Subject
title
Special Presentation to the Mayor and Council by the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) about the development of the County’s new Cultural Plan.
end
Department
City Manager's Office (CMO)
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Special Presentation be given so that the Mayor and Council will be aware of the goals, values, and intention of the new cultural plan, better understand the community engagement and data collection methods that were undertaken, and learn about some of the ways it may intersect with and support the City of Rockville as an important member of Montgomery county’s vibrant arts and culture ecosystem.
Discussion
The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) began its cultural planning process in FY2022 by contracting three expert consultancies to conduct focused community research projects in three specific areas: Cultural Asset Mapping, Resident Cultural Engagement, and Longterm Cultural Economic Impact to inform our upcoming county cultural planning effort in FY2024. This research was conducted concurrently with county-wide stakeholder listening sessions facilitated by AHCMC staff focused specifically on community impact, grantmaking, and disaster readiness that also informed the cultural planning process. Following 14 months of research, data analysis, and outcome synthesis, AHCMC published the white paper and reports and reports in each of the three areas (Community + Cultural Research | Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County) <https://www.creativemoco.com/our-role-impact/community-cultural-research/>.
AHCMC then contracted with Metris Arts Consulting <https://www.metrisarts.com/> to create a cultural plan that was informed by this data, as well as field work that directly engaged residents, arts and culture nonprofits, and artists. The initial phase of work on the plan has been completed by Metris Arts Consulting, and the Special Presentation will share themes that emerged as well as the directions that will be taken in the final crafting of the plan. The Special Presentation will be given by Suzan Jenkins, CEO, and Joe Frandoni, Deputy Director.
Boards and Commissions Review
The Cultural Arts Commission has been encouraged to attend this presentation.