PRESENTER: Presenter
Mandi Scott, Manager of Economic & Community Development
Jasmine Metcalf, Urban Planner at Designing Local, LTD
Body
SUBJECT: Title
Presentation and discussion on the Arts & Culture Master Plan
Header
DEPARTMENT: Economic & Community Development
Body
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. A request for proposals (RFP 25-008) was issued on January 17, 2025 to solicit proposals from qualified consulting firms to develop an Arts and Culture Master Plan for the City. The request sought professional services to help provide a long-term strategy for the City to support the arts and culture sectors to 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 City received 10 responses that were evaluated based on qualifications, experience, and costs. A staff team selected their two highest candidates for interview and recommended Designing Local, LTD for award at a cost of $85,000. The contract was approved by City Council on April 28, 2025 and included: a scope of work with 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).
Staff formed an ad hoc steering committee for the plan that 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 met several times and informed and 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 broader New Braunfels community.
The presentation will review the project timeline, cultural asset mapping efforts, study findings, the engagement report, the six pillars of the plan, and key recommendations addressing the following four priority areas:
- Programming & Cultural Experiences
- Places & Spaces
- Visibility & Tourism
- Operations & Capacity Building
ISSUE:
A presentation on the Arts & Culture Master Plan draft
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☒Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☒Community Identity
☒Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for the presentation. Specific costs and budgets to implement the plan’s recommendations will be developed and presented as they are better understood.