Chicago Releases Culture, School Arts Plans
Submitted by Steve on October 15, 2012
From Heather Gillers at the Chicago Tribune:
City officials Monday morning announced two plans aimed at supporting increased arts programming — one for the city as a whole and one for Chicago Public Schools. The citywide plan — a draft of which was hailed as "an amazing document" by National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman in July — calls for more flexibility in city regulations governing the arts and aims to use Chicago's arts attractions to draw international tourists.
The plan also promotes the development of what it calls "cultural districts" in areas such as Uptown and Bronzeville, according to a copy of the executive summary that was provided early to reporters.
Development of the plan was overseen by Toronto-based Consulting firm Lord Cultural Resources, which got a $230,000 city contract to coordinate more than 30 public meetings, study the city and consult with experts. Most if not all of the money came from grants and donations, the city has said.