This document outlines the City of Evanston's goals and initiatives related to supporting the visual and performing arts. It discusses current cultural arts facilities like the Noyes Cultural Arts Center and plans for other venues. It also mentions collaborating with local arts organizations and launching a new initiative with the Evanston Community Foundation to create a "Roadmap for the Arts" to develop a unified vision and plan to enhance the arts community. The goal is to better support local artists, increase arts programming, examine creating an arts district, and promote the economic benefits of the arts in Evanston. Next steps include outreach to gather community input to develop the roadmap and identify how to finance related projects.

1. 1
City Council Goal
“Visual and Performing Arts”
May 21, 2012

2. 22
Agenda
• City Cultural Arts Programs
• Cultural Arts Facilities
• Evanston Arts Organizations
• Evanston Arts Planning
• Next Steps

3. 33
City Cultural Arts Programs

4. 44
Cultural Arts Facilities

5. 55
Cultural Arts Facilities
• Noyes Cultural Arts Center
• New Lease Guidelines
• Tenants Association
• Piven Theater Workshop Project

6. 6
Cultural Arts Facilities

7. 7
Cultural Arts Facilities
• Harley Clarke Mansion
– RFI Issued
– Discussions with Evanston Arts Center

8. 8
Cultural Arts Facilities

9. 9
Cultural Arts Facilities
• City Lit Theater Company
– Staff continues to work on design
– Return to City Council with update June 11, 2012

10. 10
Cultural Arts Facilities

11. 11
Cultural Arts Facilities
• NEA/Downtown Arts District Study
– Contract awarded May 14, 2012
– Study complete Fall, 2012

12. 12
Cultural Arts Facilities

13. 13
Cultural Arts Facilities
• Bienen School of Music Building
– Groundbreaking May 18, 2012, $117 million
– 400 seat recital hall
– 150 seat black box theater
– Opening Fall, 2015

14. 14
Evanston Arts Organizations

15. 15
Evanston Arts Organizations
• Lunch Club
• Joint Marketing and Promotion
• Internet / Social Media
– Evanston Arts Buzz
– Arts E-Newsletter

16. 16
Evanston Arts Organizations
• City Arts Boards
– Evanston Arts Council
• Arts and Business Committee
– Public Art Committee

17. 17
Evanston Arts Organizations
• Northwestern University
– Bienen School of Music
– Department of Art Theory and Practice
– Department of Art History
– Department of Theater

18. 18
Evanston Arts Organizations
• Northwestern University
– Block Museum of Art
– Pick-Staiger Concert Hall
– Theater and Interpretation Center
– Marshall Dance Center
– Cahn Auditorium

19. 19
Evanston Arts Planning
• Evanston Community Foundation 2004-06
“Arts in Community Task Force”
• Since 1987, ECF has granted over $580,000 to
Evanston arts organizations
• 2006 Report:
– “…envisions Evanston as an extraordinary arts
community – where diverse talents thrive and the
arts entertain, inspire and challenge us while
bringing us together!”

20. 20
Evanston Arts Planning
• 2006 ECF Report
– Found disconnect between how arts organizations
and artists described their perceived value in the
community and the actual economic benefits of their
work to Evanston.
– Value in 2006 of economic impact of arts
organizations studied: $25 million

21. 21
Evanston Arts Planning
• 2006 ECF Study
– Study findings not pursued at the time because major
organizations pursuing other priorities.
– Arts “not perceived” as important to economic
development

22. 22
Evanston Arts Planning
• 2012 COE/ECF Initiative – “Roadmap for Arts”
– Began discussions in January, 2012
– Worked on White Paper explaining next steps
– Met with ECF Board Members, Mayor Tisdahl and
Co-Chairs of Evanston Arts Council

23. 23
Evanston Arts Planning
• 2012 COE/ECF Initiative – “Roadmap for Arts”
– Agree on an arts vision for Evanston and on
recommendations for program, policy and arts
infrastructure that will enhance arts throughout
Evanston
– Settle space and facilities issues for artists and arts
organizations in City-owned buildings
– Examine possibilities for art spaces and an arts
district in downtown Evanston

24. 24
Evanston Arts Planning
• 2012 COE/ECF Initiative – “Roadmap for Arts”
– Define the arc of experiences that Evanston residents
are seeking
– Convene arts organizations, artists, arts policy
“experts” and arts audiences to develop an updated
vision for the arts throughout the community
– Make recommendations for increasing the potential
(economic) impacts of the arts
– Identify components of a supportive climate for
Evanston’s arts businesses

25. 25
Evanston Arts Planning
• “Roadmap for the Arts” Next Steps
– Community Outreach for Current Baseline
• To Artists and Arts Organizations
– Does community believe Evanston has vibrant arts community? If
not, what needs to change?
– What is the value of working in Evanston?
– What is role of artists and organization to give back to
community?

26. 26
Evanston Arts Planning
• “Roadmap for the Arts” Next Steps
– Community Outreach for Current Baseline
• To Evanston Residents
– What role do the arts play in the civic and economic life of
Evanston today?
– What should role be in the future?

27. 27
Evanston Arts Planning
• “Roadmap for the Arts” Next Steps
– When/How to Conduct Community Outreach for
Current Baseline
– Convene Task Force to Review All Current
Information and Develop Vision and Roadmap for
the Arts in Evanston
– Financing of Project
– Additional Community Partners

28. 28
Next Steps
• Cultural Arts Division
• Noyes Cultural Arts Center
• Harley Clarke Mansion
• Evanston Arts Organizations
– Non Profit Collaboration
– City Arts Boards
• COE/ECF “Roadmap for the Arts”

29. 2929
QUESTIONS

30. 30
City Council Goal
“Visual and Performing Arts”
May 21, 2012