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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 - 1258 Cultural Arts Needs Assessment Results Page 1 of 5 STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL DATE: December 20, 2016 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Christopher L. Foss, City Manager SUBJECT: Cultural Arts Needs Assessment Prepared by: Tegan McLane, Cultural Arts & Heritage Manager EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will receive a report on the Cultural Arts Needs Assessment conducted this summer, as well as a summary of key recommendations, with Staff input on how these could be accomplished. The Heritage and Cultural Arts Commiss ion has reviewed the Assessment and is recommending key recommendations to the City Council. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Receive the report and the recommendations by the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission; and authorize Staff to begin planning re -use of the Police Services wing at Dublin City Hall for cultural facility needs in the City. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Based on information previously presented at the February 2, 2016 City Council meeting, the initial estimate to transform the existing Police Services wing into uses for cultural arts is about $5.6 million, including costs to repurpose the space on the second floor to relocate Parks and Community Services staff. Funding for the future improvements would come from the Public Facility Fee program. 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 sufficient 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. 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 Page 2 of 5 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. 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 ethnicit ies. 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 Page 3 of 5 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 Communication 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. 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 th is 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. Page 4 of 5 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 Cu ltural 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. 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. Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission recommends to City Council that the City initially pursue these 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. Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission requested that a sixth recommendation be added, regarding engaging the community at large, and specifically arts organizations, in planning and promoting arts activities in Dublin. However the Commission has not reviewed and voted on exact wording of a sixth amendment. Staff recommends the Council direct the Commission finalize wording at the January 8, 2017 Heritage and Cultural Arts meeting. Page 5 of 5 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.