Tool #9: Strategic planning

Developing and implementing a long-range community arts strategic plan—one that brings all stakeholders, including arts organizations, municipal officials, local tourism leaders, and businesses, into the conversation—is a vital long term step for initiating and sustaining public investment in the arts where you live and work.

How do you approach developing and implementing a strategic cultural plan?

First, do your research. At the bottom of this page, you’ll find links to cultural plans for Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio, as well as some “How To” resources for developing a strategic plan. 

Next, host a community meeting and invite as many local artists and arts leaders as possible. How do you host a community meeting? Below, you’ll find some sample tools that will help you schedule, set-up, and conduct a public meeting. Be realistic about what this first meeting might accomplish and set goals that are achievable. 

Toolkit Tip:

In this first meeting, set out to learn everything possible about the depth and breadth of the arts in your community, including collecting stories from attendees about the impact of their art. Encourage participants to bring visuals that can be assembled into a presentation for later meetings.

After an initial community meeting, gather the information, including all of the visuals, and assemble a document that shows what your community currently looks like and what it could look like with municipal support of the arts. With this document in hand, broaden your outreach and host another meeting, this time inviting municipal officials, local tourism leaders, and businesses in addition to the arts leaders—a true gathering of stakeholders to consider the information you’ve already gathered, to further solidify partnerships, and to start developing a strategic plan. 

We know this can sound daunting. Remember, you’re not alone! Connect with other arts leaders in Texas who’ve already been through this process - they can be an invaluable resource. Additionally, reach out to Texans for the Arts Foundation when you’re ready to begin the strategic planning process if you have further questions.

Toolkit Tip:

As you build a coalition of stakeholders, provide opportunities for feedback from all participants and provide an ongoing forum on social media or elsewhere to capture new ideas and additional information.