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HomeMy WebLinkAbout42-25 RESOLUTION113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-8323
Resolution: 42-25
File Number: 2024-1083
ARTS AND CULTURE PLAN (APPROVAL):
A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE FAYETTEVILLE ARTS AND CULTURE PLAN
WHEREAS, on June 6, 2023, City Council voted to recommend that an arts and culture plan be developed to support
the city's existing commitments to fostering the arts and culture ecosystem, to address the lack of a specific strategy for
the arts sector in the city's 2040 plan, and to position Fayetteville as a leader in arts and culture in the region; and
WHEREAS, on November 7, 2023, the City Council approved Resolution 235-23 which authorized a contract with
Stilwell Consulting for the development of an arts and culture plan; and
WHEREAS, the Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan is the city's first comprehensive strategy to guide the growth of
arts and culture over the next decade; and
WHEREAS, the plan, designed as a community -driven initiative assigns roles to the City and the Arts and Culture
Division as well as the broader arts and culture community to work collaboratively toward shared goals, fostering
partnerships, and advancing the creative sector.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE,
ARKANSAS:
Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby approves and adopts the Fayetteville Arts
and Culture Plan.
PASSED and APPROVED on January 21, 2025
Approved:
E-SIGNED by Molly A. Rawn
on 2025-01-22 17,08.15 GMT
Molly A. Rawn, Mayor
`,OVIII1R�NI,
Attest: ``�
���FtK T .F�
Qj 'G\jY
E-SIGNED by Kara Paxton :m=
on 2025-01-22 17:29:23 GMT :.FAYETTEVILLE:
Kara Paxton, City Clerk TreasurerVG T %9�;KgNS O\```,``��
8%1 II�II �
Page 1
CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE
ARKANSAS
MEETING OF JANUARY 21, 2025
CITY COUNCIL MEMO
2024-1083
TO: Mayor Rawn and City Council
THRU: Alison Jumper, Director of Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs
FROM: Joanna Bell, Arts and Culture Director —Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs
SUBJECT: Arts and Culture Plan
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Arts and Culture Plan.
BACKGROUND:
At the June 6, 2023 Council meeting, staff recommended that an arts and culture plan be developed to support
the city's existing commitments to fostering the arts and culture ecosystem, to address the lack of a specific
strategy for the arts sector in the city's 2040 plan, and to position Fayetteville as a leader in arts and culture in
the region. On July 23, 2023, city staff issued RFP 23-08 which sought proposals from qualified consulting
firms to develop a comprehensive Arts and Culture Plan for the City of Fayetteville. Six firms submitted
complete proposals. The selection committee selected to conduct interviews with three firms, and
unanimously selected to engage Stilwell Consulting. In early 2024, Stilwell consulting began the work of
developing the Arts and Culture Plan for Fayetteville plan with a scope of work including consulting fees for
research into peer cities and best practices, public engagement, and community arts and culture
recommendations for the city.
DISCUSSION:
The Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan is the city's first comprehensive strategy to guide the growth of arts and
culture over the next decade. Developed through a year -long community engagement process involving over
1,250 participants via surveys, interviews, focus groups, tabling, convenings and public comment, the plan was
shaped by the Fayetteville Arts Council, a project advisory group, and city staff in collaboration with the
consultants to guide toward best practices. It identifies five community priorities —Cultivate, Sustain, Creative
Spaces, Placemaking, and Lead —and outlines goals and strategies to strengthen the city's arts ecosystem
while addressing gaps in funding, space, and accessibility. Designed as a community -driven initiative, the plan
assigns roles to the City and the Arts and Culture Division, as well as to the broader arts and culture
community, to work collaboratively toward shared goals, fostering partnerships, and advancing the creative
sector.
BUDGET/STAFF IMPACT:
None.
ATTACHMENTS: SRF (#3) , Arts and Culture Plan -Executive Summary (#4), Arts and Culture Plan -Full Draft
with Appendix (#5), 01/16/2025 Update - Arts and Culture Plan -Full Draft with Appendix (#6)
Mailing address:
113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville, AR 72701
== City of Fayetteville, Arkansas
y 113 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479)575-8323
- Legislation Text
File #: 2024-1083
Arts and Culture Plan
A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE FAYETTEVILLE ARTS AND CULTURE
PLAN
WHEREAS, on June 6, 2023, City Council voted to recommend that an arts and culture plan be
developed to support the city's existing commitments to fostering the arts and culture ecosystem, to
address the lack of a specific strategy for the arts sector in the city's 2040 plan, and to position
Fayetteville as a leader in arts and culture in the region; and
WHEREAS, on November 7, 2023, the City Council approved Resolution 235-23 which authorized a
contract with Stilwell Consulting for the development of an arts and culture plan; and
WHEREAS, the Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan is the city's first comprehensive strategy to guide
the growth of arts and culture over the next decade; and
WHEREAS, the plan, designed as a community -driven initiative assigns roles to the City and the Arts
and Culture Division as well as the broader arts and culture community to work collaboratively toward
shared goals, fostering partnerships, and advancing the creative sector.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS:
Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby approves and adopts the
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan.
Page 1
Joanna Bell
Submitted By
City of Fayetteville Staff Review Form
2024-1083
Item ID
1/21/2025
City Council Meeting Date - Agenda Item Only
N/A for Non -Agenda Item
12/31/2024 PARKS & RECREATION (520)
Submitted Date Division / Department
Action Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the Arts and Culture Plan.
Budget Impact:
N/A N/A
Account Number Fund
N/A N/A
Project Number
Budgeted Item? No
Does item have a direct cost? No
Is a Budget Adjustment attached? No
Purchase Order Number:
Change Order Number:
Original Contract Number:
Comments:
Project Title
Total Amended Budget
Expenses (Actual+Encum)
Available Budget
Item Cost
Budget Adjustment
Remaining Budget
Previous Ordinance or Resolution #
Approval Date:
V20221130
THE PL
E T
RE
2024 Executive Summary
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
TE
.14 ft-
r
I
CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE
ARKANSAS
ti
WZ
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fayetteville is Arts and Culture
Situated in the natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville is home to a renowned
University, an energetic downtown and a lush, active park system. Fayetteville also boasts a strong,
authentic, grassroots arts and culture scene that has flourished organically for decades. Arts and
culture are woven into the fabric of the city, with a large ecosystem of artists and creatives, venues,
galleries, creative organizations, events and entrepreneurs. In recent years, the city has made a
concerted effort toward designating key neighborhood centers and spaces for culture, building
consensus around the importance of these places, and calling them out as priorities for the
community. In 2022, the City acknowledged the importance of this critical sector of the community
by creating an Arts and Culture Division.
Why Plan for Arts and Culture?
Arts and culture are essential to Fayetteville's economic and community well-being. We know that
the arts sector contributes over $3.5 billion to the Arkansas economy, and over $1.1 trillion to the
national economy. A strong creative sector helps to attract new businesses and visitors to the area,
and spurs innovation. Arts and culture often face market failure when left unsupported, as their
benefits often extend beyond individual enjoyment to enrich community cohesion, well-being,
and quality of life. In Fayetteville, arts and culture are a public good, creating a shared sense of
place, belonging and identity across the community. However, for arts and culture to thrive, they
require dedicated planning and investment. Without intentional support, the arts risk underfunding
and under -provision, diminishing their ability to elevate Fayetteville's cultural landscape and fully
contribute to the city's economic and social vitality. Investment in and planning for arts and culture
is essential not only for retaining and growing Fayetteville's creative sector, but also for enhancing
the overall health and vibrancy of the community.
2
Introducing Fayetteville's First Arts and Culture Plan
Fayetteville is pleased to announce its first ever Arts and Culture Plan to serve as a guiding
document to advance arts and culture for the entire community over the next decade. This plan is
the result of research, analysis and community engagement with the guidance of the Fayetteville
Arts Council, a Project Advisory Group and City staff. The process directly engaged over 1,250
members of the Fayetteville community through a series of engagement activities, from surveys
to listening sessions to popup events. A community survey found that 90% of Fayettevillians
believe "arts and culture opportunities are important in Fayetteville," and 88% strongly agreed that
"everyone deserves equal access to the arts." The key to Fayetteville's bright future is to continue
to foster and cultivate its essential arts and culture community and the economic, social and
cultural benefits it brings.
How to Use This Plan
This plan is intended to be a guide for the
Fayetteville community, not just the city
government. Although the City has an
important and critical role in forwarding this
plan, the hope is for the entire arts and
culture community to rally behind a shared
vision and common goals, and through
dialogue and partnerships, to find strategic
opportunities within the plan for their own
advancement, thus impacting the arts and
culture sector. This plan is not intended to
prescribe or supplant the visionary
and planning efforts of individual
organizations, creative businesses or artists,
but to augment these efforts with the
ultimate goal of supporting, sustaining and
moving the arts and culture industry forward.
Gaps and Needs in Fayetteville's Arts and Culture Ecosystem
While Fayetteville's community values arts and culture, it also shared concerns about
affordability and housing impacts on the creative sector. The need for consistent funding,
spaces to create and collaborate and opportunities for community participation in arts
and culture were identified as important areas for growth. Like other economic sectors,
Fayetteville's arts and culture ecosystem will benefit from additional nurturing, targeted
investment and overall support, which will help meet the community's desire for more
opportunities to participate in and engage with arts and culture.
3
Community Priorities
To support and strengthen Fayetteville's arts and culture ecosystem, the Fayetteville Arts and
Culture Plan establishes a community -wide, aspirational vision and outlines five Community
Priority areas, goals and strategies to foster Fayetteville's collective creative growth.
Community Priority: Cultivate.
Goal 1: Acknowledge, amplify and cultivate an
inclusive Fayetteville art and culture ecosystem
to support working artists, creatives and arts
organizations, helping them thrive and connect
with the broader community.
Vision:
Community Priority: Sustain.
Fayetteville is a
Goal 2: Develop sustainable funding, economic
renowned hub of tools and philanthropic strategies to support
arts and culture in and expand Arts and Culture in Fayetteville.
the heart of Mid -
America - a vibrant Community Priority: Creative Spaces.
wellspring of creativity Goal 3: Identify, prioritize and provide targeted
and innovation, an investment in arts and culture facilities, venues,
workspaces and spaces to create that will fill
inclusive center of community needs.
thriving artists
and creatives, inspiring ED
Community Priority: Placemakin
y y�g•
and accessible to and
Goal 4: Enhance the vibrancy, activation and
for all. security of Fayetteville through public
art and creative placemaking strategies.
Community Priority: Lead.
Goal 5: Firmly establish Fayetteville as an arts
and culture destination and as a strong leader
for the advancement of arts and culture within
the region, the state and beyond.
Looking Forward
This Arts and Culture Plan builds on Fayetteville's rich creative heritage, outlining a roadmap to
advance the city's cultural landscape over the next decade. The plan includes an implementation
chart that assigns timelines to specific goals and strategies, ensuring steady progress and an
evaluation framework for accountability. This approach clarifies where the City of Fayetteville may
take the lead and where community organizations and partners might drive initiatives forward,
fostering a collaborative effort to enrich the arts ecosystem. By engaging the entire community
in this shared vision and encouraging leadership in the sector, Fayetteville is poised to become
a renowned center for arts and culture, bolstering economic growth, inclusivity and community
pride.
The Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan is available at
h ttps://www. fayetteville-ar qov/4232IArts-and-Culture
Cover: (clockwise) Violinists; Fayetteville is my Favoriteville (2020) by Olivia Trimble; TheatreSquared performance; Remembrance
(2024) by Joelle Storet, Nelson Hackett Boulevard; Dancers; Point Seven (aka Wilson Park Castle) (1981) by Frank Williams 4
THE PLA
E T
RE
2024
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
TE
►i
CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE
ARKANSAS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Mayor and City Council
Lioneld Jordan, Mayor
Robert "Bob" Stafford, Ward 7
D'Andre Jones, Ward 7
Sarah Moore, Ward 2
Mike Wiederkehr, Ward 2
Scott Berna, Ward 3
Sarah Bunch, Ward 3
Teresa Turk, Ward 4
Holly Hertzberg, Ward 4
Project Advisory Group
Britin Bostik, City of Fayetteville
Lakisha Harper Bradley, MY-T-BY-DESIGN
Therapeutic Art Studios
Brian Crowne, Walton Arts Center/
Walmart AMP
Jessica DeBari, Fayetteville Arts Council
Sarah Downing, Parks, Natural Resources,
and Cultural Affairs Advisory Board
Bob Ford, TheatreSquared
Hope Haynes, Specialized Real Estate
Group
Devin Howland, City of Fayetteville
David Johnson, Fayetteville Public
Library
Sarah King, Experience Fayetteville
Kelly Rich, Downtown Fayetteville
Coalition
Lia Uribe, University of Arkansas
Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences
Julie Williams, Fayetteville Public Schools
Fayetteville Arts Council
Robert "Bob" Stafford, City Council
Representative
Chloe Bell, Chair
Emily Miller, Vice -Chair
Jessica DeBari
Lara Hightower
Abigail Hill
Mary Sue Price
Amanda Reyer
Ellen Woodson
City of Fayetteville
Joanna Bell, Arts and Culture Director
Alison Jumper, Parks, Natural Resources,
and Cultural Affairs Director
Susan Norton, Chief of Staff
Thanks to Participants who engaged
in interviews, focus groups, listening
sessions and plan reviews:
Carris Adams
Claudia Aguilar
David Atchison
Bryce Brisco
Geoffrey Brock
Chris Brown
Rachel Burkevich
Kesey Carolina
Dwight Chalmers
Brittany Cooper
Jonathan Curth
Carlye Dennis
Jenn Nesbitt Eck
Sandy Edwards
Blake Elder
Kerri Elder
Lee Farmer
Shelby Fleming
Jordan Garner
Richard Gathright
Emily Gentry
Ben Glodowski
Alan Gosman
Ben Harris
Bernice Hembree
Bryan Hembree
Gaby Hernandez
Morgan Hicks
Erica Holthus
Kelsey Howard
Cynthia Post Hunt
Robert Huston
Ted Jack
Donna Smith Jones
Jason Jones
Robyn Jordan
Tomoko Kashiwagi
Kris Katrosh
Pat Ryan Key
Sharon Killian
Claire Kolberg
Laura Kraus -Mere
Peter Lane
Leilani Law
Meli Lussier
Laurie Marshall
Steven Charles Marzolf
Chuck Mere
Rachel Mills
Melissa Milton
Shelley Mouber
Amber Perrodin
Joseph Porter
Nikola Radan
Joe Randel
Molly Pawn
Aaron Rhames
Dan Robinson
Juliette Robinson
Jack Settje
Marlee Stark
Timothy Smith
Monica Thomas
Quin Thompson
Lord Toff
Olivia Trimble
Padma Viswanathan
Orsen Weems
Summer Wilke
Emma Willis
And thanks to Creative Convergence Attendees
A special thanks to the more than 500 community members who
participated in surveys, plus several hundred who engaged with our team
at community events.
Consultant Team
Jill Stilwell, Stilwell Cultural Consulting
Kendall Peterson, ThereSquared
Jamie Giellis, Centro Inc.
Kristin Lathrop, LOAH Design
Additional Thanks:
Mark De La Torre, Graphic Facilitator
With assistance from Hannah Jeremiah, Ava Obert and Alondra Cruz
JB Hogan, Historian
2 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
CONTENTS
SECTION 1: PREFACE
4-9
Letter from the Mayor
4
Letter from the Arts and Culture Director
5
Executive Summary
6-8
Poem by Na'Tosha Da'Von
9
SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION
Arts and Culture in Fayetteville
A Historic Look
10-25
10-13
14-15
Fayetteville Community Snapshot
16-17
The Community Values Arts and Culture
18-19
Economic Impact of Arts and Culture
20-21
Planning for Arts and Culture
22
Plan Alignment
23
Planning Methodology
24
Community Engagement
25
SECTION 3: KEY FINDINGS 26-29
SECTION 4: VISION 30-31
SECTION 5: COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
Cultivate
32-50
34-36
Sustain
37-40
Creative Spaces
Placemaking
41-44
45-47
Lead
48-50
SECTION 6: IMPLEMENTATION 51
The City of Fayetteville's Role 52
Capacity Building 53
Funding Considerations 56
Evaluation Framework 57
Implementation Chart 58
SECTION 7: APPENDIX 66
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 3
LETTER FROM
THE MAYOR
Dear Fayetteville Community,
It is with immense pride and optimism that I present to you
Fayetteville's first -ever Arts and Culture Plan. This milestone
embodies our shared commitment to fostering creativity and
celebrating the cultural richness that defines our city. For
generations, creativity has been the wellspring of Fayetteville's
identity —fueling innovation, connecting our community, and
making our city a beacon of cultural vibrancy.
This plan is more than a roadmap; it is a testament to our belief
that the arts will continue to shape our future just as they
have shaped our past. Developed through an inclusive process
that engaged over 1,250 community members, it reflects our
dedication to investing in creative spaces, supporting artists,
and amplifying the voices that make Fayetteville extraordinary.
Together, we will ensure that this wellspring of creativity
continues to inspire, enrich, and unite us for generations to
come.
Let this plan be an invitation to all —residents,
organizations, and businesses —to embrace this vision
and play an active role in advancing Fayetteville as a
renowned hub of arts and culture in the heart of our
region.
Sincerely,
��Wl "I Me
Lioneld Jordan
Mayor of Fayetteville
4
LETTER FROM THE
ARTS & CULTURE
DIRECTOR
Dear Residents and Stakeholders,
The creation of Fayetteville's first Arts and Culture Plan marks an
extraordinary step forward for our city that has been decades in
the making. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the artists,
community members, and partners who contributed their voices
and visions to this endeavor. Your insights have created a plan
that not only reflects our collective aspirations but also provides
actionable strategies to realize them.
I extend heartfelt thanks to Mayor Lioneld Jordan for his
unwavering leadership and steadfast support of the arts. His
vision, and the support of the entire administration, has been
instrumental in bringing this plan forward. Additionally, I am
thankful to the entire Parks, Natural Resources, and Cultural
Affairs Department for wholeheartedly embracing this new
direction for our department's work. I also wish to express my
appreciation to the Fayetteville Arts Council, both present
past members, for their advocacy and dedication to
ing a vibrant arts scene in our city.
plan is grounded in the values of inclusivity, innovation,
d a forward -looking vision for Fayetteville's creative
iture. It recognizes the vital role that arts and culture has
and will play in enhancing our quality of life, strengthening
our economy, and building a vibrant, thriving community
for generations to come. This plan is a community plan
that expresses that we all have a stake in the future
of art in our city —it is something we can all share in
and should all invest in. By embracing the vision of
this plan, we will create opportunities for creative
expression, amplify the voices of all our communities,
and establish Fayetteville as a leader in arts and
culture on a regional and national stage.
I look forward to collaborating with all of you
to bring this vision to life, ensuring that the arts
continue to inspire and connect us, shaping an
even brighter future for Fayetteville.
Artfully yours,
Joanna Sheehan Bell
Arts and Culture Director
City of Fayetteville
4
1
ob ems.
R
y
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fayetteville is Arts and Culture
Situated in the natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville is home to a renowned
University, an energetic downtown and a lush, active park system. Fayetteville also boasts a strong,
authentic, grassroots arts and culture scene that has flourished organically for decades. Arts and
culture are woven into the fabric of the city, with a large ecosystem of artists and creatives, venues,
galleries, creative organizations, events and entrepreneurs. In recent years, the city has made a
concerted effort toward designating key neighborhood centers and spaces for culture, building
consensus around the importance of these places, and calling them out as priorities for the
community. In 2022, the City acknowledged the importance of this critical sector of the community
by creating an Arts and Culture Division.
