Title
Arts, Cultures and Heritage Program Scope of Work
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not reviewed by a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Provide feedback and direction on scope of work to develop strategies to expand the City’s leadership in nurturing Olympia’s Arts, Cultures and Heritage (ARCH) profile.
Report
Issue:
Provide feedback and direction on the proposed scope of work and forward a recommendation for City Council approve to $50,000 in funding to move forward with an RFP.
Staff Contact:
Steve Hall, City Manager, 360.753.8370
Presenter(s):
Steve Hall, City Manager
Background and Analysis:
The City Council referred this topic to the Finance Committee to review the draft scope of work and recommend funding to develop strategies to expand the City’s leadership in nurturing Olympia’s Arts, Cultures and Heritage (ARCH) profile.
Arts, Cultures and Heritage (ARCH) programs, projects and events contribute to the City’s goals of a vibrant, livable community by contributing to our economic base, enhancing our identity and “sense of place,” creating new opportunities for recreation and play, and deepening our understanding of our region and its history. Olympia has tremendous cultural and historical treasures, yet the City’s support for ARCH falls short of the investment in other communities.
The Downtown Strategy, the Metropolitan Parks District, the Parks, Arts & Recreation Plan, and the City Comprehensive Plan reinforce the importance of ARCH to our community and identify goals and strategies that are unreachable without additional resources. A wide range of events, programs and projects would better safeguard and highlight Olympia’s heritage, honor diverse cultures, and adequately support and encourage art and artists. A more creative and entrepreneurial approach - with additional resources - are needed to cultivate arts, culture and heritage opportunities.
For all these reasons, the time is right for Olympia to assess the best strategies to foster an environment where arts, culture and heritage can thrive in the years ahead.
To assist in this endeavor, it will be necessary to engage a consultant to assess the City’s best options for expanding leadership, allocating and leveraging resources, and tracking results. The consultant’s scope of work should include analysis of what’s working in other communities as well as the opportunities and challenges in our community; identification of goals, strategies and timeline; clarifying steps toward integrating programs and efforts, and to build new alliances.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
n/a
Options:
Approve Scope of Work and forward a recommendation for the City Council to approve $50,000 funding for an RFP.
Revise Scope of Work and forward a recommendation for the City Council approve $50,000 in funding for an RFP.
Do not approve Scope of Work and do not forward a recommendation for the City Council to approve $50,000 for an RFP.
Financial Impact:
$50,000
Attachments:
Draft RFP