Draft of Chicago Cultural Plan 2012 Released
Michelle T. Boone, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events has announced a draft version of the Chicago Cultural Plan 2012.
The Plan describes the major needs identified in the process that must address:
- A focus on neighborhoods
- Accessibility
- Capacity growth of the cultural sector
- Global cultural positioning
- Profound civic impact
- Broad commitment to cultural sustainability
Ten major priorities are offered for Chicago to realize its potential as a cultural leader:
- Attract and retain artists and creative professionals.
- Reinvigorate arts education for all Chicago and create opportunities for lifelong learning.
- Honor authentic Chicago culture in daily life.
- Facilitate neighborhood planning of cultural activity.
- Strengthen capacity of arts providers at critical stages of growth.
- Optimize city policies and regulation so creative initiatives thrive.
- Promote culture as a fundamental driver of prosperity to continually strengthen our quality of life.
- Make Chicago a global cultural destination.
- Place a priority on cultural innovation - what we do and how we do it.
- Integrate culture into civic life - across public, nonprofit, and private sectors.
From Commissioner Boone:
A broad public engagement process helped us to capture from Chicago residents their concerns, ideas, and recommendations on how the City could best advance an arts agenda that would serve its cultural sector, diverse range of artists, communities across the city, and how to best define Chicago’s cultural identity. As such, this draft plan represents the direct feedback of thousands of Chicagoans who participated in the series of Town Halls, community conversations, and meetings with artists, advocates, and cultural leaders and workers.