FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2020
City of Kingston Launches Cultural Planning Project
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce the launch of the Arts & Culture Master Plan, the City’s first comprehensive cultural planning project. This fully grant-funded initiative will utilize the City’s new public engagement website, Engage Kingston, where participants can give feedback and receive updates.
The goal of the Arts & Culture Master Plan is to identify gaps and new opportunities through analysis of existing facilities, economic data, strengths, weaknesses and possible threats, such as displacement of low-income residents and businesses and uncertainties related to the world health crisis.
The final plan will reflect input from community members of all ages, backgrounds and incomes. It will provide well-defined goals and strategies that align with other community needs, such as housing and technology. The plan will include recommendations for leveraging resources to advance economic prosperity, social equity, environmental protection and the unique cultural vitality of Kingston.
The plan hopes to:
- Leverage the network of arts and culture attractions and venues
- Nurture future cultural leaders, artists, volunteers and audiences
- Support culture as an engine for a creative economy, attracting and retaining diverse residents
- Position culture as an integral part of the City's overall municipal responsibilities
- Guide policy and decisions to best nurture and grow the cultural ecosystem
“We are excited to begin our work on the cultural master plan. Having a firm understanding of the resources in our City will bolster our creative community well into the future,” said Mayor Noble. “Artists, along with the rest of our community, are facing challenges with a changing economic landscape. I believe it is crucial that we preserve our cultural assets and protect this vital part of our city’s character.”
The Department of Art & Cultural Affairs, with guidance from the Kingston Arts Commission, released an RFP in late 2019 and received more than 15 proposals from cultural planning firms. Lord Cultural Resources was selected to complete the plan, whose team includes VP Joy Bailey-Bryant and Senior Consultant Eve Moros Ortega. The City of Kingston’s Director of Art & Cultural Affairs, Adrielle Farr, will serve as Project Manager. A project advisory committee, comprised by members of the Kingston community, will provide guidance and assist with outreach.
Work on the Arts & Culture master plan will begin in June 2020, and continue until early 2021. Lord Cultural Resources will provide an economic impact study, a catalogue of cultural resources, and will facilitate public workshops and presentations. Due to COVID-19, virtual meetings & tools will be utilized to help complete the project. Please visit https://engagekingston.com/arts-culture-master-plan for more information.