Throughout 2025, arts and cultural partners across Roanoke will create the next Arts and Cultural Plan. This work will pull together our learning and progress since the 2011 Arts and Cultural Plan, and set a path for the next decade.
This summer, we are in the Listening phase. We want include your voices, experiences, plans, and dreams as we set this collective path. Join us. Want to host a conversation?
GET UPDATED: We’ll include periodic updates and public meeting announcements in our weekly newsletter. Are you subscribed? If not, you can sign up here.
STORY CIRCLES: This simple tool is helping us all be better listeners as we honor the stories of our neighbors and partners. Learn more at www.roanokearts.org/story.
GIVE US INPUT: Attend a story cirlce session and have additional input?
FACILITATORS: Submit story circle conversation notes here:
CONVERSATIONS SO FAR: Interested in the conversations we’re having?
Here’s a summary of our June 10 Story Circle for artists and neighbors.
Check out pictures below and read some of the individual circle summaries here:
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS BELOW
THE PLAN AS IT’S SHAPING UP
We’ve got a values framework for our conversations. Read the GUIDING LANGUAGE here.
PLANNING RESOURCES
You can past and recent documents as a grounding for the process.
- 2011 Arts & Cultural Plan
- City Plan 2040 (Approved by Council in 2020)
- 2022-23 Year of the Artist Report
- Emerging Neighborhoods Vision Report (2022)
- Buzz video series on the arts connecting our community (2022-24)
- Economic Development’s Arts & Cultural Page (2023)
- 2023-24 Roanoke Arts Commission Annual Report
- It’s Here Collective Marketing Strategy (2024)
- CultureCheck Roanoke (2024) – coming soon!
PROCESS OVERVIEW
Throughout the process, we’ll have dedicated input and engagement events to reach key constituents and partners. Expect fun activities that celebrate our progress, unique opportunities to meaningfully connect with other stakeholders, and affinity group gatherings providing a chance for focused conversation. This will all be guided by our steering committee and core team.
January 24, 9:30 AM– Steering Committee Meeting
EOC Conference Room, Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building
Discovery phase begins
Meeting presentation
April 22, 5:30 PM – Steering Committee Meeting
Listening phase begins
July 18, 1 PM – Steering Committee Meeting
Planning phase begins
October 21, 5:30 PM – Steering Committee Meeting
Forming Phase begins
December 4, 9:30 AM – Steering Committee Meeting
Draft Review
Early 2026 Report Finalization and Approval
PROCESS DOCUMENTATION
Feb. 4 values conversation with artists
Feb. 18 values conversation with Roanoke Arts Commission
Feb. 20 values conversation with executive directors
Values conversation with American Association of Fundraising Professionals, Roanoke Chapter
Mar. 20 values conversation with Roanoke Women’s Foundation
April story circles with steering committee
May 17 story circles with executive directors
Summary
June 10 story circles with artists
Crosstalk theme input for facilitators
Additional ideas form