Why Plan for Arts and Culture?
Arts and culture are essential to Fayetteville's economic and community well-being. We know that
the arts sector contributes over $3.5 billion to the Arkansas economy, and over $1.1 trillion to the
national economy. A strong creative sector helps to attract new businesses and visitors to the area,
and spurs innovation. Arts and culture often face market failure when left unsupported, as their
benefits often extend beyond individual enjoyment to enrich community cohesion, well-being,
and quality of life. In Fayetteville, arts and culture are a public good, creating a shared sense of
place, belonging and identity across the community. However, for arts and culture to thrive, they
require dedicated planning and investment. Without intentional support, the arts risk underfunding
and under -provision, diminishing their ability to elevate Fayetteville's cultural landscape and fully
contribute to the city's economic and social vitality. Investment in and planning for arts and culture
is essential not only for retaining and growing Fayetteville's creative sector, but also for enhancing
the overall health and vibrancy of the community.
6 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
Introducing Fayetteville's First Arts and Culture Plan
Fayetteville is pleased to announce its first ever Arts and Culture Plan to serve as a guiding
document to advance arts and culture for the entire community over the next decade. This plan is
the result of research, analysis and community engagement with the guidance of the Fayetteville
Arts Council, a Project Advisory Group and City staff. The process directly engaged over 1,250
members of the Fayetteville community through a series of engagement activities, from surveys
to listening sessions to popup events. A community survey found that 90% of Fayettevillians
believe "arts and culture opportunities are important in Fayetteville," and 88% strongly agreed that
"everyone deserves equal access to the arts." The key to Fayetteville's bright future is to continue
to foster and cultivate its essential arts and culture community and the economic, social and
cultural benefits it brings.
-44
0
How to Use This Plan
This plan is intended to be a guide for the
Fayetteville community, not just the city
government. Although the City has an
important and critical role in forwarding this
plan, the hope is for the entire arts and
culture community to rally behind a shared
vision and common goals, and through
dialogue and partnerships, to find strategic
opportunities within the plan for their own
advancement, thus impacting the arts and
culture sector. This plan is not intended to
prescribe or supplant the visionary
and planning efforts of individual
organizations, creative businesses or artists,
but to augment these efforts with the
ultimate goal of supporting, sustaining and
moving the arts and culture industry forward.
Gaps and Needs in Fayetteville's Arts and Culture Ecosystem
While Fayetteville's community values arts and culture, it also shared concerns about
affordability and housing impacts on the creative sector. The need for consistent funding,
spaces to create and collaborate and opportunities for community participation in arts
and culture were identified as important areas for growth. Like other economic sectors,
Fayetteville's arts and culture ecosystem will benefit from additional nurturing, targeted
investment and overall support, which will help meet the community's desire for more
opportunities to participate in and engage with arts and culture.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 7
Community Priorities
To support and strengthen Fayetteville's arts and culture ecosystem, the Fayetteville Arts and
Culture Plan establishes a community -wide, aspirational vision and outlines five Community
Priority areas, goals and strategies to foster Fayetteville's collective creative growth.
Community Priority: Cultivate.
Goal 1: Acknowledge, amplify and cultivate an
inclusive Fayetteville art and culture ecosystem
to support working artists, creatives and arts
organizations, helping them thrive and connect
with the broader community.
Vision:
Community Priority: Sustain.
Fayetteville is a
Goal 2: Develop sustainable funding, economic
renowned hub of tools and philanthropic strategies to support
arts and culture in and expand Arts and Culture in Fayetteville.
the heart of Mid -
America - a vibrant Community Priority: Creative Spaces.
wellspring of creativity Goal 3: Identify, prioritize and provide targeted
and innovation, an investment in arts and culture facilities, venues,
workspaces and spaces to create that will fill
inclusive center of community needs.
thriving artists
and creatives, inspiring ED
Community Priority: Placemakin
y y�g•
and accessible to and
Goal 4: Enhance the vibrancy, activation and
for all. security of Fayetteville through public
art and creative placemaking strategies.
Community Priority: Lead.
Goal 5: Firmly establish Fayetteville as an arts
and culture destination and as a strong leader
for the advancement of arts and culture within
the region, the state and beyond.
Looking Forward
This Arts and Culture Plan builds on Fayetteville's rich creative heritage, outlining a roadmap to
advance the city's cultural landscape over the next decade. The plan includes an implementation
chart that assigns timelines to specific goals and strategies, ensuring steady progress and an
evaluation framework for accountability. This approach clarifies where the City of Fayetteville may
take the lead and where community organizations and partners might drive initiatives forward,
fostering a collaborative effort to enrich the arts ecosystem. By engaging the entire community
in this shared vision and encouraging leadership in the sector, Fayetteville is poised to become
a renowned center for arts and culture, bolstering economic growth, inclusivity and community
pride.
♦1i
The Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan is available at
0 h ttps://www. fayetteville-ar gov/4232/Arts-and-Culture
8
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
We create on sacred lands
where the Osage, Quapaw, and Caddo tribes
first married feet to soil
Where the creatives craft murals on the street of Dickson and Spring
Where girl gangs gather on a mission to not just
travel but venture full speed into the art of people and poetry
Here each new Day brings a new Vision
We journey through with brush in hand each stroke embedding
that we are MY-T-BY-Design
We quiet our voices to the echoes of bodies moving to the joys
of Her Set and Her Sound
Vowing to Love the records More than our predecessors
The Rhythm rolling life reels into Rock Hill where movie set settle
here to show the world just how beautiful our backyard can be
How when you are Made in Arkansas
The market sweet honey of haikus and similes
Bee balm blossom bloom all year round breaking the traditional norms
of what a local artist can become
So we surround ourselves with author, actors, and activist
We do it For the Culture
watch the sculptor transform brick into life
Lives worth living we place on the ground floor of theater stages
Where the art is live and Theatresquared
Squaring our purpose times two
A versatile tapestry of optics and artistry
We lend a second hand for a second chance
To the Visionairi who lost their way in corrupt construct and the
need to survive the day to day grime
In hours of hope we build a Theater collective to collectively welcome them home
A Light House full of solutions
For there are Good Days in the NWA and Equality amongst different crews
And as we breathe in this gentle space
We look to our left to find the vocalist who sits next to the screenwriter
Behind the graphic designer across from the entrepreneur who feels out
of place but we welcome them just the same
Because if you meet someone in Fayetteville
their is a strong chance that their career is not their passion
The art just needed funding for the Gallery of Fenix to arise
That in this life or the past
Or maybe even the next
They would have
Could have, should have become the next big thing
But saying you're from Fayetteville
doesn't sound like New York
Being local is not second to Chicago or LA
So we pour our heart and art into the universe
and hold our breath for the..... One day
UNTITLED POEM BY NXTOSHA DEWON
© of the artist
Na'Tosha De'Von is a multidisciplinary artist and activist
based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This original poem was
inspired by the arts and culture community in Fayetteville.
Introduction
Situated in the natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains,
the city of Fayetteville is home to a renowned University,
an energetic and active downtown and a lush and
active park system. Arts and culture are embedded in
city, with a large ecosystem of artists
roues, galleries, creative organizations,
-epreneurs. In recent decades, the city
icerted effort toward designating key
s for culture, building consensus about
>f these places, and calling them out as
)rities for the community.
ARTS AND CULTURE IN FAYETTEVI LLE
ayetteville boasts a strong, authentic,
grassroots arts and culture scene that
has grown organically for decades. For
the eighth year in a row, Fayetteville earned
recognition as one of U.S. News & World
Report's top 10 Best Places to Live in the U.S.
Access to the arts certainly contributes to the
unique aspects of Fayetteville that bring such
accolades.
The arts are essential, vital and deeply -
rooted in Fayetteville. The inspirational
environment of our city, together with the
University of Arkansas, has drawn creatives
to live, work and grow in an authentic
and highly active community of artists for
generations. A collaborative spirit is part
of the arts community's strength as is the
varied mix of artistic expression. From visual
arts to performing arts to music and film,
there is a broad spectrum of styles, mediums
and creative endeavors here. This richness
contributes to the "funky" and eclectic
atmosphere of Fayetteville that is beloved and
embraced by the community.
The key to Fayetteville's bright future is to
continue to foster and cultivate its essential
arts and culture community and the economic,
social and cultural benefits it brings. The city
must also continue to be forward -thinking,
prioritizing support and investment in places
where arts and culture flourish, as well as
provide better support where it does not.
Promotion of arts and culture is necessary
for growing the creative sector and helps the
overall health and vibrancy of the community.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 11
Unique Character and Culture
Fayetteville is home to many thriving creative spaces. The Walton Arts Center, TheaterSquared and
George's Majestic Lounge are renowned for their cultural contributions and draw local, regional
and national audiences. From the Folk School of Fayetteville and Dickson Street, to coffee houses
and breweries, Fayetteville is devoted to live music of all genres. The beautiful outdoors welcome a
number of arts events, like the Gulley Park Free Summer Concert Series, Weekend Starts Concerts
in the Lower Ramble, First Thursdays, NWA Pride Parade and Festival, Falltoberfest, Springtime of
Youth Music Fest, Strawberry Fest and Artosphere, among others. Mt Sequoyah, once a Methodist
retreat on a mountain overlooking Fayetteville, now offers affordable studios for over fifty artists,
exhibition spaces and performance venues.
The top arts and culture activities the community participates in or attends include:
80 % 68
The Farmers/
Art exhibitions/
Makers Markets in
Fayetteville galleries
6 7/
Culinary
experiences
61%
Botanic
gardens
6*5
Experiencing
live music
60
Community
Festivals
Arts & Culture Survey, 2024
The Ramble is a dynamic
50-acre outdoor public space
made possible through a ElTHE
Walton Family Foundation
Design Excellence grant RAMBLE
with the cost of construction
allocated by a vote of the
people as a 2019 bond
project. The Ramble links key cultural institutions (from
the Walton Arts Center on the North to the University of
Arkansas's Art and Design District on the south) that will
showcase and celebrate local arts and culture.
12
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
Creative expression, experimentation and
exploration is encouraged throughout
Fayetteville. Public art is increasingly visible
and promotes the city's identity, with room
for more to be developed. The Nadine Baum
Community Creative Center is a well -used
resource for art -making classes and demand
exceeds capacity. The Botanic Gardens is a
destination for unique natural experiences. The
award -winning Fayetteville Public Library's
Center for Innovation hosts artistic, technical
and job skill -building opportunities, a Maker
to Market and Culinary Arts training. Plus
dozens of organizations from the Symphony
of Northwest Arkansas and the award -winning
My-T-By-Design Therapeutic Art Studio
provide outstanding cultural experiences and
services to the community and region.
Commitment to the Arts
Certainly, the investment that the University
of Arkansas continues to make adds
significantly to Fayetteville's arts and culture.
The University boasts the award -winning Fay
Jones School of Architecture and Design, the
extraordinary new Windgate Art and Design
District with the Studio + Design Center at its
core and the soon to be renovated Fine Arts
Center, all of which make this area a national
draw and a place for creative dialogue, arts
education and exploration.
Experience Fayetteville is another supporter
of arts and culture as a consistent funder
of community events like First Thursdays,
Sprayetteville public art murals, Lights of
the Ozarks and more. The new Downtown
Fayetteville Coalition promises to celebrate
and promote Downtown Fayetteville as an
"epicenter of culture, cuisine, entertainment,
and the arts."
In 2022, the City of Fayetteville deepened its
support for the arts by creating its first Arts
and Culture Division and hiring a director to
begin the important work for creative sector
advocacy. This has been an important catalyst
for greater visibility and support of arts and
culture in Fayetteville and will be essential to
the growth of the entire sector.
The arts and culture sector encompasses a
wide range of creative, artistic and cultural
activities and entities that contribute to
the social, economic and cultural fabric of
a society. It includes both for -profit and
non-profit enterprises, creative businesses
and spans across various disciplines. In this
document, this sector is interchangeably
referred to as the arts and culture
community, arts and culture ecosystem,
arts and culture industry and creative
industry. Generally, these terms include,
but are not limited to, the people, jobs,
organizations and businesses associated
with visual arts, museums, galleries and
libraries, architecture, landscape and interior
design, performing arts, theatre, music,
music production, literature and poetry,
advertising, marketing, crafts, culinary arts,
design (product, graphic and fashion),
film, television and digital design, video
and podcasting, radio and photography,
publishing. This sector can also include
trades that support the arts, such as
welding, carpentry, printing and fabrication
services. See the appendix for a full list
of Standard Occupational Classifications
(SOC) identified as contributing to the arts
and culture sector.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 13
A HISTORIC
LOOK
Fayetteville's history is dotted with
milestones that have helped establish the
city as an arts capital for the Northwest
Arkansas region and beyond. In the last
few decades, Fayetteville's cultural sector
has gained in importance and impact —
and this cultural plan is the next step in
prioritizing the arts for the Fayetteville
community.
"Few sectors are as deeply rooted in
Fayetteville's history as the creative
economy and the arts." Fayetteville
Economic Vitality Master Plan 2024 P. 104.
Plan Acknowledgment
This plan respectfully acknowledges that
Fayetteville occupies the traditional, ancestral
lands of the Osage Nation. This acknowledgment
also recognizes the Cherokee Nation who were
forced from their homes and passed through
Fayetteville on the Trail of Tears. Moreover, this land
has a 200-year history of systemic enslavement
of and discrimination toward African people and
their descendants. This statement recognizes this
history, colonization and erasure of Indigenous and
Black people's stories in Fayetteville, Washington
County, and Arkansas. This plan aims to foster
equity, recognize and preserve diverse histories,
celebrate the vibrant communities in our city's
cultural landscapes and be inclusive of the many
diverse people who are part of our arts and culture
community.
- Adapted from the Fayetteville Heritage and
Historic Preservation Plan, 2023
Pre1820s
The land that would be
known as Fayetteville
was inhabited by the
Osage Nation
1820s
First permanent settlers at
the base of Mt. Sequoyah
1828-29
Fayetteville founded
1852
Arkansas College first
degree -granting college
1871
Fayetteville School District
Founded
1872
Arkansas Industrial
University (AIU) held its
It,, classes as a land
grant university
h
First
1874
First art courses offered
at AIU
1899
AIU renamed the University
of Arkansas (UA)
6
1903
1927
UA opens
Georges Majestic
Conservancy of
founded, begins
Music and Arts
hosting social
events, dances, and
music
14 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
1952
Master of Fine Arts graduate degree offered
at University of Arkansas, one
of the first in the country
1950
University of Arkansas Fine
Arts Center, designed by
Edward Durell Stone of
Fayetteville, opens with the
premier of Acres of Sky
(1931), a dramatic musical I
based on work by
Fayetteville native Charles
Morrow Wilson.
1946-7
Fay Jones School of
Architecture and Design
founded
1945-6
Wilson Park purchased
by the City of Fayetteville
1929
Bachelor of Arts degree
offered at University of
Arkansas
1928
Fayetteville hosts
centennial celebration
�1
�( 2008
Community Creative
Center established as a
501.c.3
1954
Symphony of Northwest
Arkansas established
1965
2010
Parks Department founded 2007
First Roots Festival
Botanical Garden of
hosted in
the Ozarks opens to
Fayetteville
1973 the public
M
Fayetteville Farmers
First Artosphere Festival
Market begins
established by the
Walton Arts Center
2005
1976 TheatreSquared theatre
University of Arkansas company founded at
2012
Billingsley Music Nadine Baum Studios
Opera Fayetteville
Building completed
established
1982
2013
Bachelor of Fine Arts 2004
Fayetteville Film Festival
degree instituted at New Fayetteville public
; established
University of Arkansas library opens
First Utility Box Art
First Pride Parade on
1981
Program established by
the Keep Fayetteville
Dickson Street
Installation of Point Seven
Beautiful Comittee
(aka Wilson Park Castle)
2002
2015
Razorback Regional
World Prayer Peace
Greenway dedicated
Fountain by Hank
Kaminsky installed
1992
Walton Arts Center
founded
1993
First Lights of theOzarks
L light display
1996
First Gulley Park
Concert series
2016
Mt Sequoyah becomes a secular non-profit
to provide a "nurturing environment for
artistic expression, personal growth, and
connection to nature"
2024
The Ramble opens
to the public
2023
University of Arkansas
Studio and Design Center
building opens
Community Art Wall
begins
2022
City Arts and Culture
Division founded
2020
Sprayetteville Street Art Festival
First Annual Juneteenth
Celebration by Let's Talk NWA
Fayetteville Public Library
expansion open
2019
TheatreSquared opens
new venue
2017
Green Candy Art Action Festival
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 15
FAYETTEVILLE COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
ayetteville is the second largest city
in Arkansas and the county seat of
Washington County. It is situated within
Northwest Arkansas, a two -county region
well-known for arts and culture that is quickly
becoming a cultural tourist destination. For the
last three decades, Fayetteville's population
has grown at a faster pace than its regional
neighbors and Little Rock, the state's capital.
By 2040, Fayetteville is projected to reach
a population of 142,496 and the region to
824,228 (Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning
Commission). As astounding as this projected
39.9% increase in population is, Fayetteville has
already surpassed 2025 estimates two years
ahead of schedule.
PEOPLE I The population is increasing overall,
but the percentages of each group within the
population has not changed significantly.
i.2%
or more Races
7.6 %
Hispanic
5.4%
Black
10158*58
RESIDENTS
(2023 Census estimate)
+ 7.8%
Fayetteville's population
growth from 2020-23
AGE I Adolescents and young adults (ages 15 to 24
years old) and prime -age workers (ages 25 to 54 years
old) consistently represent the two largest segments of
Fayetteville's population, accounting for approximately
two-thirds of the overall population.
E 0-14�
15-24 MW
Male
25-54
' Female
2.9 %
\ Asian
`- 0.8%
American/Indian
0.2%
Native Hawaiian
AFFORDABILITY I The cost of
housing in Fayetteville continues to
increase year over year. The percentage
increase from 2015 to 2022 was more
than 100%. The rate of home ownership
is approximately 40%, meaning a
majority (60%) of residents rent.
55-74
75+
15,000 10,000 5,000 0 5,000 10,000 15,000
MEDIAN HOME COST IN FAYETTEVILLE
$159,975 $236,646 $323,500
2015
2019 2022
(U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey)
16 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
ARTISTS & CREATIVES
6%
Z
2
2s248
W
0 4,
working artists and
W 2%
a
creatives in Fayetteville
as of 2022
0 `
LL
0
4 -2%
333243
arts employment in Arkansas, 20223
CREATIVE OCCUPATION GROWTH (2011 - PRESENT)
I
I� 2015
IC
-
1 2016
2017
1
2018
1
1201912020
-
•
2022
I
-The cumulative rate of growth in creative occupations
from 2015 to 2022 increased by more than 20%.
Entertainers
Architects
Dancers, Choreographers
Photographers
A.rs
Writers, Authors
Arts Direct ,Fine Arti s, Animators
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS I The University of Arkansas's enrollment
is increasing at nearly 6.5% annually or 1,900 students per year.
32s140
Total Enrollment
Fall 2023
Hovers around
30% of Fayetteville's '
population.
Musicians
RETENTION I Approximately 44% of graduates from the Class of 2023 who
entered the workforce remained in Northwest Arkansas while approximately
45% left the state altogether. Of graduates from the Fullbright College of Arts
and Sciences, retention rate in NWA drops to 11.06%.
