What we heard
Percentages are of the 617 survey responses unless noted.
The thing most likely to keep somebody in Roanoke home on a Saturday is not the price of the ticket. It is that they never found out the thing was happening.
51% of respondents said a lack of information is a barrier for them. Scheduling came second at 47%. Cost came third, at 32%. Nineteen percent said nothing gets in their way at all.
| What gets in the way | Share of respondents |
|---|---|
| I don’t know what’s happening | 51% |
| Schedule conflicts | 47% |
| Cost | 32% |
| No barriers | 19% |
| Transportation | 12% |
| No one to go with | 10% |
| I don’t feel welcome | 9% |
| Not near me | 8% |
| Nothing interests me | 7% |
| Physical health | 6% |
| Childcare | 6% |
| Accessibility | 5% |
Transportation, childcare, and physical access all ranked in single digits, and while not high on the list, are serious barriers for the people who have them and invisible to everyone else.
I grew up in this area and didn’t know half of what was available until I got to college. That information gap is a real barrier.
Everything is important
Respondents rated nine aspects of arts and culture on a five-point scale. Nothing landed below 4.1. The two highest were seeing a wide range of cultures represented, at 4.37, and free or low-cost access, at 4.36. There is no part of this work respondents were willing to call unimportant.
What people picked when they had to choose
Asked to pick and rank five priorities for City investment out of twelve, respondents put supporting local artists and creative workers first more often than anything else.
| Priority for City investment | Times picked | Ranked first |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting local artists and creative workers | 358 | 104 |
| Neighborhood arts events and festivals | 346 | 73 |
| Free or low-cost access to arts experiences | 329 | 65 |
| Arts in everyday community spaces | 317 | 78 |
| Public art and creative placemaking | 247 | 53 |
| Better marketing and access to information | 240 | 40 |
| Representation and inclusion of diverse cultures | 237 | 31 |
| Youth arts programs | 215 | 48 |
| Cultural facilities and arts venues | 203 | 51 |
| Affordable creative workspace | 203 | 30 |
| Intergenerational arts programs | 164 | 18 |
| Creative workforce development and small business support | 152 | 16 |
Where people want it
Respondents ranked eight kinds of place. Neighborhood community centers came first and parks and outdoor spaces came second. Commercial and business districts came seventh of eight.
downtown is doing well but the art stops at certain streets. the mural program should push further into adjacent neighborhoods
More events in Northwest Roanoke rather than always downtown.
I live in the Grandin area, so we do ok with the Grandin Village. Williamson Rd area needs something similar somewhere.
People are traveling for this
Two thirds of respondents traveled outside Roanoke in the past year for a festival and about as many for a performance. We asked what made those trips worth the drive:
Meeting an artist whose practice aligns with mine; getting to do a workshop (like figure drawing or printmaking or book arts) that’s a little harder to find in Roanoke
Access to something not available closer. Like-minded people in attendance.
Immersive experiences. Use of City streets/public places and walkable
What people asked for, in their own words
337 respondents wrote something as part of their survey. Those answers produced 1,059 separate requests, which were grouped into 457 distinct ideas.
The most requested single thing was one central, up-to-date arts calendar, with 25 people behind it. Second was connecting young people with working local artists as mentors, with 16.
Young people came up frequently
One question asked how Roanoke could better support arts access for young people. It produced more distinct requests than any other question on the form.
Field trips seem to be dying. It would be nice if kids still had opportunities to visit arts and culture facilities because they may not have those opportunities at home either.
Let kids rap, produce beats, make videos. That is art. Stop treating it like it is less than classical music.
more school and arts commission partnerships. as an art teacher in southeast i have kids who will never go to an arts event outside school unless someone brings it to them. the parks and arts model works. expand it and fund the teachers who make it happen
Artists asked for one thing more than any other
Room. Affordable studio, rehearsal, and workshop space drew 19 respondents. Mid-size and large performance venues drew 10.
Affordable studio and workspace. Thats the main thing that would get me more involved in the local scene.
Venues. We desperately need more affordable performance space in this city. That is the number one thing.
I need affordable studio space. A shared workspace for creatives in northwest Roanoke would change everything for people like me.
Who this was
91% of respondents already attend arts events. Half already make art. Four in ten already give to the arts or advocate for them.
These are people who are already in. Their answers are worth taking seriously, but they are not the whole city. The people least represented in this data are the ones several of these recommendations exist to reach. It is important to note that before the 26 Days of Plan 26 social media campaign, 98% of responders attended arts events. So we were able to successfully engage with a broader audience.