Res 2022-055R/Arts Master Plan approval

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“Centering Indigenous voices by decolonizing systems.” Do some research around how the nation is responding to Indigenous people. Land reclamation is not a rare thing anymore. There are creative ways to do that. The arts commission to be more like the “friends of the arts” as far as outreach, not just the governmental tasks. To get out and do more relationship work …. More of the outreach and to help with the culture. Think about how social media plays into this, how we get the word out about the arts. No organized arts group to champion all, but it is there as the undertones. “It is coming from all different directions …. Help us create that champion.” Maintain cleanliness. Control over after dark behavior downtown. Mentoring program. \[Community member\] hears a lot from others that “there’s a concept that when the City comes up with a plan, it becomes their plan” rather than strengthen what is already in the works. “If they would spend more time and focus on what is needed to keep these things going rather than coming up with a whole new plan ….” Biggest gift you can give us, tell us what we already know. Lack of a community theater. We really need one and want to build one and proper classrooms but we have to purchase the property. Measurable goals: Can we add one more music event that’s downtown where we close off the street at the courthouse lawn, per year. Theater performances at the rec hall, the stage. Increase annual shows by one per year. I think if the City can find a way to engage the commuters, to invite us to stick around or engage with the community more, I think there is potential for a huge market of people who could stay in town longer and avoid the traffic back to Austin, etc. We need to find a way to shore up our collaboration between the community and the university. The local grants are excellent, well received and utilized, but I think there are more/better ways to form relationships that are ongoing with recurrence or annual events. Something that helps us maintain our collaboration and to grow it. Know the history and invest in that. Don’t move aside the work of the people who have been living here. Looking at our assets and figure out where we can strategically place art and don’t just focus on downtown, but the east side could use more. If we could tap into the college programming/talent, it would be an excellent partnership. Not having been here long enough \[City representative\], I’m curious if there is an organization looking out for the local artists. Sometimes artists tend to avoid organizations, but if there were some organizing entities who can lend a voice, that’s terrific, I’m just not aware of them. I think that interest and support could be expressed as part of the master plan as part of the stakeholder participation. Free childcare, galleries and concerts so everyone can have the chance to attend. KEEN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH — SAN MARCOS ARTS MASTER PLAN 2022 APPENDIX E,PAGE 20