1 Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA), U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
2 Creative Vitality Suite 2022, Creative West
3 NEA Arts Data Profile, American Community Survey 2075-2079, US Census Bureau
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 17
THE COMMUNITY VALUES
ARTS AND CULTURE
ayetteville's arts and culture sector has achieved remarkable success and is embedded
in the community's DNA. And the community wants to see more, experience more and
participate more. To better understand this, a community survey was deployed. Here
are the results:
Survey respondents feel strongly that Fayetteville is a creative place.
%1.0 92% that arts and cultural activities are
Ls,� AGREE important aspects of life in Fayetteville.
Nationally, the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 study (AEP6) showed that 86% of Americans
believe arts and culture are "important to their community's quality of life and livability."
According to the Fayetteville community, the most important benefits of arts and culture are:
Creating
a sense of
place and
community
Making
Fayetteville a
fun and lively
place to live
For personal
happiness and
wellbeing
Increasing
quality of life
and livability
To support
local artists
The top reasons
why Fayettevillians
participate in arts To feel
and culture is: connected to
my community
18 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
The Fayetteville community survey results echo national surveys that highlight the crucial role
of arts and culture in strengthening communities. Arts and culture not only creates a sense of
place and belonging but also fosters social connections, enriches quality of life and celebrates the
diversity of our communities. Through these shared cultural experiences, individuals and groups
can find meaning, understanding and a deeper sense of identity, contributing to the overall well-
being and cohesion of the community.
78
the arts are a
positive experience
in a troubled world
72
arts and culture
provide shared
experiences with
people of different
races, ethnicities,
ages, beliefs,
identities, etc.
63%
arts and culture
helps me understand
other cultures better
culture activities
or venues are a
source of pride for
neighborhoods and
communities
important that
future generations
also be able to
have that cultural
experience
National Statistics, Arts & Economic Prosperity Study 6 (2022)
ROOM TO GROW I According to the Community Survey, it seems
that there is room for growth in the variety and amount of Fayetteville's arts
offerings/activities.
50%
Somewhat or Very Dissatisfied
There are enough opportunities for me to participate
in arts and cultural activities in Fayetteville.
Somewhat or Strongly Agree
We need to improve the quality of arts
and cultural activities in Fayetteville.
Respondents to the Community Survey identified the most frequently
enjoyed arts and culture activity as "viewing murals and public art."
Another survey for Fayetteville's Economic Recovery and Vitality
Plan found that 64% of respondents think "it is very or somewhat
important to incorporate and include public art projects within all
applicable City construction projects.*
In fact, the same survey found that 57% support creating a funding
stream, such as "percent for the arts," in the City of Fayetteville.
*Economic Recovery and Vitality Plan Survey:
Survey Report for 08 August 2018 to 26 June 2022
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
19
ECONOMIC
IMPACT OF
ARTS AND
CULTURE
Support for strong arts and culture not only enhances vibrancy and
wellbeing, but it makes good economic sense. The arts and culture
sector, or creative economy, is an ecosystem made up of for -profit
businesses, nonprofit organizations, artists and arts workforce,
educators, entrepreneurs, venues, vendors, policy makers, funders
and other stakeholders that work together to produce and distribute
creative -based and arts and culture -based goods and services.
STATE OF ARKANSAS
IN ARTS AND CULTURE
PRODUCTION AND
EMPLOYMENT
Arts and Culture Sector contributes
$1.1 trillion
to the national economy
- an all-time high in 2022 and a larger share of GDP
than sectors such as Transportation, Construction,
Education and Agriculture
U.S. Nonprofit arts and culture industry alone generates
$151.7 billion
in economic activity (2022)
Arts and Culture Sector contributes
$3.5 billion
to Arkansas's state economy (2021)
In 2022, Arkansas ranked
35th among all states in arts
and culture production value,
indicating room for growth in
this sector.
With a ranking of 34th among
states in 2022, there is potential
for Arkansas to expand arts and
culture employment.
20
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
ARTS AND CULTURE BRINGS MORE BUSINESS I Arts Audiences that are local spend an
average of $29.77 per person, per event beyond this cost of admission on items such as meals,
parking and lodging - vital income for local businesses. Non locals spend $60.57.
Creativity is among the top five applied skills
$29.77 perperson (local) sought by business leaders —per the Conference
Board's Ready to Innovate report —with 72%
per person (non -local) $60.57 saying creativity is of "high importance" when
hiring. Creativity tops the list as the #1 soft skill
needed in business.
The arts attract workforce talent. 49% of people with a college degree —including Millennials
(52%) and Gen X (54%)—say they would strongly consider whether a community is rich in the
arts when deciding to relocate for a job.
ARTS AND CULTURE DRIVES TOURISM I Cultural travelers spend more money, stay at
their destination longer and seek authentic arts and culture experiences.
53
Americans say,
"When planning a
vacation, I consider the
destination's arts and
culture experiences
when deciding where to
visit."
49%
Of cultural travelers will
pay more for lodging
that has a distinctive
cultural or heritage
component (historic
building, local art or
decor, architecture, etc.)
One-third of arts and
culture attendees travel
from outside the county
in which the activity
takes place.
40
Cultural tourism is one
of the fastest -growing
segments of the tourism
industry, accounting for
an estimated 40% of all
tourism worldwide.
-Sources include Unesco, Americans for the Arts, Arts and Economic Prosperity Study 6,
Linkedln, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Endowment for the Arts
STATE OF ARKANSAS
RATE OF GROWTH
Although ranked in the bottom third of
states for arts and culture production and
employment, Arkansas is growing at a higher
percentage rate in these areas.
Since 2021, this sector's
production value grew by 13.1
percent in Arkansas, compared
to a 7.8 percent increase across
the United States.
Since 2021, arts and culture
employment in Arkansas has
grown by 6.9 percent,
compared to a 6.4 percent
increase nationally.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
21
PLANNING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
12 its and culture have many benefits for
a community, but few will be realized
without intentional planning and effort
to achieve desired results. We know arts and
culture activities are an important aspect of
life in Fayetteville - 92% of survey respondents
agreed. In addition to economic benefits
derived from creative business, cultural tourism
and jobs, arts and culture also creates a sense
of place and community, contributes to health
and well-being and increases quality of life and
livability. By planning for arts and culture, the
community can unite around a shared vision
and common goals, and move toward the
future together.
Why Plan Now?
The entire Northwest Arkansas (NWA)
region is becoming a magnet for cultural
tourism. The Creative Arkansas Community
Hub and Exchange (CACHE), a regional arts
service organization, convened municipal
arts leaders in 2022/2023 to study and
prioritize best practices for arts and culture
in the region. However, this regional effort
also punctuated the need for individual
communities to identify their own strengths,
differentiate themselves and address how to
invest and plan for arts and culture locally.
This push and pull between collaboration
and competition can be harnessed to help
each community and the entire region
flourish, diversify offerings and attract
tourism.
With its new Arts and Culture Division
and Director, the City has the resources to
pursue planning now, and a comprehensive
arts and culture plan will help guide the
Division in best serving the community.
The balance between affordability and
Fayetteville as an attractive place for artists
and creatives to live is reaching a tipping
point. Putting in place key strategies now
can help retain, sustain and grow the arts
and culture sector.
The City of Fayetteville has identified and
called out arts and culture as a key element
in its planning since at least 2006 (see
below), and new and updated planning
efforts are on the horizon. This plan will help
future decision -making and coordination
with other city plans.
Arkansas is underrepresented in the arts
yet is experiencing growth in both number
of artists and creatives and arts and culture
production. There are 2.4 million artists in
America, and only 12,000 live in Arkansas, a
lag of 40% representation by population in
comparison to the U.S. at large. This means
there is significant growth potential in the
state.'
Post -pandemic, the arts can help accelerate
economic recovery across all sectors and
promote healing and re -engagement
after the disruption, isolation and social
reckoning from the pandemic years. 2
How to Use This Plan
This plan is intended to be a guide for the
Fayetteville community, not just the City
government. Although the City has an
important and critical role in forwarding this
plan, the hope is for the entire arts and culture
community to rally behind a shared vision and
common goals, and through dialogue and
partnerships, to find strategic opportunities
within the plan for their own advancement,
thus impacting the arts and culture sector. This
plan is not intended to prescribe or supplant
the visionary and planning efforts of individual
organizations, creative businesses or artists, but
to augment these efforts with the ultimate goal
of supporting, sustaining and moving the arts
and culture industry forward.
1 NEA, Arts Data Profile, American Community Survey
2015-2019, US Census Bureau"
2 Noonan, Douglas. The Arts and Culture Sector's
Contributions to Economic Recovery and Resiliency in the United
States: Key Findings. National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.
2021.
22 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
PLAN ALIGNMENT
This Arts and Culture Plan —like all the plans
that helped forge Fayetteville's growth and
priorities —is based on research, analysis and
community input. This first plan for Arts and
Culture does not stand alone. Nearly two
dozen local and regional plans were reviewed
and consulted to ensure this plan aligns with
and forwards overall city and community goals.
In this plan, where there is specific alignment
with another plan, an acronym is included
to show that relationship. The following is
a highlight of a few key plans that relate to
arts and culture. For a complete list of plans
consulted and full analysis, see the appendix.
The idea that Fayetteville is a premier regional
hub for arts and culture has been promoted
and prioritized in City of Fayetteville's planning
for decades. For example:
Fayetteville Downtown Master Plan of 2006,
Basic Principle #6
"..Fayetteville must recognize in all its actions
that this part of the City has an experience -
based economy, and thus continue to expand
the focus on arts, culture and entertainment
experiences as Downtown's drawing card.
(DMP, ESummary)"
THE CITY PLAN 2040 of 2020 Vision
Statement states. -
"In 2040, Fayetteville will be a resource -
efficient community, in which citizens and
stakeholders can live, work, learn, and grow.
Fayetteville will have adopted policies to
achieve sustainability, to provide economic
growth, to preserve and protect our natural
and cultural resources, and to enhance the
quality of life for all residents. Residents will
have equitable access to neighborhoods that
are healthy, walkable, and distinct." CP40 p.
27
The Economic Vitality Plan of 2024,
considers nine "Master Plan Target
Industries," The third target industry is the
Creative Economy
"The creative economy consists of economic
activity that depends on individuals and
organizations using their creativity to drive
jobs, revenue, community resources, and
cultural engagement. Few sectors are as
deeply rooted in Fayetteville's history as the
creative economy and the arts. Whether it's
world class theatre production along West
Avenue, a range of local performances at
the iconic George's Majestic Lounge, or film
production at Rock Hill Studios, the arts
sector not only provides hundreds of jobs
throughout Fayetteville but also defines
our sense of place and community culture."
EVMP p. 704
The Park and Recreation System Master Plan
of 2023 lists five "Guiding Principles." The
fourth guiding principle is "Gathering and
Placemaking,"
"Our parks are designed to provide gathering
spaces and amenities for our community
while celebrating our unique culture, the arts
and music, the people, and the beauty of
the region." Goal 3 suggests: partnerships
"to support programming and events in the
parks system, such as theater, music, races,
games, food access, and markets." and Goal
4 affirms: `Seek opportunities to integrate art
into public spaces." PRSMP, p.47
A review of these many mentions of arts and
culture in local and regional plans reveals that
arts and culture are embedded in Fayetteville's
identity, and likewise, the identity of the region.
Planning for the future success of arts and
culture is critical, for this and all sectors across
the city.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 23
PLANNING METHODOLOGY
his Arts and Culture Plan encompassed four phases (described below) and engaged more
than 1,2S0 community members and stakeholders over 10 months. The process was guided
by a Project Advisory Group made up of arts and culture sector representatives and
community leaders, and was driven by community input. In addition to crafting a comprehensive
Arts and Culture Plan, the process itself was designed to connect community, define a shared
vision and common goals and generate inspiration and momentum for implementing the plan.
Research and
Discovery
Project Advisory
Group
Inventory and
Data Collection
Research
Existing
Conditions
Needs
Assessment
Peer Cities
Research
Cultural Mapping
Economics
Workshop
Public Art
Assessment
Community
and
Stakeholder
Engagement
Interviews
Focus Groups
Listening
Sessions
Community Event
Popups
Creative
Convergence
Community
Conversation
Community
Surveys
Targeted Surveys
Online Interactions
Synthesizing
Key Findings
Community
Priorities
Vision
Development
Recommendations
as Goals Strategies
Action Steps
132*50+
community members
contributed to this plan
De
Im
Cc
Puk
24 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
J
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
To ensure the community's voice directly influenced the plan, the process included robust
community engagement including the following (see appendix for full Engagement Summary).
Interactive Project Website via Speak Up
Fayetteville
Stakeholder Interviews and Focus Groups
Listening Sessions with Artists and Creatives
Creative Sector Economic Development
discussion
Community Surveys
Targeted Surveys
Creative Convergence Community
Conversation (July 2024)
Community Event Popups:
Yvonne Richardson Community
Center Egg Hunt (March 2024)
Ozark Regional Transportation
Route 20 (April 2024)
Phantasma Silent Dance
Party (April 2024)
Cultural Cartography at
TheatreSquared (April 2024)
17th Annual Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG)
community picnic (July 2024)
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 25
Key Findings
?,VK
I
26
t is clear Fayetteville has remarkable arts and culture attributes and that the
community cares deeply about protecting Fayetteville's unique and authentic creative
identity. The arts and culture sector is primed to grow and continue to be a defining feature of
Fayetteville. However, there is a simultaneous fear of losing what makes Fayetteville special -from
the pressures of the rising cost of living, new development and the fast pace of growth.
A key task in developing the Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan was to identify gaps and needs
within the existing Fayetteville arts and culture ecosystem. The identified needs also offer insights
into opportunities to support and advance arts and culture, and differentiate Fayetteville vis-a-vis
Northwest Arkansas. Through a variety of community engagement methods, additional research
and peer cities benchmarking, the following key findings acknowledge the needs and areas of
potential growth for Fayetteville.
What we heard:
Fayetteville's Arts and Culture Sector Needs Nurturing.
The artist and creative community expressed some challenges about living and working in
Fayetteville. The city is home to working, creating, making artists and creatives, but there is a fear
that artists will be forced to move away as property values increase beyond affordability. A decline
in the number of galleries downtown and some missing key venues and creative spaces impacts
steady creative development, production and visibility. There is also strong sentiment that artists
are underpaid and undervalued, with limited access to resources, funding and promotion. Like any
other economic sector, the creative sector needs inclusion in the city's workforce retention and
development efforts, and artists and creatives can benefit from more connectivity to one another
and more opportunities for collaboration.
Top five barriers to artists and
creatives making a living from their
art or creative work in Fayetteville
• Not enough venues
• Not enough places to exhibit or
sell
• Not connecting with audiences/
patrons/col lectors/customers
• Not enough paying gigs
• Not enough marketing
Top three concerns of Fayetteville
artists and creatives:
• Artists/creatives not earning a
living wage
• Lack of affordable venues to work/
create/practice
• Housing affordability/artists and
creatives getting priced out
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 27
Arts and Culture Needs Sustainable
Funding and Support.
Although there has been significant targeted
public investment for arts and culture, from
funding new facilities to murals and free
summer concerts, these funds have not been
strategically or uniformly deployed across the
sector. Ongoing direct and consistent funding
for arts and culture has been limited. A major
source for arts and culture funding has been
from several large regional foundations,
but philanthropy overall tends to to be less
diversified. There are a number of economic
tools available to the city to help incentivize
and promote arts and culture sector
development, which will require coordination
and consensus to deploy.
The community survey revealed that the
majority of people surveyed think the City
should spend more on arts and culture in
Fayetteville.
62% stated that the City should spend more or
much more
27% spend "about the same"
4% stated that the City should "spend less or
much less."
The Need for More Creative Spaces
in Fayetteville.
Despite Fayetteville's superb arts and culture
facilities and nearby spaces like the Medium
in Springdale, critical spaces are missing
that could better support artists, musicians,
and creatives. These missing spaces hinder
growth, career development and the
community's engagement with the arts.
The artist community needs more informal
hubs for multidisciplinary collaboration to
drive innovation and connectivity. Youth
Gaps in the arts ecosystem include studios
and workspaces, mid -sized music venues,
rehearsal and performances spaces, galleries
and affordable commercial spaces for arts -
adjacent small businesses, including retail
stores that sell locally -made goods and wares
and host workshops, events and/or pop-up
markets.
The community wants more
opportunities to participate and
engage in arts and culture.
The community expressed the importance it
places on arts and culture and emphasized
the need for community involvement, cultural
diversity and integrating art into daily life
that is accessible and affordable, for youth
and adults, for residents and visitors. The
community wants more variety and higher
quality arts and culture activities and
experiences. Specifically they mentioned
wanting more live music, outdoor concerts,
festivals, art exhibits, museums and films -
without having to leave Fayetteville. They
would like to see more public art throughout
Fayetteville and spaces to participate in art -
making of all types.
Over 90% of people surveyed said arts
and culture opportunities in Fayetteville
are "Important (16%) or Very Important
(74%) "
"There are enough opportunities for
me to participate in arts and cultural
activities in Fayetteville": 65% Somewhat
or Definitely Agree.
"We need to improve the quality of arts
and cultural activities in Fayetteville":
81% Somewhat or Strongly Agree.
under 21 also need creative spaces to When asked "Do you attend arts and
express themselves and as a talent retention cultural events in nearby communities?"
thread. The loss of such spaces has affected 82% responded that they did, and only
the cohesion of Fayetteville's arts scene. 18% did not.
28 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
Fayetteville Needs to Activate and Preserve its Unique Spaces and Places.
Fayetteville has invested in cultural spaces like the Upper and Lower Ramble, showcasing a
commitment to placemaking through memorable gathering areas, murals and publicly available
art. With careful planning and programming, these accessible spaces can enhance the city's
vibrancy and liveability and support the creative community. On -going efforts should focus on
activating unique gathering spaces throughout the city with public art and community -focused
activities, while preserving, highlighting and celebrating historic and culturally significant areas.
Collaborative placemaking will be key to protecting and enhancing Fayetteville's special places.
Fayetteville Needs to Retain and Build its Authentic Arts and Culture Identity.
Fayetteville is poised to advance arts and culture not only within the community, but also in
the region, the state and beyond. Currently, the city lacks a strong arts and culture brand that
differentiates it from its neighbors. Advocacy for the sector has been, until recently, uncoordinated
and signature defining arts events have been lost, reducing cultural attractions. While Fayetteville
tends to focus hyper -locally, it could benefit from more cross-cultural engagement with creatives
and advocates outside the city. Bringing in outside artists creates valuable opportunities for local
artists to exchange ideas, learn new techniques, and expand their networks, enriching the creative
landscape and connecting them with wider audiences and new opportunities."
PEER CITIES I This chart compares key elements of arts and culture in peer cities to Fayetteville.
Asheville,
North Carolina
Boise,
Idaho
Boulder,
Colorado
Fort Collins,
Colorado
Lawrence,
Kansas
Little Rock,
Arkansas
Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma
Fayetteville,
Arkansas
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CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 29
502
05-M
SECTION 4
ords have meaning. Throughout the engagement process for this plan, the
community was asked to share words and phrases that they hoped would
describe the future, aspirational state of arts and culture in Fayetteville.
These words and the sentiments expressed with them, were consolidated, studied,
thoughtfully considered and crafted into a Vision Statement that reflects this future
desired state. The term "Mid -America" was debated and finally selected to indicate
that Fayetteville is part of Northwestern Arkansas and the Ozarks, but that it's creative
impact can and does reach beyond these borders into a larger, multi -state geographic
region. This vision statement is intended to provide inspiration and guide this Arts and
Culture Plan as well as serve as a bellwether for the arts and culture community moving
forward.
