2. Thank you for your interest in the evanstARTs initiative to create a vision and
roadmap for arts development in Evanston.
This document represents preliminary findings and is subject to change
as research, data analysis and public engagement continues.
A final report will be issued in March 2013.
We invite your review and comment on the document and intend to provide
updates and responses to the comments we receive by February 14, 2013.
As part of the design of this joint effort of the Evanston Community Foundation, the City
of Evanston, and the Evanston Arts Council, this material is formally the property of the
Evanston Community Foundation and is subject to copyright and other intellectual
property rights. Any reproduction, circulation or public dissemination of any of this
information must be approved in advance. Questions, comments, suggestions and
clearances can be obtained by writing us @ www.evanstarts.org or by calling the ECF
offices directly.
We appreciate your interest and cooperation.
3. evanstARTs is:
A community engagement
process that is generating a
vision and roadm for the arts
ap
for the Evanston community.
W aspirations do we have for
hat
making the arts more vibrant,
accessible, and integral to the
experiences of residents,
visitors, and the region?
W will it take to foster a more
hat
dynamic arts eco-system ?
4. evanstARTs objectives
• Heighten visibility of the lively arts scene that exists
• Mobilize residents to become more involved in
discussions and planning around the arts
• Generate recommendations for policy, programs, and
infrastructure that will enliven and expand arts
production and participation, ultimately suggesting a
“Roadmap for the Arts”
8. Stakeholder Interviews
Wally Bobkiewicz, City Manager
Vernon Clark, Chairman, Arts Program, ETHS
Lisa Corrin, Block Museum
Mark Dennis, Pastor, Musician
Norah Diedrich, Evanston Art Center
Carolyn Dellutri, Downtown Evanston
Jane Grover, Alderman
Chris Jones, Theater Critic, Evanston resident/parent
Dan Kelch, Restaurateur /Business Owner
Lucile Krasnow, Community Relations, Northwestern University
Jay Lytle, Banker, former Mayor
Hardy Murphy, Superintendent, District 65
Bea Rashid, Choreographer, Dance Educator
Stuart Rosenberg, Producer, Businessman
Elizabeth Tisdahl, Mayor
9. Survey respondents: 579
Most respondents live in Evanston (79%), and 87% have lived in
Evanston for more than 5 years.
Eleven percent (11%)grew up in Evanston.
More than half of respondents (54%) work in Evanston.
evanstARTs survey
Response Response
Answer Options
Percent Count
I live and work in Evanston 42.3% 245
l live in Evanston and work elsewhere 19.0% 110
I live elsewhere and work in Evanston 11.6% 67
I live in Evanston, but am not currently 18.0% 104
employed
I don't live or work in Evanston but am 9.2% 53
engaged in the Evanston community
11. Patrons & Artists
While most classify themselves as patrons of the arts (51%), many
classify themselves as both artists and patrons (36%). Another 13%
view themselves as artists or arts practitioners.
12.
13. Arts express identity
• Evanston is home to many • What makes Evanston worth
artists in multiple disciplines, the trip; “what will you
but most find work in Chicago discover?"
or elsewhere…
• There needs to be a
• We want the arts to be “vibrant continuum of arts pursuit
and core” to the City from grassroots to perfection,
one that has a broadly
defined aesthetic of
• The City’s diverse
excellence, inclusive of “high
communities need to be a part
brow” to popular
of the identity it promotes
15. Issues and Themes
Perceptions of the Arts in Evanston
Needs of Artists/Arts Organizations
Concern for Quality, Diversity
Branding, Marketing and Promotion of arts/ city
Resources Needed for Growth
Audiences- growth, education, recruitment
Arts Education, curricular/ of school
out
Sources of Support- public, private
Collaboration- interdisciplinary, cross-sector
Role of City Government, Business, Schools
Trends worth further study/ replication
16. Frequently Cited Issues/
Ideas
Need for greater access/ affordability of arts activities
Awareness of existing activity is limited
Parking is costly, often unavailable
Importance of arts events near public transportation
Role of Northwestern: offers much, could do more?
Benefits of partnerships among artists, arts disciplines
Absence of nightlife for teens, young and mature adults
Concern for safety as an obstacle to participation
Desire for better promotion of the arts
Acknowledgement/ support for culturally diverse art forms
Desire for less duplication of effort/better communication
17. Artists’ Perceived Need for Improvements
There are several areas viewed as having improvement potential to bolster arts in Evanston .
“the arts are already an important component to
Evanston’s economy... The pieces need to be organized
and addressed and promoted comprehensively to benefit
the entire City.”
18. Barriers to Participation
Two most commonly cited barriers to participation in
Evanston: awareness (52%) and lack of time (51%.
“W need a
e
clearing-
house or
other way to
better
advertise the
arts in
Evanston.”
19. Curricular & Extra-Curricular Arts
Respondents with children reported arts orgs or artists provide training at
their school (62%), and a significant portion also utilize non-school
activities.
Are there arts organizations or teaching artists that provide arts education at
your child’s school?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Yes 62.0% 75
No 14.0% 17
Don't know 24.0% 29
“Keep arts Does your child(ren) participate in arts classes, outside of
education in school, IN Evanston?
all disciplines Response Response
Answer Options
available to Percent Count
children of all Yes 58.5% 69
levels.”
41.5% 49
No
20. Supporting the Arts in Evanston
Frequency of Patronage of Arts in Evanston
▫ While 46% of our respondents reported patronizing Evanston
Arts a few times a year, 54% are monthly or more frequent
patrons.
An arts patron is defined as someone who attends art performances, concerts,
exhibits and related programming, and may or may not also contribute financially
to the production or presentation of art.
How often do you participate in arts and cultural activities in Evanston?
