Stewardship
Residents propose things they can picture, a mural, a class, a festival.
Almost nobody writes in to request grantmaking reform unless they have applied for a grant. These policies are here because without them the rest of the plan cannot happen.
Arts plans succeed or fail based on implementation and accountability. This plan should include specific, measurable goals, named responsible parties, and regular public reporting on progress. Aspirational language is not enough. The community will hold this plan accountable if it is given the tools to do so. Please make it specific.
Priority 1: Pay for it
Increase and stabilize the City’s investment in arts and culture.
- Increase and stabilize general arts funding
- Protect arts funding from year-to-year volatility
please keep funding the parks and arts program. it was transformational for a lot of kids i taught over the years
Provide capacity-building and start-up support to small arts organizations.
- Offer flexible operating and capacity-building grants, not only program grants
- Support small and emerging organizations to become fundable at larger scales
capacity building grants not just program grants. help organizations get strong enough to compete for bigger funding. that would multiply impact significantly
Grow private and philanthropic investment in arts and culture.
- Create a business sponsorship program with visible recognition
- Pursue corporate matching and planned giving toward an endowment
- Establish a fundraising vehicle for the Arts Commission that does not compete with nonprofits
More opportunities for businesses to sponsor arts events and get recognition for it. Make it easy and visible.
Require a share of capital project and development value to be invested in public art.
- Review and consider increasing the percent-for-art allocation
- Draft an ordinance requiring public art in private development, for Council’s consideration
- Include public art in school renovation budgets
I know the city is under a lot of budget pressure right now but could we increase it from 1%
Sustain operating and capital support for Roanoke’s anchor arts institutions.
- Maintain support for established institutions alongside new initiatives
- Provide organizational and technical assistance, not only grants
I think continuing support, deepening support might be more/as important as planning for new things.
Priority 2: Run it well
Staff and govern the Arts Commission to carry out this plan.
- Diversify the membership of the Arts Commission and its advisory bodies
- Give young people a formal role in arts governance
- Staff the Commission adequately to implement this plan
Unless things are not gatekept and more diverse people are brought to the planning table, I do not see it growing at all.
Maintain the City’s arts venues and public art collection.
- Fund routine maintenance of City-owned venues and public artworks
- Restore neighborhood public art that has degraded
- Address the condition and use of the Roanoke Star site
Simplify City arts grantmaking and remove barriers that favor well-resourced applicants.
- Lower the barriers that keep new and small organizations from applying
- Reduce the administrative burden of application and reporting
So many grants require several years of financial records to apply that many would be non profits do not take off because funding for start up costs is so hard to obtain.
Reduce permitting and regulatory friction for arts activity.
- Simplify permitting for small vendors at cultural events
- Reduce administrative barriers to installing public art
- Clarify signage and billboard rules as they affect arts businesses
Make it easier for vendors like me to participate. The permitting process is a barrier to small businesses wanting to be part of cultural events.
Priority 3: Prove it
Set measurable goals, report progress publicly, and benchmark against peer cities.
- Set specific, measurable goals with named responsible parties
- Publish progress publicly on a fixed schedule
- Benchmark Roanoke against comparable cities
Make and publicize the economic case for arts investment in Roanoke.
- Publish economic impact data on arts investment
- Make the case directly to employers and the business community
- Use arts and culture in talent attraction and retention
talent retention is a real issue and arts and culture is part of the answer. the commission should be making that case directly to local employers