Louisville, KY (February 8, 2016) – For the first time in more than ten years, the Louisville region is embarking on an exciting 14-month planning process that will result in a master plan to better connect and strengthen our arts and cultural assets over the next decade. In announcing this Louisville Fund for the Arts-backed endeavor, Louisville follows in the footsteps of many major cities that have successfully developed and implemented similar plans, including Chicago, Chattanooga and Denver.
To ensure that the plan represents the diversity of our community, it will include an extensive engagement process with opportunities for individuals and organizations involved directly in the arts, as well as the general public, to participate and provide input in a variety of ways. The master plan will articulate a common platform of goals and strategies aimed at building alignment, leveraging resources, and positioning the Louisville region’s arts and cultural sector to lead and support the community’s overall vision for the future.
“This planning process is an investment in our community that can enhance quality of life, spur economic development, and advance cultural tourism. This, in turn helps to retain and attract talent, businesses, and visitors to Louisville,” said Todd Lowe, Master Plan Steering Committee member and President at Parthenon LLC.
A steering committee comprised of individuals representing various sectors of the community was assembled in 2015 to select the plan’s facilitator and guide the planning process. Through a national competitive RFP process, Lord Cultural Resources of New York City was selected to facilitate the plan. Lord has 35 years of experience in cultural planning services with the successful completion of more than 2,000 projects in over 50 countries, including in cities like Chicago; Austin, Texas; and Sydney, Australia.
The foundation of the plan will be laid by gathering input from a diverse representation of community members from across the Greater Louisville area through interviews, workshops and surveys.
“The plan’s success will lie in the extent to which we can involve as many people and perspectives as possible. The steering committee and consultant team is committed to ensuring that the master plan is developed through an inclusive and engaging process that represents the geographic, economic, and ethnic diversity in our community”, said Gwen Kelly, KET American Graduate Community Engagement Coordinator and Steering Committee member.
To this end, neighborhood workshops will take place the last week of February. All residents of the Greater Louisville region are invited and encouraged to participate, and there is no cost to attend. To get more information on the dates and times of these workshops or to register to attend, please email GreaterLouisvilleArts@gmail.com or visit www.GreaterLouisvilleArts.com.
The master plan and implementation strategy is expected to be finalized by the end of 2016.
For more information or to sign up to receive project news and updates, visit GreaterLouisvilleArts.com.
Follow along at Facebook.com/LouisvilleArtsPlan or on Twitter at @LouArtsPlan.
