PRESENTER: Presenter
Mandi Scott, Manager, Economic & Community Development
Jeff Jewell, Director, Economic and Community Development
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SUBJECT: Title
Presentation and update on the Arts and Culture Master Plan.
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DEPARTMENT: Economic & Community Development
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Developing an Arts and Culture Master Plan was a key objective under the Community Identity section of the City’s Strategic Plan. The Plan provides a long-term strategy for the City to support the arts and culture sectors, improve quality of life for residents, drive economic growth, improve the community’s sense of place, health and well-being, foster collaboration between organizations, artists and the community, and encourage innovation and creative expression.
The consulting firm, Designing Local, LTD, was selected to lead five tasks (discovery, outreach & engagement, synthesis & analysis, initial recommendations, and a final plan) and three in-person visits (an initial site tour and two public workshops).
An ad hoc steering committee consisted of nine (9) members that included: one member of the arts commission, one member of the heritage commission, two local non-profit arts organization leaders, a K-12 educator, and one or more artists representing the visual, performing, or literary arts. The committee shaped the direction of the plan, identified key individuals for stakeholder conversations, provided feedback on the community outreach strategy and plan recommendations, and promoted the plan’s engagement efforts and outcomes to the community.
City Council received a presentation on the Arts & Culture Master Plan on April 6 and approved the Plan on April 27, 2026. The Plan includes recommendations in four categories:
1. Programming & Cultural Experiences
2. Places & Spaces
3. Visibility & Tourism
4. Operations & Capacity Building
Staff will present a Plan overview and items related to Downtown New Braunfels.