Vision
Fayetteville is a renowned hub of arts and culture in the heart of Mid -America
- a vibrant well -spring of creativity and innovation, an inclusive center of thriving
artists and creatives, inspiring and accessible to and for all.
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CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 31
Community Priorities,
Goals and Strategies
■ ■
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
The following overarching priorities have been identified through extensive research and
community engagement to serve as the foundation for advancing arts and culture in Fayetteville.
These five Community Priorities are aspirational themes that will guide the development and
implementation of strategies to achieve the Arts and Culture Plan Vision. These priorities also
provide the framework for organizing this plan's goals, strategies and action steps.
CULTIVATE.
Fayetteville is home to a long-established and growing community of working
artists and creatives. Artists are essential to the character and history of Fayetteville.
Cultivating and nurturing this important workforce will help Fayetteville thrive.
SUSTAIN.
The arts and culture sector plays a critical role in driving economic and financial
growth in Fayetteville. Investing in this sector will boost economic vitality, create a
stronger sense of place, foster deeper community connections and improve overall
community health and well-being.
CREATIVE SPACES.
Plentiful places and spaces to create, gather and experience arts and culture will
expand and diversify the well -spring of Fayetteville's creativity, innovation and self-
expression.
D0o0o PLACEMAKING.
0 o Fayettevillians take great pride in their city. Public art and creative placemaking
transform spaces into memorable landmarks, celebrate cultural heritage and diversity
and enhance the city's vibrancy.
LEAD.
10 Fayetteville is a renowned creative hub with unique cultural assets and a strong
creative community. The city has been and will continue to be an arts and culture
destination for the region and beyond.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 33
7
COMMUNITY PRIORITY:
CULTIVATE
Acknowledge, amplify and cultivate an inclusive Fayetteville
arts and culture ecosystem to support working artists, creatives
and arts organizations, helping them thrive and connect with
the broader community.
Goal 1 Strategies:
1.1 Recognize and advocate for arts and culture as an economic sector within the local
economy.
a. Develop the creative workforce citywide and advocate for artists and creative workers to be paid a living
wage and receive business sector support.
b. Coordinate with the Economic Vitality department to integrate the creative sector into future planning
and programs. [EVMP, Action Item 1.3.31, 1.8.63; CP40 3.71
c. Assure that the creative sector is accounted for in future housing planning at the City level. [CP40, 3.7]
1.2 Provide access to arts and culture workforce development and training for running,
managing and growing their businesses and careers.
a. Continue to provide entrepreneurial training and resources and ensure it is tailored
and directly marketed to the creative sector (ie. StartUp Junkie, FPL Maker to
Market Program and Nonprofit and Small Business Resource Center).
b. Ensure equitable access to workforce development offerings, such as creative
talent pipeline development, Level Up Skills Development for creative trades, etc.
Be intentional in inviting and connecting people to training and resources, striving
to lower barriers to participation and meet people where they are.
c. Expand film and video programs and training at the college and university level as
well as high school career programs.
d. Develop music industry specific training in areas like licensing, sync, publishing
and scoring.
CASE IN POINT:
[1.2.a] Mountain
Bizworks in Asheville,
NC hosts a series
of workshops
titled "Craft Your
Commerce" designed
for and targeted to
creatives specifically
to expand their
entrepreneurial skills.
34 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
1.3 Provide easy access to resources for artists and creatives.
Build and publish an accessible, online directory of
resources for artists, creatives and organizations,
including local, regional, state and national
resources, funding opportunities, grants, BIPOC
resources, apprenticeships, residencies, databases
and training opportunities.
b. Sponsor the creation of a searchable database (or
promote use of existing searchable databases) for
creative businesses to add their available studio
and rental spaces.
c. Host an online creative job/gig board for local
artists and creatives to connect with work
opportunities.
CASE IN POINT:
[1.3.a] Communities often have websites with helpful
links to local, regional and national websites, resources
and opportunities. Both the City of Boulder and the
Downtown Fort Collins Creative District have these types
of online resources.
CASE IN POINT:
[1.3.b] PeerSpace.com promotes rentals of all types.
Owners of non-traditional spaces such as co -working,
studios, churches, warehouses etc. could also benefit.
d. Develop a matching program to connect artists and creatives to jobs at employers with creative sector
needs, building a pipeline of creative workers.
e. Sponsor business development programming and
education, including tutorials, lectures, or Q & A
sessions for tax, legal, finance, business planning
and branding/marketing assistance. [EVMP, Action
Item 1.3.28]
f. Investigate creating programs to connect artists
with professionals who can provide low-cost or
pro-bono bookkeeping, grant -writing, accounting,
legal, and other professional services.
g. Sponsor ongoing education, apprenticeships,
mentorships, leadership training and residencies.
CASE IN POINT:
[1.3.f] The Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
connects volunteer attorneys with artists to help with
contracts, guidance on copyright and intellectual
property law, and other legal advice.
CASE IN POINT:
[1.3.g] The City of Boise offers a yearly Public Art
Academy and Learning Series for artists wanting to learn
how to break into public art and secure commissions.
1.4 Establish Fayetteville as a creative trades workforce development hub for the region, to
supply creative trades that are currently being imported.
a. Bring recognition to the many trades directly related to the creative economy, such as welding/
metalwork, sewing/costuming/fashion design, culinary, carpentry, electrical, engineering and others and
training opportunities.
b. Expand the City's definition of the Creative Economy to include skilled creative trades as called out in the
Economic Vitality Master Plan 2024. [EVMP, Action Item 2.1.2]
c. Conduct a study for the City and Region that provides analysis of where there are gaps in creative trades
(what's needed) vs. what's being provided. Target training for specific needs and gaps. Seek potential
funding from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA).
d. Seek out partnerships with University of Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Northwest
Technical Institute and others to increase creative trades workforce training opportunities and to connect
people currently working in or studying trades with the creative sector.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 35
e. Investigate opportunities at the high school level to connect and assist creation of expanded curriculum
and workforce education for youth who are interested in exploring these careers.
f. Seek out opportunities for sharing facilities for training through agreements between City and University
or other colleges or Fayetteville Public Schools.
1.5 Facilitate connection and networking within the creative community.
Regularly convene the arts and culture sector to facilitate collaboration, connection and networking.
Convenings could take the form of workshops, training, happy hours, or brown bag lunches with panel
discussions, guest lectures, or even informal pitch sessions for collaborative ideas and partnerships, etc.
b. Intentionally invite historically disadvantaged artists and creatives to attend networking events and to
suggest meaningful meeting topics, especially BIPOC groups, emerging artists and youth.
1.6 Advocate, encourage and incentivize affordable housing and live/work opportunities
specifically for artists and creatives.
Reprise earlier 2018 discussions with ArtSpace, a national not -for -profit affordable housing developer, to
update past information and begin the next level of research for a larger
live/work project in Fayetteville. [1.61TWO BENEFITS
UNDER ONE ROOF:
b. Support and collaborate with City and community entities involved in
affordable housing development. Package funding tools to support the
development of affordable housing and help developers make the project
feasible. This includes supporting property owners and developers in
the utilization of Low -Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), CDBG funds,
HOME Funds, and other affordable housing funds that may be available
now and in the future through the State of Arkansas and the City of
Fayetteville, the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA), the
Arkansas Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) and other sources.
c. Establish new targeted incentives to encourage developers to provide
affordable housing for creatives utilizing some of the city's funding (i.e.
carving out a portion as a set -aside for artist housing). While Low Income
Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funding can be challenging to utilize for small
scale affordable projects, HOME and CDBG funds can be deployed to
incentivize some affordable artist live/work units in a larger project.
d. Partner with planning to create a density bonus to encourage more
affordable housing and/or affordable creative space (galleries, etc.) by
allowing for increased building height or building area in exchange for
increased affordability requirements.
e. Encourage and support the development of Accessory Dwelling Units
(ADUs) as affordable live/work spaces for artists and creatives.
f. Create a design guidebook with ideas and inspiration on how artist
housing can be incorporated into development and redevelopment
projects (e.g. providing floor plan concepts that demonstrate how live/
work space might look).
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING
TAILORED TO
CREATIVE SECTOR
Affordable housing
is a citywide need in
Fayetteville, impacting all
economic sectors. Artist
housing presents unique
opportunities as new
units can be designed
to meet both living and
studio space needs in
one, allowing creatives to
use their space as both
a home and a place of
business. By developing
housing that includes
spaces for artists to live,
rehearse, create, and sell
their work, we address this
need while also supporting
workforce and small
business development in
the creative sector.
36 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
1
_ h
i
ti
COMMUNITY PRIORITY:
SUSTAIN
Develop sustainable funding, economic tools and
philanthropic strategies to support and expand Arts and
Culture in Fayetteville.
Goal 2 Strategies:
a
101
2.1 Develop an arts and culture investment strategy for the City of Fayetteville in alignment
with the recommendations of this plan.
2.2 Seek diversified, sustainable and dedicated funding sources for arts and culture.
Adopt a percent -for -art ordinance with a
recommended set -aside of 1.2% to 1.5% of
the total cost of City of Fayetteville capital
improvement projects (CIP) to be pooled
into a public art fund to support art projects
and collection management throughout the
community (See appendix). [Il Action Item
3.1.6, 7111l
Enact a funding mechanism to support the
development of arts and culture and creative
business within the boundary of the Cultural Arts
District (see also Creative Spaces), such as a
Business Improvement District (BID), Community
Reinvestment District (CRD) or other available
mechanisms.
c. Support the Downtown Fayetteville Coalition
in efforts to increase funding for arts and
culture infused events, programmed series and
activations.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.2.a] The City of Lawrence, Kansas' Public Art
Program -part of its "Lawrence Unforgettable Identity-"
is funded through an annual set aside of 2% of the cost
of all qualifying City capital improvement projects during
the previous fiscal year for the purpose of acquiring,
purchasing, and installing art in public places in the city.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.2.d] Inspire Olympia is a voter -approved 0.1% sales tax
supporting local nonprofit organizations offering arts,
sciences, heritage, and cultural programs/experiences for
the public in Olympia, Washington. Through a competitive
application process, Inspire Olympia distributed $2.6
million to 60 organizations in 2024, through contracts -
for -services with the city. Contracts are awarded to
organizations that expand access to quality arts and
culture experiences, especially for youth and traditionally
underserved populations, and benefit the people and
communities in Olympia.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
37
d. Explore a voter -approved sales tax to support arts and culture in Fayetteville, potentially in conjunction
with parks, enduring green land acquisition and operations/maintenance (Arts & Parks) or with climate
action efforts.
e. Explore, long-term, a possible NWA regional tax benefiting arts and culture.
2.3 Develop a City -funded arts and culture support fund program to ensure equitable access to
funding opportunities, increase reliable funding for arts and culture and forward City priorities
and initiatives.
Enact a strategic support funding program to
provide financial support to arts and culture
organizations, institutions and initiatives.
Programs like this can be a tool for targeting
areas of community need, supporting the work
of organizations and for incubating and seeding
new projects within the city.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.3.a] Peer cities provide granting programs for local arts
and culture organizations and artists as a way to invest
directly in the sector and provide equitable access to
funding that targets key priorities and needs. For example,
Boulder's Cultural Grant program developed "hiring artists
incentives" to amplify artist opportunities and a "venue
affordability fund" to subsidize rental costs at cultural
b. Ensure equitable access to support funding venues for local artists and arts organizations.
by valuing social impact and the priorities and
initiatives for and by historically disadvantaged groups including Black, Indigenous and People of Color
(BIPOC).
Survey and adjust support funding over time as community, artist and organizational needs change.
Initial areas of need may include artist and musician work opportunities, arts education, neighborhood
vitality through public art, capital investment, arts and culture experiences and programs, technical/
training support.
2.4 Expand the use of economic incentives to encourage investment in temporary and
permanent spaces for creative activity and encourage the integration of art in development to
bolster the creative economy.
Explore the creation of incentives for developers to
invest in/develop/carve out room for arts and culture
spaces, studio spaces for working artists and creative
business.
— Consider application of a bonus for including
accessible artist studio spaces in developments
in neighborhood centers. [EVMP, Action Item 3.1.4]
— Explore the creation of an Enhanced
Development Menu, a points -based system for
sustainable development options that include
CASE IN POINT:
[2.4.a - density bonus] Lowell, MA, has
successfully created an Artist Overlay District in
their downtown, which offers a density bonus
developer incentive for the provision of artist live/
work space. The overlay was established for the
purpose of "encouraging artists, to both live and
work in the downtown area and... encouraging
further concentration of art, cultural and
entertainment attractions in the downtown area."
public art, public gathering spaces, community galleries, or other public amenities.
38 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
107
Explore incentives for property owners to establish
more spaces for creatives to work and maintain
affordability.
— Consider creating a program to incentivize
property owners who have vacant or
underutilized space to lease that space -
ideally with short and/or flexible terms - for
creative, arts or cultural uses, be it studio space,
performance/rehearsal space, gallery space
or other uses. This could include a number of
different approaches:
- Offer a tax abatement (or refund) on the
value of any physical improvements to the
property the owner makes which lead to
tenanting by arts and culture -based uses.
Develop a residency program that pairs
property owners of underutilized or vacant
spaces with artists or creatives who can use
the space for creative purposes.
c. Examine development and building code regulations
to identify interim solutions that don't require full and
expensive renovations to properties to host pop-up
installations, performances or galleries, in order to
encourage temporary uses in vacant spaces either
for a short or longer -term period, thus allowing the
buildings to be affordably activated while awaiting
new tenants.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.4.b - tax abatement] The Crossroads Arts District
in Kansas City, Missouri , or the Crossroads Arts
PIEA (Planned Industrial Expansion Authority),
encourages owners with long-time vacant spaces
to provide those spaces to artists for active creative
uses to help retain artists and arts -based uses in the
Arts District. The PIEA is a tax abatement program
specifically designed to encourage property
owners to provide space to arts and cultural uses
by offering a ten-year property tax abatement
on the value of any physical improvements to the
building or space which lead to tenanting by arts -
based uses. Arts uses for the property must occupy
at least 51% of the square footage in order to be
eligible for the program.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.4.b - residency program] Case in point: The Heart
of the Arts residency program in Atlanta, GA invites
property owners with underutilized spaces that
with a small amount of work could be transformed
into space for artists to create, giving the artist a
physical location to build their creative practice and
create opportunities for the community to directly
interact with artists.
d. Explore studio space stipends for artists and members of the creative economy. [Ill Action Item 3.1.5]
2.5 Advocate for and expand incentives for the Film and Television industry in Fayetteville.
Film and TV in Fay
While the State of Arkansas does offer state film incentives, the Northwest Arkansas region is poised to become a
filming hub of its own, with Fayetteville as its home base. Coalescing and coordinating the growing film industry for
the Northwest Arkansas region and beyond would be an area where Fayetteville can assume a leadership role. The City
can coordinate participation from Fayetteville's film and TV community in the recently commissioned movie industry
study. Read More
Continue to advocate for expanding and making
permanent the state -level film tax rebate through
the Arkansas Film Commission. [Ill Action
Item 1.8.64]
b. Seek to develop a local, municipal -level tax
rebate to support local productions and drive
outside filmmakers to Fayetteville and utilize
local resources. [EVMP, Action Item 1.8.66]
CASE IN POINT:
[2.5.b] Case in Point: Eureka Springs, AR offers Film, TV,
Music & Digital Media incentives in the form of a 2% tax
rebate on any individual project or production filmed in
the city limits of Eureka Springs that can be added to
the Arkansas state incentive. They also provide a list of
preferred local vendors who offer additional discounts
on productions.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 39
2.6 Diversify and bolster philanthropic engagement and investment in arts and culture.
a. Consider establishing a Mayor's Art Award to honor
both artists/creatives and major philanthropists and
donors. Host an awards event that brings donors and
artists together, providing public recognition and
encouragement for future philanthropy.
b. Consider developing a local or NWA regional "Business
for the Arts" association to connect the creative and
business communities, and encourage businesses to
support and partner with the arts and culture sector.
c. Create a private fund at the Fayetteville Area
Community Foundation to accept donations to the Arts
and Culture Division of the City.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.6.b] Colorado Business Committee for
the Arts (CBCA) is a nonprofit membership
organization that forges partnerships
between business and the arts through year-
round advocacy, research, training and arts
engagement efforts. CBCA advances Denver
(and Colorado) as a cultural hub and validates
the arts as an integral part of the regional
economy. CBCA also makes the case that art
is smart for business, providing the business
community with access, exposure and visibility
for their investments in the arts.
d. Spur Fayetteville arts nonprofits to increase their
participation and collectively promote the NWA Gives Day of Giving event to engage the community in
giving.
e. Develop a larger arts market/special event as a high profile opportunity for artists, artisans and creatives
to sell and collectors to buy.
40 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
COMMUNITY PRIORITY:
CREATIVE SPACES
GOAL Identify, prioritize and provide targeted investment in arts and
culture facilities, venues, creative workspaces that address
3 community needs.
Goal 3 Strategies:
3.1 Conduct a citywide Cultural Facilities Study to identify creative space needs and determine
the right mix of cultural facilities to support arts and culture in Fayetteville.
a. Confirm and prioritize Key Facility Needs from this plan as well as consider other potential opportunities.
b. Recommend the appropriate type, size (capacity), scale, usage and market viability for high -priority new
facilities.
c. Identify existing arts and culture facilities that may be underutilized.
d. Estimate capital costs, operational costs, revenue potential and pricing structure for high -priority
facilities.
e. Collaborate with the community to identify potential owners, operators, partnerships and funding
sources for highest priority facilities. Identify facilities the City may be best positioned to support and/or
own/operate..
f. Establish site criteria for potential locations according to future use, such as community access,
neighborhood impact, noise, access to multi -model transportation, parking and support needed for
daytime and/or nighttime economies.
g. Ensure access to existing and any new arts and culture spaces through public transportation, including
reducing barriers and expanding operating hours (evenings, weekend, and school breaks). Explore
multimodal transportation options and improve connections between venues and parking.
h. Identify potential sites for highest priority facilities, considering existing, underutilized or vacant spaces
as well as new, available sites.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 41
Spaces identified through this plan to be confirmed through additional study include (but may not be limited
to):
Work Spaces: Develop artist work spaces to support, retain and
attract the working artist and creative in Fayetteville (see Sustain). CASE IN POINT:
Outdoor Venue(s): Develop additional, larger outdoor venue(s) for hosting The Lawrence Art
larger concerts, performances and festivals that combine Fayetteville's Center (Lawrence,
love of nature and arts and culture. Include requirements like the ability KS) built a new
to ticket events, a fixed/covered stage (protection from rain and heat), facility in 2002. The
loading access, power, sound equipment, green room, concessions,
community raised
bathrooms, noise ordinances, access to transportation, parking, etc.