Response Response
Answer Options
Percent Count
A few times a year 45.7% 224
Once a month 26.1% 128
2-4 times a month 18.0% 88
5-6 times a month 5.7% 28
7-10 times a month 1.8% 9
More than 10 times per month 2.7% 13
“I … would like to see the com unity praise
m
and visit m often what the arts are in
ore
Evanston.”
21. Supporting the Arts in Evanston
Subscriptions
▫ 38% report subscribing to at least one Evanston arts
organization.
Are you a subscriber to one or more Evanston arts organizations?
Response
Answer Options Response Count
Percent
Yes 38.0% 186
No 62.0% 304
“ I often find that I enjoy art events in the city because they push the
envelope m ore, they encourage m independent thought...”
ore
“Events in Chicago are m appealing.”
ore
“Not enough cutting edge work”
“There is just so much to choose from in Chicago that we tend to
fill up our calendar quickly…”
22. Supporting the Arts in Evanston
Another gauge of arts support is the percentage of people who
classify themselves as donors or financial supporters (50%).
However, 57% also report supporting arts organizations outside of
Evanston
Are you a donor to or financial supporter of the
arts IN Evanston?
Response Response
Answer Options
Percent Count
Yes 49.5% 234
No 50.5% 239
Are you a financial supporter or donor to arts
activity OUTSIDE of Evanston?
Response Response
Answer Options
Percent Count
Yes 57.0% 270
No 43.0% 204
23. Supporting the arts in Evanston:
Volunteering represents another form of support for
arts organizations. 39% report volunteering with an
arts organization.
Do you contribute volunteer service to any local arts endeavor?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Yes 39.2% 186
No 60.8% 289
24. Other Arts Patronage
Not surprisingly, Chicago is the key competition
for arts patronage.
Where else do you to go to attend and/or enjoy the arts?
(check all that apply)
Response Response
Answer Options
Percent Count
Chicago 95.4% 457
other nearby suburbs 48.2% 231
outside the Chicago area 25.5% 122
do not attend arts outside 1.9% 9
Evanston
Other (please specify) 34
“Evanston has no facility that brings out a sense of
occasion, a sense of professionalism urbanism for a
, ,
night out”
25. What we need…
“Get the right people, right positions and structure
to advance the arts.”
26.
27. Vision for the Arts in Evanston
Eva ns to n is inve s te d in fo s te ring a
d y na m ic , a c c e s s ible a nd c ultura lly -ric h a rts
c o m m unity .
Cre a tivity flo uris he s in a we lc o m ing ,
c o lla bo ra tive e nviro nm e nt tha t e nc o ura g e s
life lo ng p a rtic ip a tio n in the a rts by re s id e nts
a nd vis ito rs a like .
29. Central Plan
• Convene and coordinate existing arts initiatives, including
downtown arts district, evanstARTs, arts education groups
• Design an infrastructure that brings together a “convergence”
of educational institutions, funders, creative professionals,
philanthropy and government to create a plan that is aligned
with the City and articulates “what we need to do as a city.”
• Establish a convener organization to be a central
clearinghouse for funding and arts identity, with clear
timelines and outcomes
• City should be a leader in convening, play a active role in
fostering the spirit and structure for more activity, but NOT be
the implementer
30. Coordinated Infrastructure
• Make a decision about the downtown space. Assemble a team to launch
within the next year.
• Define roles and relationships between City entities, including the Arts
Council, and other private initiatives
• Pursue more comprehensive research on public/private funding mechanisms
and lessons from similar municipal communities nationwide
• Create a L3C real estate company dedicated to the express purpose of
creating arts spaces
• Create artists live/work space. Connect affordable housing to meet the needs
of artists
• Create a multi-media arts corridor
• Design mechanisms to integrate arts into Evanston neighborhoods.
31. Leadership
• Create an independent cultural leadership position, or “arts czar” post
to spearhead cultural development activities, raise money and focus
arts development in partnership with the City
• Establish a cabinet level position to coordinate arts inclusion in
economic development and budgeting within City government
• Drive continued, coordinated research and planning process
• Revisit arts in relationship to the city; invest in arts support through
direct inclusion in budget and overall economic plan
• Create an artist-in-residence position in City Hall
32. Public/Private Partnerships
• Generate greater support for the existing united arts fund
(ECF) and other mechanisms which would seek/attract
other financial partnerships, donors and support and
augment existing efforts of arts organizations
• Address arts inclusion in all business districts—emerging
as well as existing
• Review zoning and permitting regulations to better
support arts activity
• Increase City funding for artists, both number and size of
grants
34. Communication
• Create a social media portal that enables
artists to network and collaborate
• Begin to build regional alliances for cross-
promotion and collaboration
35. Nurturing young artists and patrons
• Cultivate future arts audiences by enhancing arts
education in the schools and in non-school
settings
• Align efforts with existing initiatives such as
Evanston Arts Education Coalition, YEA and AAI
• Fortify the relationship between the City of
Evanston and Northwestern University through
cross promotion and collaborative programs
36. What the City (can/should) Do
Serve as convener/facilitator Lead the effort to create a
in bringing artists, arts groups, focal point with anchor
business and community facility/facilities in downtown
together district
Encourage increased arts Bring coherent, high-level
activity in non-central areas structure, rigor, focus and
skilled leadership to guide
Explore use of TIFF, SSI, City’s arts efforts
Bonding, and new tax
strategies, such as 1% Examine policies, regulations,
allocation licensing and zoning to better
support arts/arts activity
37. Immediate Next Steps
Public Comment & Review on preliminary
findings www.evanstarts.org
Continued data analysis and additional
research on comparable cities
Report drafted and posted
Final Recommendations to City; review by
City Council
First efforts to align reports and “fortify”
the eco-system
