HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Cultural Arts Needs Assessment C- 10 Sfr
g�' �� STAFF REPORT
` j«�v `'' HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
DATE: November 10, 2016
TO: Honorable Chair and Commissioners
FROM: Tegan McLane, Cultural Arts &Heritage Manager
SUBJECT: Cultural Arts Needs Assessment
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Commission will receive a report on the Cultural Arts Needs Assessment conducted this summer, as well
as a summary of the key recommendations,with Staff input on how these could be accomplished.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Based on information previously presented at the February 2, 2016 City Council meeting, the cost to
transform the existing Police Services wing into a Cultural Arts Center is estimated at$5.6 million.
All of the other recommendations can be implemented in phases,with little to no additional costs required to
begin implementation, and could be scaled up as cultural arts programs generate revenue to support
expansion.
A revision to the Cultural Arts Master Plan, based on the results of the Cultural Arts Needs Assessment,
would require no additional costs, just redirection of existing Staff resources. A revision to the Public Art
Master Plan could also be handled with existing in-house resources.
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the Report and make a recommendation to City Council.
DESCRIPTION:
In May 2016, the City engaged ArtsMarket Inc., a nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in arts-
related studies, to conduct an extensive review of Dublin's existing arts programs and facilities; comparative
analyses of neighboring communities and similar cities nationwide recognized for their innovative and
successful arts programming; and extensive public outreach to identify community needs and interests related
to the arts.
ITEM NO: 8.1
Page 1 of 4
ArtsMarket conducted more than 30 stakeholder interviews; held roundtable meetings with working artists,
nonprofit arts groups, educators, business owners,working parents, preschool parents, teens and seniors; and
administered a 28-question online survey of the general public.
The survey netted 705 responses, which is considered a strong sample for a community of our size.
Respondents'demographics closely mirrored the demographics of the community-at-large. Based on standard
ratios used in statistical analysis, the margin of error is +/-3.6%,with a 95% confidence rate.
KEY FINDINGS
Research revealed a high interest among Dublin residents for quality arts and cultural programming beyond
what is currently offered. This interest cuts across all socio-economic cohorts, neighborhoods, age groups and
ethnicities.
Interest in Arts
A majority (76%) have attended arts activities here or elsewhere in the past two years. Thirty-nine percent
actively pursue arts related hobbies; 35% have enrolled children in arts programs through the City, and 22%
have enrolled children in non-City arts programs. Ninety-one percent have attended some City of Dublin-
sponsored events in the past two years, with the St. Patrick's Day Festival being the most popular (80%),
followed by Farmers'Market (78%).
Room for Improvement
A majority agree City arts programs and events are a good value (60%), conveniently located (58%), and
family-oriented (52%). However only 30% personally considered the programs and events enjoyable and
derived community pride from them; 19% considered them inclusive and reflective of current Dublin
residents'interests; and 8% agreed they are better than what is available in other cities.
Desire for Arts Center
There was considerable interest in a dedicated arts facility with 70-75% indicating it was somewhat or very
important to have an arts venue offering performing and visual arts instruction spaces, a small performance
space and gallery space. Eighty-two percent of the Dublin respondents felt it was very or somewhat important
for Dublin to have a venue offering professional performances.
Demand for Arts Education
The second-most frequently mentioned need is for arts education. Parents of children of all ages and
educators alike expressed strong interest in seeing more collaboration between the City and the School
District on art-related programming. A majority of survey respondents (51%) would like to see more classes
for children and teens. Forty-nine percent would like to see more adult classes. Only 13% are satisfied that
Dublin is offering everything its residents need in arts and cultural programming, and 30% say they regularly
look outside Dublin for arts and cultural programming.
Need for Comm unica don
Research also noted that better communication about the arts in Dublin is needed within the community.
Thirty-two percent believed it was easy to hear about or learn arts events and activities here.While 75% of the
respondents believe public art somewhat or greatly enhances the community, 74% would find it useful if the
City made available some sort of bike/walking trail guide and provided additional information about the
pieces to help people discover and enjoy Dublin's public art.
Page 2 of 4
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff thoroughly reviewed the Consultant's findings and recommendations in the context of the City's
staffing, workload and long-term budgetary constraints and concurs with the following actionable
recommendations:
Cultural Arts Facility
The Consultant recommends Dublin move forward with plans to transform the Police Services Wing into a
cultural arts facility. Planning should take into account the Dublin library's planned expansion to create a
"cultural campus" at Civic Center that would serve as a hub for arts and cultural activities. ArtsMarket
recommends seeking out arts programming that is unique to Dublin.Among recommendations for the venue,
the Consultant recommends more and slightly smaller classrooms, a maker space, a small performance space
and catering kitchen to allow for event rentals. The Consultant recommends that the City also deliberately
design the outside as event space and regularly offer activities, such as art shows, craft shows, student events
and family art-making days,which seem to spill out of the building.
