Richmond Cultural Action Plan takes shape with report

Does Richmond do enough to cultivate its local arts community?E-mail your response to staff writer Walt Amacker at wamacker@timesdispatch.com

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: March 10, 2009

Bold action from the cultural sector can help the region solve economic challenges not experienced since the Great Depression, according to consultants hired by a group of Richmond's arts community leaders.

In a 111-page report that sets out a road map for a regional cultural action plan, national firm WolfBrown said the proud and rich arts, history and heritage sector contributes at least $300 million annually to the local economy.

"Few regions of comparable size and population can boast such quality, dynamism and excitement. Yet much of the wealth of this tremendous resource is yet to be tapped," the report states.

Economic vitality was one of six major goals proposed in the report that was released last week and reviewed yesterday by the 23-member Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan task force.

The 15-month research project identified challenges to be overcome: inadequate financial support, unfocused leadership, inequitable access, and fragmented coordination of the cultural voice of the community.

But despite national economic troubles, the consultants wrote, "magnificent new facilities" for visual and performing arts and for higher education, as well as a new "culture-friendly" administration in Washington, are several of the reasons why now is the time to act on a collective vision.

Bill Martin, director of the Valentine Richmond History Center and chairman of the task force, said, "The cultural life of Richmond has been transformed over the last 10 years, and the opening of CenterStage and the expansion of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will create another transformation.

"At some point, the economy will come back, and we will be much better organized in how to get the word out about all that we do have."

Jo Kennedy, president and CEO of the Visual Arts Center and a task-force member, said, "It's a strong plan because it addresses economic development, building greater equity in terms of accessibility to the arts and the gaps in arts education.

"This plan addresses issues that will help individual artists live and work in the region and the sustainability of arts organizations."

The report also recommended that the area:

Expand cultural participation regionally with satellite and partnership programming in the counties by Richmond-based organizations; improved transportation; and subsidized ticketing.

Build on cultural diversity with more ethnic, historic and religious festivals; the historic assets of neighborhoods; and dialogue on issues of race, ethnicity and cultural heritage.

Promote arts and cultural education for families and young people through funding of after-school activities, crime prevention and school-to-work preparedness.

Sustain the region's artists and cultural organizations with mergers, shared services and strategic alliances; online systems to help artists find space to work or display; programs to assist artists and emerging cultural groups navigate local governments; and effective systems for coordinated funding and grant-making.

Provide for ongoing coordination, advocacy and dialogue on behalf of arts and culture with such initiatives as a computerized regional cultural calendar, a cultural tourism initiative and a revamped Arts Council of Richmond to implement the plan.

The task force was steered early on by a small group of arts leaders including Martin; Kennedy; David Fisk, executive director of the Richmond Symphony; Phil Whiteway, managing director of Theatre IV and Barksdale Theatre; and Christina Newton, founding director of Curated Culture, which promotes First Fridays Art Walk.

The task force will remain the overseer for the next 12 months, using the WolfBrown report as a guide for its efforts before handing over implementation to a restructured Arts Council of Richmond.

"WolfBrown has produced a detailed, thoughtful report, based on a strong participative process," Fisk said. "I believe it's the first time that the entire arts and culture community has been involved in something like this, hand-in-hand with local governments, the corporate sector and the foundations community, as well as individual citizens."

WolfBrown solicited comment from more than 2,500 individuals and organizations in the Richmond area.

"Arts and cultural activities are important now," Kennedy said. "They offer an oasis, a respite, inspiration in hard times. This is not the time to let go of the spirit that arts can generate."

Contact Walt Amacker at (804) 649-6247 or wamacker@timesdispatch.com.

Community News Editor Cindy Creasy contributed to this report.