What is the Cultural Plan?
A cultural plan is a living document intended to examine and strengthen the soul of a community through the exploration of arts, humanities, culture, natural resources, and heritage throughout all neighborhoods of Akron.
The cultural plan developed a vision and recommendations on how the residents, organizations, and businesses can build upon our collective history and create the path to our future. ArtsNow, an independent nonprofit organization, received private resources from GAR Foundation and Knight Foundation to work together with the City of Akron, artists, cultural organizations, regional experts, and community residents to collect data and public input to inform the cultural plan.
To develop the plan, the team analyzed the City’s current cultural priorities, assessed capacity to serve neighborhoods, studied the condition of cultural and environmental organizations as well as artists, and planned how the city can remain a place where arts and culture are vital to citizen’s well-being.
With over $1.4 billion impacting the greater Akron area in 2018, the cultural sector is deserving of research and energy, and we’re energized by the momentum and movement this plan offers.