Simplified: The City Council this week approved a $110,000 contract with an Arizona-based consultant to get a comprehensive understanding of Sioux Falls' cultural landscape, as well as practical tips for strengthening the local arts scene. Here's what it means for you.
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 a full-time arts coordinator and establishing a seven-member city arts commission.
- And while community arts groups have done similar community studies and strategic planning in the past, this marks the first time the city has been the driving force behind that work, Arts Coordinator Maren Engel said.
- Keen Independent Research will lead the process, and over the next nine months, the goal is to get a sense of the current arts-related businesses and programs in town, find the gaps and make recommendations for how Sioux Falls can strengthen its arts and culture scene.
"It's really important for the arts commission, a new citizen board, to have really data-driven and community-based direction for any decisions that we’re making," Engel said.
Tell me more
The contract with Keen Independent Research outlines a detailed process for how the plan will be put together.
- That includes stakeholder interviews, creating an inventory of existing arts and culture businesses, assessing needs in the arts community, creating a shared vision for the city and looking at practical recommendations moving forward.
"We really want to get down to the nitty gritty of what we can do specifically for arts and culture in Sioux Falls," Engel said.
Some important data to inform that work will be a needs assessment, which includes looking at the following points, as laid out in the contract:
- how arts and culture are performing in Sioux Falls relative to the city’s vision,
- facilities and infrastructure needs,
- gaps and opportunities,
- how arts and culture factor into the overall economy,
- potential gaps in art and cultural resources and services,
- municipal arts funding practices and resource development,
- and operating models for city arts facilities and potential efficiencies.
What happens next?
With the contract approved, the work begins. Consultants are expected to come to town in October and hold a public meeting. There will also be opportunities for the public to provide feedback via online survey.
"We want to make sure the things that we’re pursuing, the projects, the programming are coming from community voices," Engel said.
