petersburg helps arts organizations adopt successful management models, achieve financial stability, and maintain organizational health.! Develop a stable source of public funding for art a nd culture that is independent of the a nnual municipal budget process.! C reate new programs to provide grants-in-aid and fellowship grants to city arts organizations and a rtists.! Establish an "Arts C learinghouse," a program designed to assist resident arts and cultural organizations with space needs (exhibition, performance, live work). };;. Review rental rates charged for free cultural events presented at city owned arts venues. >" Foster partnerships between cultural organizations and St. Petersburg neighborhoods to create a link to the arts and culture by a broad cross section of the City's residents and to contribute to the multi-cultural awareness of the arts groups.! Appoint a study group to look into the best uses for the Mahaffey Theater.! Encourage collaborative activities between small/emerging groups and the major cultural institutions. Enhance community building through the arts...._..... T. The arts contribute to quality urban design, economic development, and can act as agents for social change. St. Petersburg citywide programs encourage a strong arts presence that can be a catalyst for a healthier community.! Increase access to arts programs throughout the C ity. :,... Bring art and cultural classes to neighborhoods. :,... Seek neighborhood input on art and cultural activities planned for that neighborhood. :,... Access Neighborhood Partnership Grants or Special Funding for Art and Cultural Programs within neighborhoods., Increase the use of neighborhood parks, recreation centers and libraries for concerts, exhibits, festival s, readings and special events. :,... Acquire portable staging so that all neighborhoods and recreational centers have a venue for arts performances.! Review and a mend zoning, building, safety and use codes to facilitate the development, construction, a nd renovation of cultural venues in the Central Business District and throughout the City.! C reate a cultural overlay within the existing Central Business District. :,... Maximize economic development and vitalization plans. :,... Develop an identifiable and unifying image for the downtown cultural district. ),... Increase and stabi I ize audience base. :,... Unify promotion and marketing. Enhance the image of a vibrant arts community and provide information to the broadest possible audience. St. Petersburg has many artistic resources and can claim a rich and diverse cultural life. The City strives to make the general population aware of the art and cultural opportunities in St. Petersburg. 10 11
: Promote St. Petersburg's cultural opportunities. >" Develop informational and promotional materials on the arts and culture in St. Petersburg to include in all economic >" development, convention and tourism, and welcome literature used to promote St. Petersburg. >" Make reporting and promoting cultural activities a priority for the City Public Information/City Public Relations office by introducing performing, visual, literary and live work artists to the community through stories, interviews, public readings, and features. );- Create informational programs to counter societal misconceptions about art and artists. >" Improve public knowledge and appreciation of the importance of arts education in human development. J;., Make greater use of the City's Government TV to disseminate information and educate audiences. >" Encourage cooperative promotional efforts for the City's cultural institutions. >" Develop and implement a promotional campaign. focusing on the value of the arts and culture to the City and to society in general. >- Facilitate marketing partnerships between major cultural organizations, private industry, tourism, and commerce. : Initiate an ongoing dialogue with the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority concerning ease of travel to and from cultural events. ),, Print brochures, route schedules, and posters showing the cultural venues, recreation centers and community centers on each bus route and their hours of operation. >- Provide this information to residents and visitors. ).> Encourage the availability of public transportation to cultural venues. Foster the creation and presentation of artistically excellent work. St. Petersburg fosters a climate where artists, young and old, professional and recreational artist alike, can learn, practice, and show their work in performance and exhibition. St. Petersburg works to counter the remarks of Gomez-Pena, a recipient ofa MacArthur fellowship and one of the busiest artists in the country who expresses concern for the vast majority of U.S. artists who are forced to labor in relative obscurity. "The hundreds of thousands of arts students and young and emerging artists now facing a world of minimal options, not that different from any third-world country without the resources to produce and promote the arts." : Retain t he best, brightest, creative artists within our organizations and our community. ),, Encourage research to enhance our understanding of both the conditions and contributions of artists. ),, Promote non-financial support, including critical recognition, technical assistance, and organizational support. ),, Encourage the building of effective coalitions, both within the arts community and among the arts and other interest groups. : Establish a prog ram to identify, recruit, and train culturally diverse board members and volunteers for cultural institutions. : Develop a policy to promote cultural diversity on the boards, staffs, audiences, programs and community outreach of all cultural institutions funded by the City. Promote lifelong education in the arts. Education in the arts has intrinsic value and also exerts a positive effect on children's overall academic achievement. It enriches adults by deepening their self-understanding and ties to the community. St. Petersburg encourages lifelong learning in the arts to benefit everyone. : Expand neighborhood-based arts education programs for children, youths, adults and the elderly. : Support neighborhood after-school programs in the arts for young people. : Increase public understanding of the arts. 12 13
. ~..... ' : Locate neighborhood cultural classes and events in City facilities. ;. Use City recreation centers for arts education activities ;. Use recreation centers and neighborhood centers for performing, visual and literary events produced by local arts groups and neighborhood residents : Create a dialogue with the Pinellas County School Board to: >- Enhance arts education training by adding teachers and providing for funds for art supplies and activities. ),,, Increase access to school faci lities within St. Petersburg for after-school and weekend arts activities for community and neighborhood organizations. ),,, Promote more collaborative projects between arts organizations and schools within St. Petersburg Enhance partnerships with the public and private sectors. St Petersburg works closely with Florida Arts Council and the Pinellas County Arts Council It develops partnerships with the private sector, especially the neighborhood organizations and local businesses and business organizations, to optimize its role as an arts and cultural leader. : Strengthen partnerships with Florida Arts Council and the Pinellas County Arts Council, regional and national arts service organi.zations, local universities and foundations. : Develop corporate, business, and foundation support of the arts through collaborative activities. : Collaborate with public and private funders to develop seminars concerning the value of the arts. : Strengthen the partnership with our sister-city, Takamatsu, Japan. 14