$3.5 million, matched
Community Arts Center: Explore the development of a multi -purpose
by the City. The
community arts center (in addition to the existing Community
facility is owned by
the City and operated
Creative Center) to house all types of creativity and artmaking
by a nonprofit. The
for the broader community, such as open studios, makerspaces,
LAC includes five
small performance space, exhibition/gallery space, classrooms/
gallery spaces, a
workshops, etc. Explore the possibility of a combined art +
300-seat theatre, a
recreation center or an adaptive reuse of an existing building(s).
black box theater,
Additional Indoor Mid -sized Music Venues: Confirm the
and fully equipped
appropriate capacity, locations and operators for mid-
studios for drawing,
sized music venues through a cultural facilities study.
painting, ceramics,jewelry, photography
Additional Galleries and Exhibition spaces: Develop exhibit spaces
and printmaking.
throughout the community. Identify existing spaces that could host
LAC focuses on "art
exhibits (like the Library, City buildings, County buildings, private
is for everyone" and
business) and include exhibit space in any new arts and culture venues.
provides financial
aid and an artist -in -
Rehearsal and Small Performance Space for Dance: Develop a
residence program.
space with a sprung floor to accommodate dance and double
as a performance, rehearsal, and experimental space.
3.2 Prioritize advancement of creative spaces within Fayetteville's designated Cultural Arts
District to promote, locate and potentially fund artist studios, live/work spaces, venues,
creative businesses, galleries, headquarters of arts organizations, etc.
Cultural Arts District: Evaluate the current Cultural Arts
District boundary and potentially expand/reconfigure it to fully
incorporate arts and culture opportunities in the downtown.
Develop incentives and a funding mechanism to sustain arts
and culture within the boundary (see Sustain).
b. The Ramble: Identify and prioritize key sites along The
Ramble for arts and culture uses and activation. Develop a
programming philosophy, policies, and diverse partnerships
to activate The Upper Ramble as a key feature and connector
in the downtown area. This approach will make the space feel
safer and more inviting, attracting residents and visitors with its
unique environment and offerings.
c. Downtown and Dickson Street: Strive to develop a culture of
24-hour activity on Downtown and Dickson Street. Activate
spaces underutilized in the daytime/early evening to create a
more 24/7 economy and entertainment zone for all ages, while
CASE IN POINT:
[3.2] Designated cultural districts
are proven to attract more
businesses and economic activity.
The Mass Cultural Council has been
designating and supporting cultural
districts statewide since 2011 and
has accumulated data to prove that
Cultural Districts "drive economic
growth, strengthen our distinctive
local character, and improve the
quality of life of families across
Massachusetts." Cultural Districts
"attract tourists and entrepreneurs,
which in turn help communities
foster their cultural sector and
expand their tax base. And that
benefits everyone."
42 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
also encouraging a nightlife that is welcoming to the entire community, not just college students.
d. The Square and Gardens: Firmly establish The Square as an arts and culture destination within the
Cultural Arts District. The City's Arts and Culture Division should continue to advise on the use and
activation of this space; elements like an art market, public art, pedestrian zones, outdoor seating and
prioritization of creative businesses can help energize/catalyze the downtown Square. Design guidelines/
overlays and incentives could help make the entire area more pedestrian friendly, vibrant and a day and
night cultural destination.
e. Fayetteville Public Library South Lot: This vacant lot could be well -suited for an arts and culture live/
work project.
3.3 Amplify existing arts and culture spaces beyond the Cultural Arts District and downtown to
expand and support the creative community throughout the City.
Identify key existing arts and culture spaces
through the cultural facilities study that
could be amplified to meet needs and
growing demand and what investment
might be required.
— Introduce key existing and potential
arts and culture spaces as another
component for analysis within the
context of the of Neighborhood
Center Advancement Plan (NCAP).
[EVMP, pp. 60-67]
b. Engage in a collaborative planning effort
for Mount Sequoyah with key stakeholders,
including the City, Mount Sequoyah
Board and neighbors, to strategize future
development, activation and use of this
iconic site and how to financially maintain,
sustain and grow this unique and historic
place.
Improve the stage area at Gulley Park to
improve the quality of the popular free
summer concerts, including a raised and
covered stage, small support area and power/
sound position.
Mount Sequoyah
This historic property is a one -of -a -kind landmark with 32
acres, over 50 buildings from the 1920's to 8O's overlooking
Fayetteville from a hilltop. Mount Sequoyah Creative Spaces
NWA provides 50+ studio spaces to area artists and Fenix
Arts Gallery is located on the grounds. This non-profit
organization has opportunities to expand its service to
artists, preserve and renovate its historic buildings and
create a plan to sustain its on -going operations.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
43
3.4 Maintain and track locations for potential new arts and culture uses and investment.
Possible locations that were identified for high potential arts and culture uses and investment through
this plan include (but may not be limited to):
Centennial Park or Kessler Park - These City -owned parks are large enough to accommodate the
infrastructure needed for larger outdoor concerts, festivals, art markets or other special events.
Drake Field - City -owned parcels in this area could be developed into larger workspaces for artists
and creatives, oversized studios, soundstages and studios for film and television, etc. This area could
become a regional film and television hub. Consider a needs assessment and study of properties in
the Drake Field area, which is also within a state -designated Opportunity Zone.
71B Corridor City -Owned Parcels - As the 71B Corridor Master Plan is preparing for implementation
with re -zoning and enabling work, identify appropriate publicly -owned or privately -owned key parcels
for potential arts and culture uses.
Woolsey Homestead: Consider adapting this newly renovated structure as a museum and/or a living
agricultural heritage site, that tells the histories of this early 1840s time period including Native Tribes
with ties to this land and the adjacent Trail of Tears.
Actively and consistently participate in Economic Vitality's ongoing process to inventory and prioritize
existing, vacant and underutilized spaces and parcels, including those owned by the City, to further
identify spaces for potential arts and culture uses. [EVMP, Action Item 3.2.17]
b. Advocate for strategically acquiring parcels and structures in key neighborhood centers outside of
downtown for proactive arts and culture development projects. [EVMP, Action Items 3.2.18, 3.2.19]
Seek to better distribute art and culture spaces, also identified as "high quality places" in the Economic
Vitality Master Plan 2024, across Fayetteville to ensure access to all. [EVMP, p. 66]
3.5 Establish partnerships and shared -use agreements with existing cultural spaces, such as
those at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Public Schools, and Fayetteville Public Library,
to increase community access to their art and performance spaces.
Strengthen the connection and resource sharing between the University and the community, facilitating
greater community use of existing University theaters, galleries and other arts and culture spaces.
b. Promote the University's School of Art's community programming for use of the Art + Design Center's
resources (includes non -degree registrations/scholarships and the tuition free Senior Razorback
program).
c. Explore additional community uses of University and Fayetteville Public School art studio spaces,
equipment and theatre spaces, perhaps through summer residency programs, mentorship or
collaborative programs.
d. Promote and make widely -available spaces at the Fayetteville Public Library to increase usage of their
Center for Innovation, Event Center for performances, and exhibition opportunities.
44 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
COMMUNITY PRIORITY:
PEACEMAKING
Enhance the vibrancy, activation and security of Fayetteville
through public art and creative placemaking strategies.
What is Placemaking?
Placemaking refers to the use of planning practices to help create or preserve "high -quality"
and memorable places in the public realm. Placemaking is the act of fostering public
spaces that are attractive, unique, vibrant and activated, where people gather and feel safe,
comfortable and included. Creative placemaking tends to favor creation of visually interesting
places through green spaces and landscaping, public artwork and thoughtful design, with
spaces energized by creative activities, gatherings and performance. This idea of placemaking
is echoed in the 2024 Economic Vitality Master Plan which calls for community -centric
development in neighborhood centers and creation of "high -quality places across Fayetteville,
not just in its urban hubs. [EVMP, P. 601
According to "Place Matters: The Role of Placemaking in Economic Development,
International Economic Development Council, 2017," elements of high -quality places include:
mixed uses, quality public spaces, broadband -enabled, multiple transportation options,
multiple housing options, preservation of historic structures, community heritage, arts, culture
and creativity, recreation and green spaces.
Goal 4 Strategies:
4.1 Increase and diversify publicly -accessible art to beautify and enhance the overall
vibrancy of the city, while offering opportunities.
a. Formalize a City Public Art Program, expanding on current public art efforts.
b. Establish sustainable funding for public art (see Sustain).
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 45
c. Develop policies and procedures based on best
practices and community needs to administer
the program. Benefits of Public Art:
d. Consider enacting a "voluntary" public art Encourages walking and gathering
contribution on select City projects ahead of Enhances public
appreciation of the arts
sustained funding. Creates places
with meaning and memory
• Celebrates our
cultural heritage and diversity
e. Prioritize hiring a City staff position to manage Humanizes and
scales public spaces
the public art program, oversee maintenance
of the existing collection and serve as a liaison Strengthens community
identity and pride
with City departments, ensuring public art Stimulates economic growth
opportunities aren't missed. Attracts businesses,
residents and visitors
f. Prioritize engaging and inviting diverse
and underrepresented artists for public art
work opportunities such as commissioned projects, city -sponsored
exhibitions, and/or artist registries that promote local artists.
CASE IN POINT:
[4.1.a] The City of Boise,
g. Seek to spread public art throughout the city of Fayetteville and its
Idaho has a robust public art
Neighborhood Centers, especially areas lacking in publicly accessible
program that contributes
artwork.
1.2% of capital projects
towards public artwork. The
h. Continue to encourage public art as a means of celebrating,
public art collection consists
remembering and honoring diverse communities and neighborhoods
of hundreds of permanent
within the city.
works, traffic box murals,
an interior collection of 2-
i. Pursue a Public Art Master Plan to review and refine guidelines and
and 3- dimensional works
policies, prioritize projects, locations and define new initiatives.
of art, and portable works.
The program also manages
j. Consider developing a more robust mural program, including
projects for other public and
developing a formal festival (like 2017's Green Candy Art Action festival
private entities who engage
or 2020's Sprayettville) and revamping existing utility box murals and a
in original public art projects.
wall + muralist match program.
Public art in Boise "adds
meaning, stories, beauty and
k. Identify key opportunities for public art and placemaking based on
identity to our public space."
upcoming Capital Improvement Projects and priority development
nodes. Upcoming projects include (but are not limited to):
— 71B Corridor reconstruction [71BCMP, "Placemaking and Public
Art"].
Best Practices
As the public art program
— Walker Park
expands, seek to move
beyond a locally -focused
— Parks and Recreation Improvements
program and engage regional,
— Lake Fayetteville Memorial and Improvement Projects
national or international artists
through collaborations, artist
— Woolsey Homestead
exchanges and residencies.
This inclusive approach can
— Apple (Porter House) Warehouse Stabilization
inspire fresh perspectives,
expand skills and help grow
I. Collaborate with the newly formed Downtown Fayetteville Coalition
the visibility of local artists
to identify opportunities for visual arts to enhance the downtown
outside of Fayetteville, leading
experience, such as alley improvements, dumpster blinds, lighting,
to greater opportunities in the
temporary art programs, etc. that could incentivize public art and add
future.
to creative placemaking.
46 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
4.2 Leverage the Cultural Arts District as a hub of creative placemaking.
a. Consider establishing design guidelines and/or a design overlay within the revised Cultural Arts District
boundary. This would encourage development to support a creative aesthetic, incorporate art, enhance
public/gathering spaces that also support events and programming, improve the pedestrian experience,
encourage outdoor/patio seating and ultimately promote arts and culture through strong design.
— Consider design overlay/zoning requirements that would mandate more careful design of certain
elements in developments such as street -level activation, public -facing outdoor spaces, treatments
of parking, incorporation of art, and other elements to be determined.
A design overlay may also expand signage, temporary banners and murals in the area as well as
hours of operation. [DMP, 2006].
Consider creating a design guidebook that goes above and beyond requirements of zoning and
code, to provide inspiration to developers and property owners to invest in good design, public art
and encourage the creation of leasable spaces that serve the creative community.
Incentive overlays that could be used to encourage more affordable housing units in the district and
other benefits to the community (see Cultivate).
— Review zoning codes and ordinances to interweave economic incentives for economic activity
driven by the creative community and enable permitting and rules around busking, pop-up/street
vendors etc.
— Incentivize a return of galleries to the Cultural Arts District, rebuilding these small businesses and
impacting artist sales and collector culture. (see Sustain 2.4.b).
— Leverage, promote, and protect existing arts and culture assets within the District, specifically
music and performing arts, as key attractions.
4.3 Prioritize placekeeping for cultural and historical sites and neighborhoods.
a. Identify and prioritize cultural and historic places of significance for cultural groups and diverse
communities, with the intent to recognize, preserve, remember and celebrate the heritage, culture and
character of historic spaces throughout Fayetteville.
— For example, a Black Historic District, the Tsa La Gi trail and other identified important cultural sites
should be protected, advocated for and celebrated.
b. Activate public spaces and culturally important neighborhoods through the arts, such as public art,
murals, events, festivals, signage, etc., to celebrate a sense of place and identity for the community.
c. Support the Historic District Commission's efforts to identify significant historic structures and cultural
landmarks and the creation of a local historic district designation program.
d. Encourage the designation of structures and physical locations with historic relevance on the Arkansas
Register of Historic Places and/or the National Register of Historic Places, making them eligible for
both state and federal grants, and state and federal Historic Tax Credits to help fund restoration and
preservation of these properties.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 47
y
COMMUNITY PRIORITY:
4 =KAW1 91
Firmly establish Fayetteville as an arts and culture destination
and as a strong leader for the advancement of arts and culture
within the region, the state and beyond.
Goal 5 Strategies:
5.1 Advocate for a strong focus on arts and culture in the upcoming Downtown Plan.
5.2 Develop Fayetteville's identity as an arts and culture destination and build excitement
through marketing.
a. Create a common brand for the arts and culture sector to
increase exposure and instill pride for the entire community.
CASE IN POINT:
[5.2.b] Colorado Springs developed
b. Collaborate with Experience Fayetteville and other key partners
Peak Radar as a comprehensive arts,
to develop strategic marketing and promotion of Faytteville's
culture and entertainment website
arts and culture and the Cultural Art District, to increase cultural
featuring an online events calendar for
tourism, bolster the local creative economy and increase
Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak
participation. [EVMP, Action Item 1.8.671
Region. Peak Rader is the go -to place
to find things to do throughout the
- In cooperation with Economic Vitality, "explore developing
two -county region, including gallery
an external live -work -play marketing campaign through
exhibitions, sporting events, festivals,
Experience Fayetteville to promote the creative economy
performances, concerts, workshops and
and the recreation economy as key contributing factors
more. In 2023, Peak Radar had 568,818
to Fayetteville's quality of life and community character."
views of 2,892 local events, 15,939
clicks on "buy tickets" links, and 77% of
[EVMP, Action Item 1.8.68]
visitors found an event or group they
- Promote existing historic sites, museums and attractions
hadn't known about before.
in Fayetteville as part of the overall arts and culture
marketing strategy.
- Promote Fayetteville's cultural events and performances in local, regional, state and national
media.
- Expand, invest in and promote Experience Fayetteville's online calendar to highlight and provide
access to Fayetteville's arts and culture.
48 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
5.3 Establish community -based larger -scale signature events for Fayetteville residents and to
attract cultural tourism.
a. Work with local arts and culture organizations,
producers and entities to create and sustain beloved
community events that build on modeled past
successes.
b. Create new, large-scale signature events that
celebrate Fayetteville's unique strengths and local
identity.
Create experiences for local artists to co -mingle with
regional, national or international artists to inspire
growth and development of the local arts sector.
CASE IN POINT:
[5.3.b] The Blink Festival in Cincinnati, OH is an
event that occurs every two years featuring awe-
inspiring murals with projection and lighting,
light and art installations, musical performances,
drone light shows, and a parade. In October 2022,
the BLINK experience attracted over 2 million
attendees across the 4-day event, resulting in a
direct economic impact of $126 million dollars.
Additionally, the event directly supported or created
1,687 jobs, and generated $1.5 million dollars in
direct artist commissions, honorariums, and art fees.
5.4 Cultivate and incubate new arts and culture programming to create a regional draw.
a. Develop a signature week-long community -wide event(s) for a quintessential Fayetteville experience.
Consider pairing different types of creative businesses and activities. For example: Dinner and Theatre
Week, Trail Rides and Tunes, or an event based on the original philosophy of the Ramble as a celebration
of ecology + culture + community. Small grants for artists and organizations could be offered to increase
participation and promotion, spreading the word of all that Fayetteville has to offer.
b. Create a larger/signature arts market and promote it locally and regionally (and beyond) as it builds.
c. Establish a program for arts and culture pop -ups in vacant storefronts, on the Ramble or in other public
spaces to support new businesses and art ventures.
d. Build upon the Gallery Hop event and consider a studio tour event to promote visual arts and galleries as
a draw.
e. Build on and expand arts programming through the City's recreational offerings.
5.5 Advocate for Fayetteville's arts and culture sector at the local, regional and state level.
Build a local coalition of arts and culture advocates, leaders
and community political leaders that meets regularly to
identify issues impacting the arts and culture sector and
develop strategies for advocacy.
b. Identify and track leadership training opportunities at the
local, regional and national level, promote the opportunities
locally and consider providing stipends or scholarships for
local artists, creatives and cultural leaders to attend.
CASE IN POINT:
[5.5.b] Programs like the National Leaders
of Color Fellowship, offer regional and
national leadership development in the
arts. This Fellowship is a transformative
leadership development experience
curated by Creative West in partnership
with Mid -American Arts Alliance and other
regional arts organizations to establish
Strive to connect with similar like-minded advocacy groups multicultural leadership in the creative and
and coalitions in cities across Arkansas to strengthen cultural sector. Connecting locals to these
regional and state advocacy for initiatives that benefit the kinds of opportunities and potentially
arts and culture sector. sponsoring their participation will help
develop greater leadership in Fayetteville.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 49
d. Continue collaborating with CACHE to identify opportunities to partner and convene the arts and culture
sector regionally.
e. Continue to connect and collaborate with state, regional and national arts associations, like Arkansans for
the Arts, Arkansas Arts Council, Mid -America Arts Alliance, South Arts, and Creative West.
5.6 Advance the City's leadership role in championing and increasing visibility of Fayetteville's
arts and culture, focusing on the growth of the entire sector.
a. Collaborate across all city departments, especially Arts & Culture Division,
Economic Vitality, Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs, Planning, and
Transportation, in prioritizing and forwarding strategies identified in this plan and
others to grow the arts and culture sector.
b. Ensure that key staff from the Arts and Culture Division are invited and present
"at the table" for discussions and decisions that could benefit or impact the sector
and placemaking efforts.
c. Revisit the role and responsibilities of the Arts Council as an advisory board
and as ambassadors/advocates for this plan and arts and culture in Fayetteville
Consider assigning liaisons from the Arts Council to other City boards and
commissions.
d. Make Fayetteville as accessible and attractive as possible for events and film
projects by providing streamlined access to key resources. Consider establishing
a special events hub or office to serve as a central point for navigating permits,
event production needs, and coordination with City departments.
e. Collect data on the arts and culture industry to provide impact reports and white
papers on the importance of a strong cultural economy.
CASE IN POINT:
[5.6.e] Oklahoma
City's Special
Events Office is a
division of the City's
Public Information
& Marketing
Department and
provides event
organizers with
guidance throughout
the permitting
process and helps
ensure safe and
successful events.
The office manages
a calendar with a list
of permitted events
and road closure
information to assist
with coordination.
f. Ensure consistency of name usage for Parks, Natural Resources, and
Cultural Affairs and the Arts and Culture Division across the City and in all
communications..
g. Encourage candidates running for city offices to create platform positions on how they will enact policies
related to arts and culture.
Convene a local advocacy coalition, connect it within the region and state and be an organizing force
behind it.
