Simplified: The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday got a first look at the full draft of the first city-led arts and culture strategic plan. The plan both took stock of the city's existing assets and made recommendations for steps the city can take to expand opportunities and strengthen the local arts scene.
Why it matters
- The City of Sioux Falls has increased its focus on promoting arts and culture over the last couple of years – including hiring Maren Engel as the full-time arts coordinator and establishing a seven-member city arts commission.
- This marks the first time the city has been the driving force behind that work. The city, in partnership with consultants at Keen Independent Research, has been working on this plan for the last nine months, including meeting with stakeholders and surveying the public.
- The 196-page plan details five key strategic priorities with a total of about two dozen specific recommendations for action items the city can take to improve access to arts and culture, help artists, and work to cement Sioux Falls as a destination for the arts.
"We see this as an intended to be an active, collaborative road map – not just a document to gather dust on the shelf," said Jennifer Smith Hoesing, chair of the city arts commission.
Tell me more about the plan
The overarching idea is for the plan to guide decision-making for the city over the next decade when it comes to supporting all things art and culture.
Alex Keen, managing principal for Keen Independent Research, said he and his team were overall impressed by Sioux Falls.
"You all have such a strong foundation here," Keen said, noting the city's strengths in downtown activity, performing arts assets, and overall "infrastructure" for arts and culture.
That said, the plan also notes areas where the city could improve.
- That includes addressing the limited spaces where emerging and mid-sized artists can create, rehearse, perform, etc. in an affordable and accessible manner.
There are also opportunities for stronger collaboration between the city and the third-party operators of cultural facilities (e.g. the Washington Pavilion, the Orpheum, the Premier Center, etc.)
- Additionally, the plan notes that the city could do more to both fund the arts in a way that directly helps artists and to connect artists with grants and other financial resources available.
What are the big goals?
The plan lists out five strategic priorities, each with about four to six specific actions the city can take to implement those priorities.
The five priorities are as follows:
- Elevate Sioux Falls' cultural identity.
- Expand cultural spaces and assets.
- Steward public cultural investment for community benefit.
- Increase access to arts and culture.
- Support the creative workforce and economy.
What happens next?
You can read the full plan on Keen's website.
Then, the plan is expected to go before the City Council for a vote next week.
If you have feedback on the draft plan in the meantime, you can call (602) 767-7067 and leave a message with your feedback, or email SiouxFallsArtsPlan@keenindependent.com.
