City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs Presents First Public Look at Draft of New Cultural Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2018
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Jennifer Scripps, Director of Cultural Affairs
214-670-3687

David Fisher, Asst. Director of Cultural Affairs
214-670-3687

After Year-Long Process, City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs Presents First Public Look at Draft of New Cultural Plan
The City’s cultural plan provides short and long-term strategies for increasing equity and access to art and culture for all Dallas residents - making Dallas a great City for the arts, and for artists.

Dallas – After a year-long public engagement process that received input from nearly 8,000 Dallasites in every zip code throughout Dallas, the City of Dallas, through its Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), will present the drafts of the Dallas Cultural Plan 2018 and an updated cultural policy from September 6-11, 2018 in a series of public feedback and activation meetings.

In hundreds of meetings, interviews, webinars, surveys and focus groups, the Dallas Cultural Plan 2018—the first since 2002—analyzed the city's cultural assets and priorities, determined how Dallas residents experience culture in their daily lives, and now gives recommendations for key strategies moving forward. These public meetings will not only allow the public to give comments on the plan and policy, but more importantly, will also engage the public in the activation of the strategies and tactics recommended by the plan.

“Dallas already has an amazing arts scene and arts community – it has grown tremendously and there is something to do and see and experience artistically every day and in every part of Dallas, “said Mayor Mike Rawlings. “However, we need to think about the future to continue our support and further grow the arts. This cultural plan will guide our planning for that.”

“The completion of the plan,” says David Fisher, Assistant Director of Cultural Affairs, “is not a stopping point – this is not the end. This plan is a turning point – a jumping off place - for the City, and all of its partners in the arts, to transform arts and culture in Dallas and make them even more relevant, meaningful and enriching in people’s lives.”

Five city-wide meetings and one webinar will be held between September 6 and September 11, 2018 at locations across the city:

• Bachman Lake Library – Thursday, September 6th from 6-8pm
   9480 Webb Chapel Road, Dallas, TX 75220
• Dallas Museum of Art – Friday, September 7th from 10am-12pm
   1717 N Harwood Street, Dallas, TX 75201
• Southwest Center/Redbird Mall – Saturday, September 8th from 10am-12pm
   3662 W Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas, TX 75237
• Moody Performance Hall – Monday, September 9th from 6-8pm
   2520 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
• Fretz Park Library – Tuesday, September 10th from 6-8pm
   6990 Belt Line Rd, Dallas, TX 75254
• Webinar – Monday, September 9th from 12-1pm
   Link: on Facebook Live via https://www.facebook.com/dallasculture
   Broadcast from the Latino Cultural Center – 2600 Live Oak Street, Dallas, TX 75204

The draft plan and policy are available online at www.dallasculturalplan.com

After these public meetings, the Cultural Plan and policy will be presented to the City’s Quality of Life, Arts and Culture, and the full City Council for final approval later this Fall.

“We cannot be more excited and grateful for the amazing support that the residents, artists and arts organizations of Dallas have given this planning process,” said Jennifer Scripps, Director of Cultural Affairs. “The strategies and insights developed in the plan will help the entire Dallas arts ecosystem work together to become more vibrant, sustainable, equitable and engaging.”

About the Office of Cultural Affairs

The City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), a division of the City Manager’s Office, fosters support, partnerships, and opportunities for Dallas residents, visitors, artists, and arts and cultural organizations. The Office of Cultural Affairs has oversight of 23 cultural facilities, awards over $6 million in cultural funding annually, manages the City’s Public Art Program, and employs over 100 people dedicated to advancing the arts in Dallas and ensuring that all residents and visitors have access to a broad array of arts and cultural opportunities.