ArtsPlan

In November 2006, the Rock Island City Council adopted the Downtown Strategic Plan 2007 – 2010.  This plan articulates a vision for downtown Rock Island to be realized through the implementation of nine objectives and supporting strategies.  Objective Seven of the Plan is to “Enhance the creation and performance of the arts for sale or public display in the downtown.”

In February 2007, some forty area residents gathered to brainstorm this strategy and to determine ways to foster a higher level of arts awareness and activity in the city.  As a result of the February meeting, the Mayor and City Council appointed a nine-member Rock Island Arts Advisory Committee.

The committee’s duties are identified as:
- act to promote the creation, understanding, appreciation and awareness of the arts in the City
- serve in an advisory capacity to the Mayor and Council on matters related to the arts and cultural development of the City
- work as a liaison and in partnership with local, regional, state or national arts organizations to foster support for the arts
- determine ways in which the arts can enhance the quality of life in the City to foster community economic and social growth

In their advisory role, the Committee has been meeting for several months to review and refine the ideas from the brainstorming session and develop recommendations for City Council review; in essence drafting a plan for increasing the level of arts activity and awareness in the community with initial focus on The Downtown Rock Island Arts and Entertainment District. 

Several overriding principles have guided formulation of the plan: 
• The arts encompass a broad range of endeavors and make an important contribution to the city’s quality of life – Arts and art activities fall into a number of categories including visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, culinary arts, design, cultural heritage, film, media and textile arts.  A comprehensive approach should acknowledge this variety of arts activities and consider support for many different types of art realizing that all make an important contribution to the cultural vitality of the community.
• Arts as economic development - The arts have been cited as an important element of the creative economy.   
• Partnerships are essential – The success of any community development effort depends on the formation of effective partnerships.  As has been shown over and over, the public and private sectors working together can accomplish great things.  The importance of effective partnerships is perhaps nowhere more important than in supporting the arts. 

To view the ArtsPlan with the committees recommendations click here.