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50 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
Implementation
to
51
THE ROLE OF THE CITY
Municipalities play a vital role in supporting arts and culture. Cities are uniquely positioned
to champion arts and culture and match grassroots efforts by allocating staff and resources,
serving as conveners and organizers, building partnerships, leveraging internal departments and
infrastructure, and developing public spaces. Further, cities can amplify and help assure that arts
and culture are accessible to all, prioritizing inclusion and belonging across diverse communities.
These, and other municipal tools are instrumental in creating a thriving arts and culture ecosystem.
The City of Fayetteville holds a key leadership role in advancing this community -wide Arts and
Culture Plan. The City's new Arts and Culture Division and Director have the potential to enhance
and buttress the arts and culture sector across the city and beyond. This plan envisions the City as
a leader, facilitator, partner and supporter of all aspects of this plan.
This Implementation section highlights the key considerations and strategies for implementing this
plan. It highlights those areas which the City is best positioned to lead. Broadly, these include:
Amplifying the voice of the entire arts and culture sector.
Convener and connector for the arts community, building relationships and partnerships.
Initiation of collaboration and advocacy across City departments to advance arts and culture
issues.
Continuing to reinforce arts and culture's importance in City planning.
Investment in physical spaces.
Management and funding for a public art program.
Creation of City policies and procedures to support arts and culture.
Direct financial resources such as grants, subsidies, tax incentives and/or other funding
mechanisms and partnerships.
However, the City of Fayetteville is also not the sole entity responsible for this plan's
implementation. A successful arts and culture strategy relies on the collective effort of a broad
range of stakeholders, including key arts organizations, community partners, creative businesses,
and individual artists and creatives. The City is an essential convener, bringing together these
diverse voices and facilitating ongoing dialogue. By building connections and encouraging
alignment with the plan's vision, the City of Fayetteville can set the stage for partnerships and
collaboration, and ultimately, action.
52 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS:
BUILDING CAPACITY
To fully support implementation of this Plan, the City will need to consider building capacity in
terms of structure, staffing and funding capabilities.
Structural Support
City of Fayetteville Structure:
The Parks Department was recently renamed the Parks, Natural Resources, and Cultural Affairs
Department (PNRCA) to reflect the department's expansion to include Arts and Culture. The City
of Fayetteville created a new Arts and Culture Division under the Parks and Natural Resources
Department and hired its first director in 2022.
Arts Council Role:
The City Council -appointed Arts Council predates the Arts and Culture Division. With this first Arts
and Culture Plan, the Arts Council may need to review and adjust its roles and responsibilities. In
doing so, the Arts Council should consider the following:
Defining Arts Council's role and responsibilities as separate from the Parks, Natural Resources
and Cultural Affairs Board and formalize a liasionship between the two.
Appointment of liaisons from the Arts Council to other City Boards and Commissions.
Appointment of separate public art selection
panels appropriate to each new project,
rather than serving in this capacity itself.
Developing and advising on criteria and
policies for a future Strategic Support Fund
and appointing review panels for the fund.
Committing to regular attendance at art
happenings and events in the community.
Listening and serving as spokespeople/
ambassadors for the creative community.
Designating a liaison or board seat on
CACHE's board.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 53
Staffing Needs
Currently, the Arts and Culture Division consists of 1 full-time Director and a .6 hourly position
to support programming (24 hours/week). Additional staffing capacity will be needed to fully
support and implement this Plan and to have a positive impact on the arts and culture sector. The
following table describes additional staff needed, in order of priority. It is possible that some of
these positions could be shared across departments.
Proposed New Positions Over 10 Years
Public Art Coordinator (full-time): Oversees the public art program, guides budget CIP allocations
for the program, collaborates with City departments to identify potential public art projects,
manages all aspects of public art projects including artist selection, contracts, design, installation
and on -going maintenance of the collection.
Strategic Support Fund Coordinator: Once the City establishes a strategic support fund/program,
this staff position will assist with the creation of policies and procedures around distribution of
funds, oversee the application processes, distribution of funds and evaluation of the program. This
work could scale over time from a professional contract to an FTE depending on the scope of the
program.
Arts & Culture Sector Economic Development Specialist: Serves as a liaison for the arts
community and helps forge lasting programs and partnerships that will help grow the creative
workforce. This position could be shared with [or embedded in] Economic Vitality and/or Planning.
Programming/Events Coordinator (expand to full-time+): As the Division grows, consider
expanding this part-time position (approved in 2024) to address expanding programming and
event needs. With the Ramble coming fully on-line in 2025 and future growth in special events, it is
anticipated the need for event coordination will increase over time.
Arts and Culture Positions 2024 2025-2027 2028-30 2031+
Director
1 FTE
Hourly Support
.6 Hourly
1 Hourly
Public Art Coordinator
1 FTE
Strategic Support Fund Coordinator
1 FTE
Shared Positions
Programming Event Coordinator
.5 Hourly
1 FTE
1+ FTE
Arts & Culture Sector Economic
Development Specialist
1 FTE
54 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
Funding Considerations
Similar to the staffing resources, the financial resources brought to bear for this effort will directly
impact the plan's scope, reach and long-term sustainability. Reliable funding enables the growth
of arts and culture organizations, creative business and signature events, while also supporting
artists, public art and community participation. Identifying and securing diverse funding sources —
through city investments, grants, philanthropy, public -private partnerships and economic
incentives —will be essential to fostering a resilient arts ecosystem. By prioritizing funding
strategies, Fayetteville can ensure that its arts and culture sector remains vibrant, accessible and
impactful for years to come.
Growing the Arts and Culture Division budget should be the highest priority for City investment, as
the Division is the City's best resource for impacting, sustaining and growing the arts and culture
sector. The goals and strategies of this Arts and Culture Plan require the Division's leadership and
an expanded role both within the City organization and in the community. Building the Division
budget over the next decade should include: additional staff (see table), additional funding for
initiatives outlined in this plan and expanding operational support. Establishing a strategic support
fund and public art fund are also part of the ten-year horizon. Estimates suggest the Division's
budget would be approximately $1 million in annual operating costs (not accounting for inflation),
with additional set aside funding for the strategic support fund and public art.
City Direct Support and Investment:
Below are examples of opportunities for the City of Fayetteville to support and invest in arts and
culture.
Continue and increase City funding allocation to the Arts and Culture Division: Expanding
capacity of the division in terms of additional staffing, public art projects and supporting key
initiatives from this plan in support of the arts and culture ecosystem.
Fund Public Art and create a Public Art Plan: Beginning with voluntary contributions from
Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) for art, then advocating for an ordinance requiring a
percentage of annual CIP projects to be pooled into a Public Art Fund (see appendix for more
on Public Art). When funding is established, invest in a formalized public art plan.
Establish a Strategic Support Funding Program: Establishing a City fund to provide direct
financial support to the arts and culture sector in the form of grants or contracts for services,
as well as incubating and seeding new projects within the city.
Fund a Cultural Facilities Study.
Deploy economic funding mechanisms to support arts and culture (see the table below).
Develop public/private partnerships: Identify partnerships and funding opportunities to
support developing new spaces and initiatives. Start with key entities that are already investing
in this work and amplify by joining financial resources.
While the City's support is essential for a thriving arts ecosystem, it should be met with dedicated
and robust funding from non -municipal sources, from foundations, philanthropy, business and
corporate support, private partnerships, organizations, grants and other matching funds as well as
state and federal funding.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 55
Potential Funding Mechanisms
This plan identifies potential funding mechanisms that could support arts and culture and
placemaking in Fayetteville. The following table briefly explains each mechanism. (see Appendix
for further explanation of each mechanism):
Fundina
Mechanism now it worKs
rossipie Hppiicazions
A "percent for the arts" program requires that a
% for the Arts - specific percentage (usually 1-2%) of the total cost of a
Percent for Arts programs ensure that public art is
Public Sector taxpayer -funded construction project be set aside for
a part every significant public sector investment
public art.
made in the community.
Public Art
A city may secure public art funding from developers in
Private sector public art programs can encourage
Funding -
exchange for developer benefits. It can be city-wide or
the private sector to tailor their investments to
Private Sector
applied to a smaller district.
support artists and placemaking initiatives.
Utilizing the same or similar boundary as the current
Central Business
Special district assessment tool created by stakeholders
Fayetteville Cultural Arts District, a CBID could
Improvement
in a defined area to deliver special services in that area,
be a source of funding for investments such as
District (CBID)
as defined by Municipal Code
infrastructure, programming, services and cultural
and creative investments.
Community
CRDs utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to fund
A CRD could help develop spaces and facilities for
Redevelopment
reinvestment and redevelopment of blighted or
creative uses or to upgrade older spaces in need of
District (CRD)
underutilized areas.
rehabilitation for use by artists and creatives
A localized sales tax using the same or similar
Special Sales
Many states have legislation to allow for the
boundary as the current Fayetteville Cultural Arts
Tax Districts
formation of special sales tax districts to fund specific
Corridor can be created. Or it could be broader for
improvements or investments in that same area.
the city limits or regional. Funding can target arts -
based programming and/or cultural facilities.
For income -producing properties, Historic Tax Credits
These tax credits can be leveraged to provide
Federal Historic
can be taken on 20% of the approved expenditures
funding to invest in historically designated
Tax Credit
for renovations and restorations that are listed in the
properties for renovation, restoration or upgrades
National Register of Historic Places.
for use as cultural or creative spaces.
State Of
Projects in incorporated communities of more than
Qualified properties listed on both the state
Arkansas
50,000 receive a 30% credit on the rehabilitation
and federal registers can tap into both tax
Historic Tax
of historic properties. This program is meant to
credit programs, possibly covering 50% of the
Credit
supplement the federal program.
approved expenditures for historic renovations and
restorations.
The LIHTC program gives state and local LIHTC-
LIHTC programs can be utilized to develop
Low -Income
allocating agencies authority to issue tax credits for
affordable housing developments and those
the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of
featuring live/work space for artists. Artspace -
Housing Tax
rental housing targeted to lower -income households.
the national non-profit housing developer who
Credits (LIHTC)
This program incentivizes nonprofits and for -profit
exclusively does housing projects for artists -
organizations to develop housing for low-income
utilizes LIHTC, in part, to fund their projects.
populations.
An Opportunity Zone (OZ) is an economically
Fayetteville has a significant OZ area that can
distressed community where new investments, under
be explored further here. The program can spur
Opportunity
certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax
investment and development and could include
Zone (OZ)
treatments. OZ locations must be nominated by the
facilities to support workforce training, film
state, and the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury must certify
production and other workforce -related uses.
the nomination through the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS).
HOME funds are awarded annually to the City of
Fayetteville as formula grants from the US Department
HOME funds could be used to support affordable
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City
housing (including as part of an Artspace project)
HOME Funds
is required to match HOME funds with non-federal
support to artists and in obtaining
resources. The City determines how to spend their
a rk space
affordable living or live/work spa
f
HOME funds through a consolidated planning process
requiring public participation.
56 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE I Arts & Culture Plan 2024
Evaluation Framework
To ensure the success of this plan's recommendations and monitor meaningful impact over the
next decade, establishing an annual review and evaluation framework for Fayetteville's Arts and
Culture Plan is essential. Reviewing the plan annually and tracking accomplishments will guide
future planning, allow adjustments to be made and ensure the plan remains relevant and effective
in supporting Fayetteville's evolving creative landscape.
In addition to tracking accomplishments annually, the City should lead an evaluation process to
assess the plan's impact on the arts and culture sector and the community. Evaluation should be
completed at least at the five and ten-year mark but may be valuable at years three and eight as
well. Timing for some measures will depend on when the data is available or can be collected. The
Evaluation Framework can be developed from the following suggested key measures but need not
be limited to this list.
Cultivate
Increase the percentage of art students staying in Fayetteville after graduation. (U of A Career
Outcome Reports)
Improve Arkansas's standing from 35th out of 50 states in arts and culture production and/or 34th in
arts employment. (Bureau of Economic Analysis Arts and Culture Production Satellite Account)
it) Improve quality of arts and culture as measured through periodic surveying of the community:
"we need to improve the quality of arts and cultural activities in Fayetteville." In 2024, 81% of
respondents somewhat or strongly agreed that quality needs to be improved. (City surveying
efforts)
Sustain
Increase in City funding for the Arts and Culture Division. (City statistics)
Increase staffing for the Arts and Culture Division. (City statistics)
Increase the amount of City support for arts organizations (granting). (City statistics)
Establish a funding source dedicated to public art. (City statistics)
Creative Places
Fund and complete cultural facilities study. (City statistics)
Track and increase the number of places to exhibit artwork, be it in commercial galleries, coops,
nonprofit or public spaces, etc. (Inventory)
Pursue the next level of Artspace study
Placemaking
O O Track and increase the number of public art projects installed over a five-year period. (City statistics)
O O Use Cultural Mapping to track and determine new "Creative Nodes" or "High Quality Spaces." Track
D o spaces that are outside the central downtown Arts and Culture district boundaries. (Economic
C5 Vitality & Arts and Culture Division)
Lead
Establish goals for the number of arts and culture sector convenings to occur annually, track
attendance and evaluate the success. (City to track)
Improve the community survey rating that 50.5% of respondents stated they were "somewhat or
very dissatisfied" by the "variety and amount" of arts and cultural activities available to them in
Fayetteville. (Through City surveying efforts)
Maintain high community ratings on the value of arts and culture in Fayetteville. Embed key
10 questions into periodic community surveys: "How important to you and your family are arts and
culture opportunities in Fayetteville?" (74% very important; 16% important in 2024) and/or "Arts and
Cultural activities are important aspects of life in Fayetteville" (92% agree or strongly agree in 2024).
(Through City surveying efforts)
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 57
IMPLEMENTATION TIMING
To assist in implementing this Arts and Culture Plan, the following table outlines plan strategies
into timing categories: immediate, short-term, mid-term, long-term and ongoing. As this is a
community -wide Plan, the community, a broad range of stakeholders and the City of Fayetteville
will need to work together to advance its goals. This collaborative effort is indicated below through
icons showing who the initiator or lead of each strategy might be: the City W, the community:0i
or both W Z. In many cases (if not most), collaboration and partnerships will be needed to realize
results.
One of the first steps the City and the community can take is to host a series of convenings to
socialize the Arts and Culture Plan and identify organizations, community partners and individuals
interested in having a role in specific strategies or topics. These groups can then identify who else
needs to be at the table, what action steps to take, and kick-start those steps.
IMMEDIATE ACTION
Continue to provide entrepreneurial training and resources and ensure it is tailored
1.2.a and directly marketed to the creative sector (ie. StartUp Junkie, FPL Maker to Market
Program and Nonprofit and Small Business Resource Center).
1.5.a Regularly convene the arts and culture sector to facilitate collaboration, connection
and networking.
Intentionally invite historically disadvantaged artists and creatives to attend
1.5.b networking events and to suggest meaningful meeting topics, especially BIPOC
groups, emerging artists and youth.
Reprise earlier 2018 discussions with ArtSpace, a national not -for -profit affordable
1.6.a housing developer, to update past information and begin the next level of research for
a larger live/work project in Fayetteville.
2.1 Develop an arts and culture investment strategy for the City of Fayetteville in
alignment with the recommendations of this plan.
Consider developing a local or NWA regional "Business for the Arts" association to
2.6.b connect the creative and business communities, and encourage businesses to support
and partner with the arts and culture sector.
Community
Collaborators
to*
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I
58 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
Immediate Action (Cont.) Community
Collaborators
Evaluate the current Cultural Arts District boundary and potentially expand/
3.2.a reconfigure it to fully incorporate arts and culture opportunities in the downtown. �s
Develop incentives and a funding mechanism to sustain arts and culture within the �
boundary.
3 _ Develop a programming philosophy, policies, and diverse partnerships to activate The
Upper Ramble as a key feature and connector in the downtown area.
Actively and consistently participate in Economic Vitality's ongoing process to
3.4.a inventory and prioritize existing, vacant and underutilized spaces and parcels, .s
including those owned by the City, to further identify spaces for potential arts and
culture uses.
4.1.0 Develop Public Art policies and procedures based on best practices and community �A
needs to administer the program. �
4.1.k Identify key opportunities for public art and placemaking based on upcoming Capital
Improvement Projects and priority development nodes. (See appendix) r4W
5.1 Advocate for a strong focus on arts and culture in the upcoming Downtown Plan. 09*
Identify timing and determine Arts and Culture staff and Arts Council involvement. rrr
5.4.b Create a larger/signature arts market and promote it locally and regionally (and
beyond) as it builds.
5.4.d Build upon the Gallery Hop event and consider a studio tour event to promote visual go*
arts and galleries as a draw.
Build a local coalition of arts and culture advocates, leaders and community political
5.5.a
leaders that meets regularly to identify issues impacting the arts and culture sector
._ �•+
I
and develop strategies for advocacy.
Collaborate across all city departments, especially Arts & Culture Division, Economic
5.6.a
Vitality, Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs, Planning, and Transportation, in
�`
prioritizing and forwarding strategies identified in this plan and others to grow the arts
4
and culture sector.
Ensure that key staff from the Arts and Culture Division are invited and present "at
5.6.b
the table" for discussions and decisions that could benefit or impact the sector and
P�
placemaking efforts.
I
5.6.f
Ensure consistency of name usage for Parks, Natural Resources, and Cultural Affairs
.s
and the Arts and Culture Division across the City and in all communications.
�
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 59
SHORT-TERM ACTION • •
Community
Collaborators
1.1.b
Coordinate with the Economic Vitality department to integrate the creative sector into
future
.
planning and programs.
1W
Ensure equitable access to workforce development offerings, such as creative talent
1.2.b
pipeline development, Level Up Skills Development for creative trades, etc. Be Intentional
in inviting and connecting people to training and resources, striving to lower barriers to
participation and meet people where they are.
Build and publish an accessible, online directory of resources for artists, creatives
1.3.a
and organizations, including local, regional, state and national resources, funding
•o•
opportunities, grants, BIPOC resources, apprenticeships, residencies, databases and
♦ft1
training opportunities.
1.3.b
Sponsor the creation of a searchable database (or promote use of existing searchable
000
databases) for creative businesses to add their available studio and rental spaces.
1.3.0
Host an online creative job/gig board for local artists and creatives to connect with work
i 0
opportunities.
r
Bring recognition to the many trades directly related to the creative economy, such as
9 410
1.4.a
welding/metalwork, sewing/costuming/fashion design, culinary, carpentry, electrical,
_
seat
engineering and others and training opportunities.
1.4.b
Expand the City's definition of the Creative Economy to include skilled creative trades as
.�
called out in the Economic Vitality Master Plan 2024.
1.4.f Seek out opportunities for sharing facilities for training through agreements between City 960
and University or other colleges or Fayetteville Public Schools. �� frls
Support and collaborate with City and community entities involved in affordable housing
1.6.b development. Package funding tools to support the development of affordable housing �� jmj
and help developers make the project feasible.
1.6.e Encourage and support the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as rw
affordable live/work spaces for artists and creatives.
Adopt a percent -for -art ordinance with a recommended set -aside of 1.2% to 1.5% of the
2.2.a total cost of City of Fayetteville capital improvement projects (CIP) to be pooled into .w
a public art fund to support art projects and collection management throughout the
community.
2 2 c Support the Downtown Fayetteville Coalition in efforts to increase funding for arts and 000
culture infused events, programmed series, and activations. ArW
Examine code regulations to identify interim solutions that don't require full and
expensive renovations to properties to host pop-up installations, performances or
2.4.0 galleries, in order to encourage temporary uses in vacant spaces either for a short or
longer -term period, thus allowing the buildings to be affordably activated while awaiting
new tenants.
