Pima Cultural Plan
Cultural Planning Process Yields a Living Document
Paving the Way for Immediate Development
in the Arts and Cultural Landscape
of Tucson and Pima County
The Tucson Pima Arts Council is pleased to present the public release of the Pima Cultural Plan: Needs Assessment and Strategies. The City of Tucson and Pima County, Nature Arts Culture Heritage Organizations over 500 non-profit arts and cultural organizations, artists and public participants have made their case in this cultural planning document. Art and Culture are vital assets to the economic growth and regional identity of Tucson and Pima County!
The Planning process which began in November 2006 lead by Bill Bulick of Creative Planning Inc. has surfaced 9 focus topics: Identity and Distinctiveness, Creative Economy and Enterprise, Arts Cultural and Natural Facilities, Public Art, Capacity Building and Business Development, Arts and Cultural Education, Government Policy and Resources. These topic areas represent the over arching priorities identified in the cultural planning process, each topic is broken up into a series of detailed recommendations which act as a suggested master plan for the cultural development of Tucson and Pima County. The Plan also identifies our diverse cultural landscape and sets goals for recognizing and building upon the natural resources, social and cultural equity of Tucson and Pima County. In conjunction with the Pima Cultural Plan community based content, the planning process has produced evidence of the economic impact of the art and culture to the city and county provided by Mt. Aubourn Associates and The Americans for the Arts “Arts and Economic Prosperity Report.”
“The Pima Cultural Plan has brought attention to community aspirations. It has lead to partnerships with Tucson organizations dedicated to advancing the cultural vitality of our community, and it has identified projects which will build on our cultural assets.” Roberto Bedoya, Executive Director of the Tucson Pima Arts Council
Pima Cultural Plan Public Release Leads to
New Partnerships in Arts and Cultural Community of Tucson and Pima County
The following topic areas have inspired immediate action in the community. They reflect the effect of a successful cultural planning process and further reinforce the Tucson Pima Arts Councils’ commitment to the Pima Cultural Plan as a living iterative document.
Capacity Building and Business Development:
- A Partnership has been formed with the Tucson Pima Arts Council and the Southern Arizona Community Foundation to strengthen capacity within small and mid sized arts organizations of historically under represented communities, through grant making and professional development, available in 2008-2009.
- National Association of Latino Arts and Culture; Regional Arts Training Conference. Tucson, Arizona April 24-26, 2008. In response to the Pima Cultural Plans charge to “Advance skill sets and management practices for artists, creators, cultural businesses and arts and cultural organizations focused on developing leadership within minority communities” Pima Cultural Plan pp. 56 the Tucson Pima Arts Council with support from the Southern Arizona Community Foundation will host a regional convening of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) April 24 – April 26, 2008. The regional convening will offer training workshops to strengthen professional development opportunities and foster theoretical and aesthetic discussion with the Hispanic and Latino community. The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture and the Tucson Pima Arts Council, the hosting agencies for the regional convening, are expecting attendees from Southern California, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona.
- The Tucson Artists Musicians Healthcare Alliance (TAMHA) has emerged as an alliance of artists and arts advocates to provide healthcare information and resources to the artists and musicians of Tucson and Pima County. TAMHA has generated a data base of over 500 supporters, has begun to develop partnerships in the community, is conducting needs assessments and has provided healthcare resources for a variety of charitable music concerts.
The above examples represent implementation steps taken in the community as a result of the Pima Cultural Plan; Needs Assessments and Strategies. The Nature, Art, Culture, Heritage, Organizations (N.A.C.H.O.s) are committed to the Pima Cultural Plan and its implementation strategies, the alliance illustrates the type of leadership and stewardship the plan has surfaced and will continue to surface as members of the arts, business, and civic sectors leverage the Pima Cultural Plan in the community.
“There is a tremendous opportunity to unite the community behind recognizing, preserving and building upon Pima County’s unique mix of cultural assets, as intrinsic to stewardship of place. Renewed and more vigorous leadership and investment can make the crucial difference in maximizing the potential for positive impact, resounding to future generations. The Plan recommends strengthening the Tucson Pima Arts Council as a cultural leader for the region, but its most important role with respect to the Plan will be as a catalyst and convener of multiple implementers.”
Bill Bulick, Pima Cultural Plan Pp. 2
