Why Plan?
A strategic plan reflects the ideals, expectations, and goals of an organization. It is also a statement of its intentions. What will we accomplish in the next five years? Why, how, and with what resources? With whom?
Every five years the Vermont Arts Council embarks on a strategic planning process to determine how we can best educate, inform, and “inspire a creative state.” The plan we create through this process is not simply a list of things we expect to achieve in the next five years, but a road map for engaging supporters and partners who share our belief in the power of art to change lives and improve the fiscal and social health of Vermont communities. It guides the Council’s choices in how to increase participation in the arts, and helps us communicate how investing tax dollars in the arts provides a significant and measurable public benefit in return.
The Council’s 2008-2012 Strategic Plan was developed over an 18-month period with input from a broad representation of Vermonters. We began by undertaking an internal “branding” review of our Mission, Vision, and Values. As a result, in June 2006 the Council’s board endorsed a new mission statement: To advance and preserve the arts at the center of Vermont communities. We also approved a new motto: Inspiring a Creative State.
For twelve months we engaged hundreds of constituents in discussions about the issues impacting the arts in Vermont. Input was solicited through online and paper surveys, at public forums in five communities, facilitated discussions in three communities, and in first-hand encounters at a variety of Council events, workshops, and meetings. We received comments and feedback from our members, grantees, Palettes of Vermont participants and audience members, program partners, panelists, legislators, staff, trustees, and the general public.
Through these discussions we identified several critical issues affecting the health of the arts sector at this point in time. The most significant of these are:
This Strategic Plan directly responds to the needs and concerns expressed by our constituents during the planning process. It covers the most compelling issues we believe must be addressed over the next five years and articulates what the Council has to offer in the way of technology, financial support, and professional development resources like workshops and consultations. It also describes opportunities we expect will help us develop new resources, new learning, and new best practices for the Council and our constituents. The full version of this plan can be found here.
Increase opportunities for everyone in Vermont to experience and/or participate in the arts.
- Increase opportunities for people to experience high quality arts and help artists increase the public’s access to their work.
- Increase opportunities for people to achieve a greater understanding of the arts.
- Improve conditions for showcasing excellent quality art.
- Improve communications and information-sharing networks that inform the public about art-related activities and encourage participation
Educate policy makers and the general public about the benefits of investing in Vermont communities through the arts.
- Support local arts organizations’ efforts to broaden their programs and services within their communities.
- Help schools and school systems plan and implement curricula in which the arts are integrated and fully staffed and supported.
- Support and increase the number of Vermont communities, artists and arts organizations that embrace the Creative Economy as a core strategy for economic development.
Expand and sustain the capacity of the Vermont Arts Council to serve its constituencies.
- Improve communications with and among constituents, and elected and appointed state officials.
- Expand the online library of best practices, calendars, directories and other professional development tools that serve the needs of the arts community.
- Adopt sustainable practices that enable the Council to recruit and retain an outstanding staff and board.
- Maintain and expand collaborations that support our technological capacity.
- Expand membership and other sources of public and private support for Council projects and collaborative activities.