Multicultural Programming
Beyond the Irish-themed St. Patrick's Day Festival,occasional appearances by ethnic music and dance groups
at Splatter and other community events and handful of cultural arts classes, Dublin does not offer
multicultural programming reflecting its diverse population. The Consultant recommends offering family-
oriented multicultural programming, perhaps tied in to ethnic celebrations. These could begin as modest
events,perhaps replacing existing events whose attendance has declined. Multicultural performers should also
be considered when programming the Amphitheater, Dublin High Center for Performing Arts and other
venues. Care should be taken to have programming mirror the diverse make-up of the community.
Amphitheater Programming
With the Emerald Glen Amphitheater under construction and due to open this summer, the Consultant
recommends developing the Amphitheater so it can be optimally used, establishing a program budget for a
City-produced summer series, and encouraging non-profit organizations to provide amphitheater
programming. One way to do this might be by offering free use of the amphitheater under the Arts Space
Grant program. The Consultant recommends the Amphitheater be enhanced with a back wall, shade
structure over the stage and small dressing room area near the stage. The Consultant also suggested offering
sponsorship opportunities,and working to ensure the space is fully programmed.
Partnership with Dublin Unified School District
The public outreach portion of this assessment revealed widespread misconceptions and frustrations about
the lack of community programming at Dublin High School Center for Performing Arts and Education and
the City's role in providing arts in the schools. The Consultant recommends the City share the results of this
study with the District; work with the District to jointly offer afterschool arts programming; and coordinate
with the District to ensure programming at Dublin High's theater, through City-sponsored and produced
shows and Arts Space Grants.ArtsMarket also recommends working with District staff to offer opportunities
for teens.
Master Plan Updates
Both the Cultural Arts Master Plan and Public Art Master Plan, which serve to guide Staff priorities, are in
need of an update. Recommendations from this Assessment should serve as the basis for a phased Cultural
Arts Master Plan that would include a strategic implementation plan for Staff. The Public Art Master Plan
should also be updated to take into account public input from the Assessment and best practices from peer
cities around the country.
Page 3 of 4
These updates could lay the groundwork for accomplishing other recommendations suggested by the
Consultant, including expanding marketing of arts activities in Dublin; using art initiatives to further
economic development; the continued incorporation of public art in City planning; involving the arts
community through ad hoc committees; and fostering the creation of a Cultural Arts Foundation to seek
private sector funding to support the arts in Dublin.
Staff recommends that the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission recommend to City Council that the City
initially pursue these five key recommendations:
1. Proceed with plans to convert the lower level of the Police Services wing at City Hall to a Cultural
Arts Center.
2. Increase multi-cultural programming (classes, events and City-produced performances), especially
through partnerships with culturally specific arts and community groups.
3. Maximize use of the new Emerald Glen Amphitheater through City-produced performances and
rentals.
4. Work with Dublin Unified School District on ways to increase arts-related programming at school
sites, including public performances at the Dublin High School Center for Performing Arts and
afterschool arts-related programming to serve Dublin Unified students.
5. Update the Cultural Arts Master Plan and Public Art Master Plan.
Additionally, Staff proposes that these recommendations be implemented as part of a sustainable growth
initiative, allowing the program to be built over a period of years with stages being attained relative to revenue
and program growth.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The Consultant has forwarded notice of this meeting to members of the public who responded to the
Cultural Arts Needs Assessment survey.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
Page 4 of 4
11/10/2016
IT
Cultural Arts Needs
Assessment
November 10, 2016
Gathering Public Input
• 32 stakeholder interviews with staff, elected
officials, civic leaders
• 8 roundtable meetings - working artists,
nonprofit arts groups, educators, arts business
owners, working parents, preschool parents,
teens, seniors — approx. 50 participants
• 2 public meetings
• Online survey — 705 responses, +/- 3.6% with
95% confidence
A
L ueuri
1
11/10/2016
Survey Respondents
Relationship to Dublin
0 •Live in Dublin,Work or
Retired in Dublin
•Live in Dublin,Work
elsewhere
•Live elsewhere,work in
Dublin
•Live in neighboring city,
work elsewhere
DUBLIN
Respondents' Ages
40%
30%
20%
•Survey Respondents
IIII 10%
•General Population
0% "'-
19 34 35-44 Survey Respondents
45-54 55-64
65+
DUBLIN
2
11/10/2016
Languages Spoken at Home
80%
60%
40%
20%
0% r City
Illp
Speak Survey Respondents
English Speak Speak
only Asian Ind°Euro Speak
languages Spanish
languages
•Survey Respondents
•City
DUBLIN
Household Income
40%
20%
0% AP dip
000 000 000 OO r Survey Respondents
Jcae 00 00titi�0 tih0 00
21� h00
■ 000 000 00 e`41,
^h O, O J
tio �0 •Survey Respondents
•General Population
3
11/10/2016
Education
40% _r_ _
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20%
0%
Fa
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•General Population
•Survey Respondents
Neighborhoods•
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4
11/10/2016
Key Findings
• High interest among Dublin residents for quality
arts and cultural programming beyond what is
currently offered
• Interest cuts across all age groups, ethnicities,
socio-economic cohorts and neighborhoods
IN
DUBLIN
Interest in Arts
• 76% attend arts activities in past 2 years
• 39% actively pursue arts hobbies
• 35% have enrolled children in arts program
through the City
• 22% have enrolled children in non-City arts
programs
• 91% have attended Dublin-sponsored events in
past 2 years (St. Pat's, 80%; Farmers' Market
78%; Splatter, 46%)
A
DUBLIN
5
11/10/2016
Room for Improvement
• Majority of respondents believe Dublin arts
programs are a good value (60%), conveniently
located (58%) and family-oriented (52%).
