The public was invited to help complete an action plan for strengthening arts and culture in Arlington at an interactive session set for Tuesday, June 6, at Town Hall.
The evening started with a light dinner at 6:30 p.m., with the planning starting at 7 p.m. and ending at 9.
The town’s Department of Planning and Community Development and the Arlington Commission on Arts and Culture are working with the Metropolitan Area Council (MAPC) to develop an arts-and-culture plan that aims to strengthen and increase the town’s arts and cultural assets.
Arlington’s plan is the culmination of findings from a townwide survey, nine focus groups and input from an interactive public session March 1. In that event, an estimated 120 people provided their ideasan estimated 120 people provided their ideas and comments .
That was the first townwide event for the planning project, which launched last September. The process will result in an arts-and-culture action plan for the town, putting into effect the historical and cultural resource goals outlined in the 2015 master plan.
Jenny Raitt, director of planning and community development, opened the meeting and acknowledged members of the town’s arts-and-culture working group and MAPC. Next, Selectmen Joe Curro discussed the importance of cultural planning to the town.
Then Jenn Erickson, manager of technical-assistance programs from MAPC, gave a presentation on the cultural planning process and the findings from nine focus groups and a townwide survey that wrapped up in January with more than 900 respondents. Highlights included data on the number of artists living and working in Arlington who work primarily from their home (67 percent of survey respondents) as well as areas of need identified in the survey (e.g., rehearsal spaces for music and theater).
Questions? Email: culturalplan[@]town.arlington.ma.us
For more information about this project, contact Ali Carter, economic-development coordinator at 781-316-3090, acarter[@]town.arlington.ma.us, or go to www.arlingtonma.gov/departments/planning-community-development/cultural-planning.
This news announcement was published Friday, May 12, 2017.