2.5.a Continue to advocate for expanding and making permanent the state -level film tax rebate *00
through the Arkansas Film Commission. �� Arr*
2.6.0 Create a private fund at the Fayetteville Area Community Foundation to accept donations .�
to the Arts and Culture Division of the City.
60 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE I Arts & Culture Plan 2024
Short -Term Action (Cont.)
Community
Collaborators
2.6.d
Spur Fayetteville arts nonprofits to increase their participation and collectively promote
•o•
the NWA Gives Day of Giving event to engage the community in giving.
rrr
2.6.e
Develop a larger arts market/special event as a high profile opportunity for artists,
goo
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artisans and creatives to sell and collectors to buy.
3.2.b
Identify and prioritize key sites along The Ramble for arts and culture uses and activation.
��
Strive to develop a culture of 24-hour activity along Dickson Street and into the
3.2.0
Downtown area. Activate spaces underutilized in the daytime/early evening to create
a more 24/7 economy and entertainment zone for all ages, while also encouraging a
�� rms
nightlife that is welcoming to the entire community, not just college students.
Firmly establish The Square as an arts and culture destination within the Cultural Arts
3'
District. The City's Arts and Culture Division should continue to advise on the use and
r000
iss
activation of this space.
Engage in a collaborative planning effort for Mount Sequoyah with key stakeholders,
3.3.b
including the City, Mount Sequoyah Board and neighbors, to strategize future
development, activation and use of this iconic site and how to financially maintain, sustain
rrorr
r
and grow this unique and historic place.
Improve the stage area at Gulley Park to improve the quality of the popular free summer
3.3.c
concerts, including a raised and covered stage, small support area and power/sound
��
position.
Strengthen the connection and resource sharing between the University and the
3.5.a
community, facilitating greater community use of existing University theaters, galleries
._ r090
' a
and other arts and culture spaces.
Promote the University's School of Art's community programming for use of the Art +
3.5.b
Design Center's resources (includes non -degree registrations/scholarships and the tuition
rr�>t
free Senior Razorback program).
Explore additional community uses of University and Fayetteville Public School art studio
3.5.0
spaces, equipment and theatre spaces, perhaps through summer residency programs,
���
mentorship or collaborative programs.
Promote and make widely -available spaces at the Fayetteville Public Library to increase
3.5.d
usage of their Center for Innovation, Event Center for performances, and exhibition
06y
opportunities.
4.1.a
Formalize a City Public Art Program, expanding on current public art efforts.
&
4.1.b
Establish sustainable funding for public art.
4.1.d
Consider enacting a "voluntary" public art contribution on select City projects ahead of
s
r�
sustained funding.
Prioritize hiring a City staff position to manage the public art program, oversee
4.1.e
maintenance of the existing collection and serve as a liaison with City departments,
�s
ensuring public art opportunities aren't missed.
I
Prioritize engaging and inviting diverse and underrepresented artists for public art work
4.1.f
opportunities such as commissioned projects, city -sponsored exhibitions, and/or artist
�� areas
registries that promote local artists.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 61
Short -Term Action Cont.)
Community
Collaborators
4 g
Seek to spread public art throughout the city of Fayetteville and its Neighborhood
Centers, especially areas lacking in publicly accessible artwork.
Collaborate with the newly formed Downtown Fayetteville Coalition to identify
4 1.1
opportunities for visual arts to enhance the downtown experience, such as alley
•�•
improvements, dumpster blinds, lighting, temporary art programs, etc. that could
incentivize public art and add to creative placemaking.
4.3.c
Support the Historic District Commission's efforts to identify significant historic structures
and landmarks and the creation of a local historic district designation program.
Encourage the designation of structures and physical locations with historic relevance on
4.3.d
the Arkansas Register of Historic Places and/or the National Register of Historic Places,
.w
making them eligible for both state and federal grants, and state and federal Historic Tax
Credits to help fund restoration and preservation of these properties.
5.2.a
Create a common brand for the arts and culture sector to increase exposure and instill
�� rr's
pride for the entire community.
Collaborate with Experience Fayetteville and other key partners to develop strategic
000
5.2.116
marketing and promotion of Faytteville's arts and culture and the Cultural Art District, to
increase cultural tourism, bolster the local creative economy and increase participation.
5.2.b*
Expand, invest in, and promote Experience Fayetteville's online calendar to highlight and
•�•
provide access to Fayetteville's arts and culture.
5.4.e
Build on and expand arts programming through the City's recreational offerings.
Identify and track leadership training opportunities at the local, regional and national
5.5.b
level, promote the opportunities locally and consider providing stipends or scholarships
�� M's
for local artists, creatives and cultural leaders to attend.
Strive to connect with similar like-minded advocacy groups and coalitions in cities across
5.5.c Arkansas to strengthen regional and state advocacy for initiatives that benefit the arts
and culture sector.
5.6.0 Revisit the role and responsibilities of the Arts Council as an advisory board and as
ambassadors/advocates for this plan and arts and culture in Fayetteville.
5.6.e Collect data on the arts and culture industry to provide impact reports and white papers
on the importance of a strong cultural economy.
5.6.g Encourage candidates running for city offices to create platform positions on how they
will enact policies related to arts and culture.
62 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE I Arts & Culture Plan 2024
MID-TERM ACTION
Community
Collaborators
1.2.0
Expand film and video programs and training at the college and university level as well as
high school career programs.
1.2.d
LDevelopmusic industry specific training in areas like licensing, sync, publishing andcoring.
r
1.3.d
Develop a matching program to connect artists and creatives to jobs at employers with
gee
creative sector needs, building a pipeline of creative workers.
�� Arm*
Sponsor business development programming and education, including tutorials, lectures,
6;
1.3.e
or Q & A sessions for tax, legal, finance, business planning and branding/marketing
�
assistance.
Investigate creating programs to connect artists with professionals who can provide low-
1.3.f
cost or pro-bono bookkeeping, grant -writing, accounting, legal, and other professional
.� I y
' �
services.
1.3.9
Sponsor ongoing education, apprenticeships, mentorships, leadership training and
�.f, � o
residencies.
r
Conduct a study for the City and Region that provides analysis of where there are
1.4.0
gaps in creative trades (what's needed) vs. what's being provided. Target training for
��
specific needs and gaps. Seek potential funding from the US Economic Development
Administration (EDA).
Establish new targeted incentives to encourage developers to provide affordable housing
for creatives utilizing some of the city's funding (i.e. carving out a portion as a set-
1.6.0
aside for artist housing). While Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funding can be
challenging to utilize for small scale affordable projects, HOME and CDBG funds can be
deployed to incentivize some affordable artist live/work units in a larger project.
Partner with planning to create a density bonus to encourage more affordable housing
1.6.d
and/or affordable creative space (galleries, etc.) by allowing for increased building height
or building area in exchange for increased affordability requirements.
Enact a funding mechanism to support the development of arts and culture and creative
2.2.b
business within the boundary of the Cultural Arts District (see also Creative Spaces), such
as a Business Improvement District (BID), Community Reinvestment District (CRD) or
other available mechanisms.
Enact a strategic support funding program to provide financial support to arts and
2.3.a
culture organizations, institutions and initiatives. Programs like this can be a tool for
targeting areas of community need, supporting the work of organizations and for
incubating and seeding new projects within the city.
Ensure equitable access to support funding by valuing social impact and the priorities
2.3.b
and initiatives for and by historically disadvantaged groups including Black, Indigenous/
and People of Color (BIPOC).
Explore the creation of incentives for developers to invest in/develop/carve out room for
2.4.a
arts and culture spaces, studio spaces for working artists and creative business. (Bonus,
Enhanced Development Menu, Public Art, etc.)
2.4.b
Explore incentives for property owners to establish more spaces for creatives to work and
��
maintain affordability. (Lease incentives, tax abatement/refund, residency program, etc.)
4
2.4.d
Explore studio space stipends for artists and members of the creative economy.
V4 O
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024 63
Mid -Term Action (Cont.)
Community
Collaborators
Consider establishing a Mayor's Art Award to honor both artists/creatives and major
2.6.a philanthropists and donors. Host an awards event that brings donors and artists together, Wi
providing public recognition and encouragement for future philanthropy.
Conduct a citywide Cultural Facilities Study to identify creative space needs and �_ Areas
0
_.I determine the right mix of cultural facilities to support arts and culture in Fayetteville. '
(3.1.a-h, 3.2.e)
Identify key existing arts and culture spaces through the cultural facilities study that
could be amplified to meet needs and growing demand and what investment might
3.3.a be required. Introduce key existing and potential arts and culture spaces as a another �� ArW
component for analysis within the context of the of Neighborhood Center Advancement
Plan (NCAP).
3.4 Maintain and track locations for potential new arts and culture uses and investment.
3.4.b Advocate for strategically acquiring parcels and structures in key neighborhood centers
outside of downtown for proactive arts and culture development projects.
3.4.0 Seek to better distribute art and culture spaces, also identified as "high quality places" in
the Economic Vitality Master Plan 2024, across Fayetteville to ensure access to all.
4.1.1 Pursue a Public Art Master Plan to review and refine guidelines and policies, prioritize
projects, locations and define new initiatives.
Consider developing a more robust mural program, including developing a formal festival
4.1.j (like 2O17's Green Candy Art Action festival or 2020's Sprayettville) and revamping
existing utility box murals and a wall + muralist match program.
4.2.a Consider establishing design guidelines and/or a design overlaywithin the revised Cultural
Arts District boundary.
Identify and prioritize cultural and historic places of significance for cultural groups and
4.3.a diverse communities, with the intent to recognize, preserve, remember and celebrate the
heritage, culture and character of historic spaces throughout Fayetteville.
r� ArW
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Activate public spaces and culturally important neighborhoods through the arts, such
4.3.b as public art, murals, events, festivals, signage, etc., to celebrate a sense of place and �� joy
identity for the community. I
5.3.a
Work with local arts and culture organizations, producers and entities to create and
*Go
sustain beloved community events that build on modeled past successes.
�� &W
5.3.0
Create experiences for local artists to co -mingle with regional, national or international
go*
artists to inspire growth and development of the local arts sector.
�� Ifrt
SAX
Establish a program for arts and culture pop -ups in vacant storefronts, on the Ramble or
*00
in other public spaces to support new businesses and art ventures.
�� Ira*
Make Fayetteville as accessible and attractive as possible for events and film projects by
5.6.d
providing streamlined access to key resources. Consider establishing a special events hub
��
or office to serve as a central point for navigating permits, event production needs, and
coordination with City departments.
5.6.h
Convene a local advocacy coalition, connect it within the region and state and be an
+ *N
�� 4W
organizing force behind it.
64 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE I Arts & Culture Plan 2024
LONG-TERM ACTION
Community
Collaborators
Seek out partnerships with University of Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas Community
1.4.d College, Northwest Technical Institute and others to increase creative trades workforce •oo
training opportunities and to connect people currently working in or studying trades with W2111111
the creative sector.
Investigate opportunities at the high school level to connect and assist creation of
1.4.e expanded curriculum and workforce education for youth who are interested in exploring
these careers.
Create a design guidebook with ideas and inspiration on how artist housing can be
1.6.f incorporated into development and redevelopment projects (e.g. providing floor plan
concepts that demonstrate how live/work space might look).
Advocate for a voter -approved sales tax to support arts and culture in Fayetteville,
2.2.d potentially in conjunction with parks, enduring green land acquisition and operations/
maintenance (Arts & Parks) or with climate action efforts.
2.2.e I Explore, long-term, a possible NWA regional tax benefiting arts and culture.
Survey and adjust support funding over time as community, artist and organizational
2.3.c needs change. Initial areas of need may include artist and musician work opportunities,
arts education, neighborhood vitality through public art, capital investment, arts and
culture experiences and programs, technical/training support.
2.5.b Seek to develop a local, municipal -level tax rebate to support local productions and drive
outside filmmakers to Fayetteville and utilize local resources.
5.3.b Create new, large-scale signature events that celebrate Fayetteville's unique strengths
and local identity.
5.4.a Develop a signature week-long community -wide event(s) for a quintessential Fayetteville
experience.
ONGOING ACTIONS
l.l.a Develop the creative workforce citywide and advocate for artists and creative workers to
be paid a living wage and receive business sector support.
1.1.c Assure that the creative sector is accounted for in future housing planning at the City
level.
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to*
Community
Collaborators
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4.1.h Continue to encourage public art as a means of celebrating, remembering and honoring *00
diverse communities and neighborhoods within the city. �� ArW
5.5.d Continue collaborating with CACHE to identify opportunities to partner and convene the •00
arts and culture sector regionally. oW
Continue to connect and collaborate with state, regional and national arts associations,
5.5.e like Arkansans for the Arts, Arkansas Arts Council, Mid -America Arts Alliance, South Arts, y
and Creative West.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2024
65
SECTION 7
•l•I=]@I*
w
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Community Survey
.lesults and Analysis
2024
The Fayetteville Arts and Culture Survey was available to the community from March to June via
SpeakOutFayetteville.org. Additional surveying was done via paper surveys in July and August. Overall
the general survey received a total of 498 responses. The following is a summary of the responses and
analysis thus far. *Questions marked with an asterisk were not included in the paper survey.
Out of a total of 613 Responses: 89% of respondents were Fayetteville residents; predominantly from
Central/South Fayetteville (48%) and North/Northwest Fayetteville (52%). (11%were Non -Residents)
Zip code information indicates that most of the respondents are proportional to the zip
code data demographics for the city (with 72701 and 72703 being the majority of the
city.)
7270148% Central and South Fay
72703 30 % North Fay
72704 20 % NW Fay
72764 1% Springdale/far north
72730 1% Farmington/far west
Age, Gender, Race
Respondents for this survey tended to be younger, predominantly female and predominantly
white. This data is consistent with demographic data for age and race (Fayetteville's median
age is just over 29 while the national average is 39). Anecdotal evidence that arts survey
respondents tend to be more female.
h ttps://www. in foplease. com/us/censuslarkansaslfciyettevill eldemographic-statistics
https://dcitacommons.org/placelgeold/0523290?utm medium=explore&mprop=aqe&poet=Person&hl=en
Respondent Ages
17 or younger 2%
18-24 4% (6% under 24 Note: this seems to be a bit low given the current
demographics, likely due to timing with University schedule and student access to
survey)
25-34 25%
35-44 29%
45-54 17%
55-64 13%
65-74 7%
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 1
Over 75 3%
Respondent Gender
65% Female
28% male
7% non -binary or prefer not to answer
Respondent Race
78% white (reflects current demographics)
7% prefer not to answer
Nonwhite: just under 14%
• American Indian/Alaska Native. 1%
• Two or more ethnic races 4.1%
• Asian 2.5%
• Black/African-American 2.5%
• Hispanic or Latino/a 3.3%
• Prefer to self -describe .6%
When asked to "share your relationship to arts and culture in Fayetteville, the majority of
respondents identified as people who appreciate arts and culture and who enjoy attending
arts events and collecting art (about 55%) and 45% of the respondents who identified as
working artists or arts business owners. *
I enjoy attending arts and culture activities and events. 35.7%
1 appreciate the arts as a general community member. 14.8%
1 am an art lover who collects art. 4.4%
I am a working artist/performer/musician. 14.8%
1 like to make art, perform or create, but don't pursue it as a living. 13%
1 am a creative business owner or entrepreneur. 8.9%
1 work in the arts and culture field, but not as an artist. 8.3%
The arts aren't for me..5%
Other 2.9%
Fayettevillians are proud of their outdoor amenities! When people were asked "When people
visit Fayetteville, what do you recommend they do or see?" two of the top five recommended
destinations were outdoors. Also high in the top five were the Restaurants/Breweries, The
FAPL and Museums. Near the bottom was local shopping and the University or Razorback
athletics.
1 Hiking, biking and outdoor recreation 76.1%
2 Restaurants and breweries 73.2%
3 Drive through beautiful Ozarks 57.3%
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 2
4 Library 56.5%
5 Museums 54.6%
6 Festivals and special events 52.8%
7 Live music venues 49.5%
8 Performing arts venues 42%
9 Our city parks 41.2%
10 Mt. Sequoyah/The Overlook 36.5%
12 Razorback athletics 31%
11 University of Arkansas 30%
13 Local shopping 30%
When asked "What types of arts and culture activities do you participate in or attend?" a
whopping 80% of the people surveyed responded that they enjoy attending the
Farmers/Makers markets in Fayetteville (80%), and art exhibitions/galleries were the next
favorite (68%) The next favorite cultural activities are tied between experiencing live music
(65%) and culinary experiences (65%). Attending dance performances and crafting scored very
low, with only 28/27% of respondents choosing these options.
1 Farmers/Maker markets 80%
2 Art exhibitions and galleries 68%
3 Live music 65%
3 Culinary experiences (great food/restaurants) 65%
4 Botanic gardens 61%
5 Festivals 60%
6 Museums 58%
7 Live theatre 54%
8 Murals/Public Art 53%
9 Art sales or markets 47%
10 Craft beverages 43%
11 First Thursdays 40%
12 Creating my own art 39%
13 Art making classes 33%
14 Film/cinema 33%
15 Dance performances 28%
16 Crafting 27%
What creative activities do people enjoy most frequently? When asked "How often do you
participate in or attend the following in Fayetteville each year?" 66% of people responded
that they were likely to "View murals & public art" AT LEAST 3-4 times a year or more.
Perhaps this frequency is related to the fact that the murals are free and visible in all parts of
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 3
town. 51 % of respondents stated that they experience visual arts or galleries at least 3-4
times a year, and 50% of respondents stated that they are likely to enjoy "culinary and craft
beverage experiences" at least 3-4 times a year and 17% said they enjoy culinary and craft
beverage experiences at least 10 or more times a year. Everyone has to eat, right? The
opposite was true of art classes/workshops ( 48% stated that they never attend) and dance
performances ( 45% said they never attend). The following creative activities were in the middle
ranges for frequency for Fayettevillans:
• Theatre/performing arts events
• Museums
• Arts festival or events
• Film or cinematic events
• Folk or cultural events
According to this poll, it seems that there is room for growth in the "variety and amount" of
Fayetteville's arts offerings/activities. Just under 15% stated that they were "somewhat or
very dissatisfied" by the "variety and amount of arts and cultural activities that are available" to
them in the city. The majority —over 69.1%-- of respondents stated that they are "somewhat
satisfied or satisfied." Only around 13% percent stated they were "very satisfied."
"How do you feel about the variety and amount of arts and cultural activities that are
available for you in Fayetteville?"
Very satisfied 13%
Satisfied 33.6%
Somewhat satisfied 35.5%
Somewhat dissatisfied 12%
Very dissatisfied 3%
On the other hand, when asked "How important to you are arts and culture
opportunities in Fayetteville?" over 90% of people surveyed stated "Important (16%) or Very
Important (74%)." Under 2% stated arts and culture opportunities were not important or not at
all important.