• However, only 30% of respondent personally
enjoy events, or derive community pride; 19%
consider them inclusive, reflective of residents'
interests; 8% believe they are better than what is
available nearby.
Il
DUBLIN
Facilities for Arts Opportunities
People felt it was `very' or `somewhat' important to
have in Dublin opportunities to:
• See professional performances, 82%
• Perform on stage in community productions, 79%
• See professional and local art exhibits, 71%
• Take arts classes, both recreational and academic,
73%
• Be exposed to arts from different cultures and new
art forms, 69%
DUBLIN
6
11/10/2016
Specific Arts Facility Needs
People felt the following were `important' or `very
important' for Dublin to offer:
• Music instruction space, 74%
• Small performance space, 69%
• Visual arts instruction space, 66%
• Music practice space, 65%
• Dance instruction space, 65%
• Gallery space, 64%
• Maker space, 62%
• Digital art lab, 60%
• Rentable rehearsal space, 54%
Demand for Arts Education
• 51% would like to see more classes for children and
teens
• 13% are satisfied Dublin is offering everything
residents need
• 30% regularly look outside Dublin for arts and
cultural programming
• 73% say both recreational art classes and those that
support academic learning are `very' or `somewhat'
important
• Intermediate and advanced art classes are `very' or
`somewhat' important, 64%
7
11/10/2016
Need for Communication
• Only 32% believe it's easy to hear about arts
activities here.
• 74% would find it useful if City made available
biking or walking guide to help people
discover/enjoy public art.
• 64% would like to see more opportunities for
public input about arts and cultural programming.
• 63% would like to see facilitated gatherings to
connect artists in Dublin with each other.
Recommendations
• "Actionable" recommendations
• Based on Consultants' findings/public
input/comparison to peer cities
• City staffing, work-load
• Long-term budget constraints — cost-recovery
8
11/10/2016
Cultural Arts Facility
• Move forward with plans to transform lower
level of Police Service wing at City Hall to
Cultural Arts Center
• Create "cultural campus" at Civic Center with
Library
• Cultural Arts Center should include: more
classrooms, maker space, small performance
space, catering kitchen, outside event space
DUBLIN
Multicultural Programming
• Current arts programming not reflective of
diverse population; should mirror demographics
• Consider family-oriented multi-cultural
programming, perhaps tied to ethnic
celebrations
• Program multicultural performances — existing
City events, Dublin High theater, Emerald Glen
Amphitheater
• Add more multicultural arts classes
DUBLIN
9
11/10/2016
Amphitheater Programming
• Enhance amphitheater to create better
performance space — back wall, shade over stage,
dressing room area
• Establish budget for City-produced summer
series
• Encourage community use through Arts Space
Grants, rentals
• Seek Amphitheater sponsors
DUBLIN
Partner with School District
• Widespread misconception/frustration about
lack of community programming at Dublin
High theater
• Parents, educators and students want more arts
enrichment opportunities, esp. for older students
• Share findings with Dublin Unified
• Work together to increase afterschool classes
• Ensure theater programming through Arts
grants, City-produced performances
DUBLIN
10
•
11/10/2016
Update Arts Master Plans
• Master plans help guide Staff priorities,
spending
• Master plans usually cover goals for next 5-10
years, based on current conditions, public input,
best practices from peer cities around country
• Cultural Arts Master Plan last updated 2001
• Public Art Master Plan last updated 2006
R.
DUBLIN
Recommendations Summarized
1. Proceed with plans to repurpose lower level of
Police Wing as Cultural Arts Center.
2. Increase multi-cultural programming, especially
through community partnerships.
3. Maximize use of new Amphitheater.
4. Work with DUSD to increase arts at schools,
including Dublin High theater.
5. Update Cultural Arts and Public Art master
plans.
R.
DUBLIN
11