For the majority of people surveyed, the overall benefit of the arts is more about providing a
sense of wellbeing and community --which far outweighed any of the economic development
or tourism benefits of the arts. "When asked "What do you believe are the top three most
important benefits of arts and cultural activities and offerings in Fayetteville?" the top three
answers, by a significant margin, were:
1 Creates a sense of place and community 55%
2 Makes Fayetteville a fun and lively place to live 44%
3 Increases quality of life and livability 140%
4. Supports and creates active and unique neighborhoods 28.4%
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 4
5. Represents and celebrates our diverse communities 26%
6. Causes positive changes in our society 24.2%
7. Brings communities together 18%
8. Provides opportunities for people of all ages to learn 16%
9. Beautifies my communities 15%
10. Contribute to Fayetteville's economy 12%
11. Attracts tourism 4%
12. Improves Fayetteville's reputation 3%
13. Other (please write in additional examples) 2%
People in Fayetteville participate in the arts for their own personal enjoyment and happiness
and to have new experiences. When asked "Why do you attend or participate in arts and
cultural activities?" the top answers were:
1. To have new experiences 72.5%
2. To be entertained 72%
3. For my personal happiness and wellbeing 69%
4. To support local artists 66%
S. To feel connected to my community 66%
6. To spend quality time with family/friends 63%
7. To learn something new 58%
8. To support the local economy 48%
9. To meet new people 34%
10. To express myself 22%
11. To celebrate my identity and/or cultural background 14%
12. It's my job 13%
The arts are regional. Fayetteville residents will travel outside of the city to participate in the
arts as well, which is not surprising given the proximity to neighboring towns and their art
venues. This might also indicate that people travel more regionally to experience the arts —and
people are coming to Fayetteville for certain arts opportunities. When asked "Do you attend
arts and cultural events in nearby communities?" 82% responded that they did, and only 18%
did not.*
Survey respondents feel strongly that Fayetteville is a creative place, and that the stage is set
for an even stronger creative sector. The survey asked how people felt about several
statements:
"Fayetteville is a creative and vibrant city."
69% Somewhat or Definitely Agree
"Arts and cultural activities are important aspects of life in Fayetteville."
92% Somewhat or Definitely Agree
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 5
"There are enough opportunities for me to participate in arts and cultural activities in
Fayetteville."65% Somewhat or Definitely Agree
"Participation in the arts contributes to the education and development of children."
82% Strongly Agree
"We need to improve the quality of arts and cultural activities in Fayetteville."
81% Somewhat or Strongly Agree
"Everyone deserves equal access to the arts."
88% Strongly Agree
There is not much consensus on why people don't engage in the arts, except there is general
agreement that there needs to be better marketing and communication about arts offerings in
Fayetteville. For some, the arts are inaccessible because of the cost. When asked "What are
some of the obstacles that may have prevented you from engaging in arts and cultural
programs and events?" 65% stated that it was due to "Too short notice/Didn't hear about" or
it was due to the "Cost/too expensive" (54%)*
1. Too short notice/Didn't hear about it 65%
2. Cost/too expensive 54%
3. Worry about parking 36%
4. Don't have time, even if interested 23%
5. Not interested in what's being offered 20%
6. Events or activities are sold out 16%
7. No one to go with 16%
8. Do not feel welcome 11%
9. Can't find/afford childcare 10%
10. Don't like to attend activities after dark 8%
11. Other issue/ tell us more 7%
12. Lack of transportation to get to the activity 7%
13. Prefer to do other activities 6%
14. Concerns about accessibility 6%
15. Prefer to go to other cities for arts and cultural activities 5%
16. Concern about language or cultural barriers 1%
The survey reveals that the majority of people surveyed think that the City should spend
more on arts and culture in Fayetteville. When asked "Understanding that the City of
Fayetteville has a limited budget, should the City increase or decrease its investment in arts and
cultural activities and programs?" 64% stated that the City should spend more or much more
on the arts; 27% stated that they should spend "about the same" and only 3% stated that the
City should "spend less or much less."
Spend more 42%
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 6
Spend about the same 27%
Spend much more 22%
Don't know/no opinion 6%
Spend much less 1.5%
Spend less 1.5%
Write-in results
For several questions, respondents were asked to write in answers to questions. Themes
included:
• People love some of the arts programs and events that have been happening or used to
happen and they want them back.
• Fayetteville should embrace its grass -roots efforts and local artists.
• People want murals and public art everywhere!
• More music festivals!
• Not enough museums, galleries, mid -sized music venues.
• Art in and around the natural areas/bike routes would be a big hit.
• People need more studios, flexible spaces, places to create. Cooperative spaces to
share.
• Artist housing & affordable housing is needed.
• Fayetteville should be a place that nurtures and enables its local artists to take creative
risks. It should be a place where young/emerging artists can thrive and find support.
• People are really excited to see what happens in the Ramble.
Do you have any big/transformative ideas to set Fayetteville's arts and culture apart from
other nearby communities?
A Big "Community Center " ... focus in wellbeing (fitness / pool etc ) and in same the building a a big Big
Art Cultural Museo Center ...
After People train every day ... can walk to see / enjoy the art expositions ...
All this central M; near by the library H
1. An awarded artist residency, apartment, or stipend that helps with housing and to encourage their
continued effort to make Fayetteville a vibrant city to live in.
2. Art Fair
3. Mentorship program for artists
1) PLEASE bring back Sprayetteville! That took place in 2020, and it was run by the owners of American
Shaman Kava bar. If the City of Fayeies for the sheer volume of murals we'd have. I also think such
murals could focus on destinations and the trail system. Once we connect the new kayak park (Combs)
to the Greenway, there could be water-themed art leading toward the park.
2) Skayetteville. An artistic extravaganza for roller and inline skaters in Fayetteville! We could make
Fayetteville a true skating destination. We have a phenomenal roller rink, and we also have exceptional
trails for outdoor skating, as well as the art court for dancing. We could make an entire event like
"Skater Migration" in Miami where we do a parade up/down a flat part of the Greenway. The reason
I'm so into this idea is it combines things that make this area unique, such as our trail system, our
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 7
incredible roller/inline skating scene, and our diversity and passion for the arts. You could work with
Clementine Simpson and other local "skate influencers" to make this happen. It would be so fun to
have the skaters do "flash mobs" around town for different holidays, like a Thriller flash mob during
Halloween or a Grease-themed song in the summer.
3) Arts camp for adults. I would love to learn how to do spray paint art/public murals so I could
contribute to the public art along the greenway! I'd sign up for all sorts of art camps to learn how to do
pretty much any type of art!
4) Art-themed bike tours along the Greenway. If we continue to really foster the development of public
art along the Greenway, there could be guided bike tours to show tourists our fabulous art scene!
a large culinary event like Roots Fest used to have on Thursday nights. Develop it into something like
the Aspen Food & Wine Festival
A LARGE public park inspired by the Gathering Place meets interactive, immersive arts experience.
Community block parties to get residents interacting with one another. Revitalize eyesore
neighborhoods like Midtown, in the actual heart of Fayetteville, instead of continuing to make already
bougie places bougier - there are lots of young families, international and hip students in this area that
could benefit from arts corridor type investment. The Marlos Taco Shack lot could be a beautiful
pedestrian friendly destination with string lights overhead and more hole in the wall restaurants like
leverett lounge! Put on free music and movement classes for the under 5 crowd. Shakespeare in the
park. Offer grants to activate underutilized spaces. Build on the native foods/plant scene.
A thriving arts community is inseparable from a city's well-being, yet the current housing crisis
threatens its all of that. Without affordable living options, artists struggle to stay in this town,
diminishing the "funky" that used to exist.
Again, actually fix up the planting on the razorback Greenway
an arts center/ building would be great for the community. for all ages to learn to draw, paint, music
lessons, acting classes. Might be a pie in the sky idea, but it would be a great central place to connect
the community as a hub to lead to our existing theatres, art galleries, music festivals, etc... a shared
space for all, existing and new and for all ages
An increase in literary arts activities.
Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. Art is a healing tool and we need more
opportunities to explore the full spectrum of the human condition and perhaps trauma recovery,
collectively, through public exhibits of emotionally evocative pieces. Perhaps partner with local non-
profits that center work with trauma or violence survivors. Homelessness, victims of crime/justice
system failures , survivors of sexual assault, etc. Provide opportunities for these survivors to create art
and display it. Often, those who suffer deep trauma are also systemically economically impacted and
limited in their ability to access such healing tools. I believe it would be healing for the entire
community to feel less alone in their struggles if they see pieces that relate similar traumatic
experiences to their own with an ability to find hope and healing again. Fayetteville could lead this
innovative, artistic, whole -health approach for the state and the nation.
Artify the trail. The whole trail
Free use of bikes/scooters for transportation
Cross city transportation bus wise
Artist housing and studio developments, artist supplies and equipment share or donation program,
percent for the arts program, funding for arts clubs and organizations, public art workshops,
Fayetteville Art Week, and niche music/film/art festivals.
Artist housing. It would be absolutely transformative for the artists already living here.
Artist studio spaces and fine art sales, galleries. Many small dot spots have had to close which were u
owe and run by local artists
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 8
As I stated above; studio space! The spaces could also be open to the public (at artists discretion) to
view how certain works of art are made.
Be more open to the future and less worried about trying to keep Fayetteville in 1970. Less Rousseau,
more Marc Andreessen and Camille Paglia.
Beautifying our streets, landscaping, more trees, less parking lots, attractive architecture.
Being the college town in NWA it should be the hub for nightlife and music. Eclectic music.
Bentonville is where one goes to "consume" or "spectate" arts and culture. Fayetteville can be where
we create and produce arts and culture.
Bigger murals on the sides of buildings. Something that is a picture destination. Like Fayetteville is my
Favorite ville, but on a bigger scale.
Pop up art exhibits where you can purchase local art. The square would be a great location for this.
Bike -able "museums" like a sculpture garden connected to our bike trail system
Bring back the Music Festival of Arkansas
City art anywhere and everywhere! Excited to see what the park will look like on West and Dickson and
really hope there will be cool art installations
City should work with the Animal Shelter to promote adoption & adoptable pets by doing that thing
that's popular on tiktok where pets make a painting in a zip lock bag and then have an "art show" and
silent auction where citizens can bid on paintings to raise funds for animal shelter and promote
adoption at the same time!
Combined Venues and have program everyday this way instead having bldg just sitting there while
there is nothing going on. Waste of resources!
But that is whole Fayetteville area with everything from housing, to shops and community- museum- or
theaters.
Community open free art making on a regular basis
Continuing to balance nature within the city with urbanization. As such I think the city really needs to
promoting infill and higher density building, while also restricting urban sprawl like developments (like
the rausch Coleman developments on 15th).
This will allow for more green space to be preserved or expanded within city limits. While also reducing
sprawl into the outer areas of Fayetteville.
This will also allow for more arts spaces to be included in development, both dedicated spaces and
outdoor art installations.
I think embracing the natural side of arts would really set us apart from the other nearby communities.
Create a festival around a cultural moment. It could be St Patrick's Day - lean into the musicians and
dancers in the area - share stories about emigrants in the area, bring amazing talent here that visits
Texas and Missouri and surrounding states.
Create a small scale Fringe Festival when the upper ramble is done. I saw a short play from the back
seat of a car with 4 other people and the play was the dialogue of the characters in the front seat.
Incredible. More avant garde events. Not everything has to be family friendly all the time.
Create housing grants for practicing artists
Create more spaces in downtown to make it an art hub.
Create truly affordable housing and work spaces for artists. Pay artists decent fees when using their
services. Be proud of Fayetteville artists and promote them outside the city limits. Don't use arts and
artists as mere economic factors and to help gentrify the city.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 9
Creating sustainable concert series. Bentonville dreams of their arts programming sustaining itself
financially. It's propped up by grants and families. City sessions and sonic guild are doing this, would be
nice to see something like that here.
Fayetteville is unique as most of the working artists in NWA live here, but we mostly make our living in
Benton County. We would take a show of less pay (and even quality) to not go to bentonville because
of the location and we're proud to be Fayetteville residents. More downtown city programming,
utilizing parks/natural spaces with mature trees is something the other cities cannot offer. Their parks
are new and the trees aren't developed. A Wilson park Saturday morning acoustic songwriter series
(low budget) where you invite a local food truck, and encourage the community to bring
snacks/blankets. To increase turnout you could hire the greedy goats to remove ivy nearby or invite a
couple organizations to set up a table/booth and help promote (food loops, city recycling?)
Creative spaces that allow artists to work while engaging with the community without large financial
commitments. Rotating displays of a wide variety of art from smaller budget artists that may not have
time or capacity for large inventories.
Creative studio spaces that residents can rent out for a small fee and use for various types of
art/music/content creation. Similar to renting private study spaces at the University. Ex: more space for
musicians to practice, artists to paint large pieces, etc. Fayetteville Public Television has seen success
with renting out equipment and recording space for video/audio creators.
Cultured Markets, Greek Festivals, Jewish Food events, Rennaissance Fairs, italian food events, food
truck style events. Religious art markets displays and flea markets. Many other cities similar in size to
Fayetteville host events like this people will travel from all over to join in and people who currently live
here will better understand and connect with their community if the people that live here are being
more accurately represented in the cultured events. FOOD is a huge motivator, if you have good food
people will attend, and they will stay for shopping, art, music, dancing, games and friends.
Designate a flowering tree or flower for Fayetteville that grows well here. (Like a dogwood tree or
crabapple. Tulips or Daffodils. Azaleas.) Then encourage or create a program where every business
plants that. Encourage residents to also do so. Plant along heavily trafficked areas. Make it to where
people travel to Fayetteville to see the Azaleas bloom for example. Like people travel to DC to see the
cherry blossoms bloom. Coordinate this with the Botanical Gardens as well. I still think there should be
a major BGO expansion. Also more wildflowers plantings at roadsides and parks would be nice.
Develop engaging programming for the new civic space/upper ramble. Concerts, arts or craft fairs, race
events, parade finale's, etc.
Doesn't the city have people that are exposed to new ideas through conferences and associations?
Don't thin the average Joe has a clue what's missing because because it's missing.
Electric shuttles to attend
Embrace diverse populations and break the stereotype of Ark.
Embrace one of the best things about Fayetteville, its natural aspects, and stop destroying interior
forests for half a million dollar housing for out of staters.
Embrace our heritage of trees, nature, and arts. We have built this town ourselves and it has been
based on our connections to nature. Celebrate this and protect it through policy that protects trees and
conservation and through investments that incentivize small creative businesses.
Empower people already creating grassroots events. The talent is already here.
Expand botanical gardens; add larger music venue and museums. Music genre hall of fame?
Fayetteville (and Springdale) feel more home grown, going back to roots. While Bentonville feels more
like bringing in from the outside (not in a bad way, just different).
That being said, I've been to events celebrating early white settlers in the Ozarks. But I would also like
to see indigenous groups celebrated, and their voices lifted. It feels like there is a void there.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 10
Feature and foster local artists.
Feels like you are trying to get consultant services for free with this question. Does the person whose
idea you use get any compensation or credit?
Focus on the holistic care of your citizens. You cannot actively support the artists of this city, or the
cultural groups of this city, without making meaningful connections or thinking first about issues of
health , poverty, and housing. The arts absolutely cannot be supported in a vacuum. Efforts that do not
address the above are disingenuous and performative.
Free activities that make art accessible to all!
If we are honest, the real competition for best art scene in this area is Bentonville. They are going to be
hard to beat because of all of the money. What would make Fayetteville stand out over Bentonville?
Not sure we have to! If you offer free events like the weekend kick offs, I will do things in Fayetteville
instead of driving the 30 minutes to Bentonville. Help me escape and feel like I have done something
special without leaving my hometown. Give me something to do besides go home and watch tv. Help
my kids feel like their voices matter and get them inspired to create! I want a funky, accepting
community that embraces who they are.
Get the entire community involved
Encourage creativity both individually and collaboratively
Offer venues for people to exhibit/share their works and activities
Given the surrounding communities and distance from other existing ones, a local permanent site
renaissance or medieval festival would probably do really well in the Ozarks.
Grant $$
Grants from our corporate leaders would be wonderful! Could drive or area into model status for
others.
Have a Fayetteville live music site on line to provide listings for music lovers to go to and see what is
available 7 nights a week. This will increase attendance at all of the shows in town.
Have an art sculpture like a painted pig that is along trails, different businesses and buildings
throughout the community that tie the community together through art. The drawings on the pig could
change depending on the "owner" and get updated for events, themes, etc.
Host some Sofar Sound events in the area
https://downtownlincoln.org/explore/first-friday
I believe wherever there is a blank wall (like the giant wall on the new parking deck on West) should
have an art piece commissioned. Staring at neutral concrete is the exact opposite of what Fayetteville
is all about. Maybe start a fund that goes specifically to these commissioned pieces? I'm sure that's
already a thing, but it doesn't seem like it to me.
I don't think it's about amount spent as much as priorities and where/how money is spent. I think the
love could be spread a bit more.
I mentioned them. Spend reserves on our trails and parks. Create an event coordinator position and
give that person the staff and resources they need.
I think if we had a community arts center that would be great! Think like a YMCA, or "Boys and Girls
Club" for artists. I understand that we have the Community Creative Center but that center, as far as I
know, only hosts classes and membership is something that artists cannot afford to pay.
This center would act as a co-op/gallery of sorts where there are individual rooms where people can go
in and freely create. Ideally, the space would allow for artists to donate supplies to it so that everyone
in the space can use them, artists could sell work from the space and display work in the space.
Membership cost would be low and would only have to be paid by those who are looking to either sell
their work out of the space. People would have to volunteer their time to help with the operating of
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 11
the space and keeping it clean -day to day things. There could be classes, and workshops hosted out of
the space in order to bring in revenue to help keep the bills paid BUT the focus would be on actually
creating a physical art community space ... a space that serves THE ARTIST. The space would focus on
serving THE ARTIST so that they CAN create the work that goes out into the community for others to
experience.
I think Mount Sequoyah and Botanical Gardens have a ton of growth potential. I adore both of these
places and could see so much happen there. I think supporting these venues is important. I think
Mount Sequoyah could lean into the wellness retreat/spa arena and also the retro camp vibe as well.
The overlook should be majorly expanded. I am a group member of a local Mom group on Facebook. It
consists of locals, recent transplants, and people moving here. I can't tell you how many times people
have asked about or lamented about the lack of a true spa/wellness retreat experience. I think that
could be a cool avenue for Mount Sequoyah to explore. I think the Botanical Gardens (or Mount
Sequoyah) would be a great candidate to apply for the NWA Design Excellence program the Walton
Family Foundation has. I think that is the name of i. The Botanical Gardens I know had a master plan
that was in the news in the past that included a future expansion. I think it has so many great cultural
events there that supporting it seems like a great decision. It could draw tourists to the city while at the
same time providing a better quality of life for the people of Fayetteville. I would look strongly at
Digital Art. I really think a Digital Arts festival could be really cool and unique.
I think Mount Sequoyah has the potential to be an exciting art park and residency destination.
Additionally I would love to see the historic brick building between WAC and T2 turned into a
Fayetteville Arts Museum. It is definitely something missing for our city.
I think the city is missing a strong core to unify the arts community. There are many markets and
opportunities within the city but this divides the crowd that would regularly attend these events. My
partner and I say this from personal experience, as we participated in nearly a dozen markets
throughout Fayetteville over the last year or so. Comparing these markets to previous markets we
participated in in Monroe, Louisiana, we noticed that Monroe had larger and more Wang aged crowds,
even though it's a less affluent and less snag aged city when it comes to the arts. The main difference
was in the quality of the organization and sense of community that the arts council in Monroe has.
They don't have the opportunity to host dozens of markets a year, and so they make sure the little
numbers of markets they have are extremely well advertised and organized. I feel as if Fayetteville
could achieve this exact same results, but tenfold. Our community here is more engaged and willing to
participate in the arts, we just need to get everyone on the same page to make sure our events are a
true success for both the vendors, attendants, families, and ultimately the city!
I think we should have more frequent farmers markets and put an emphasis on local artists to join in
I think what makes Fayetteville different from other cities is that our art scene is more focused on
smaller artists and performers. I love that when you are supporting the arts in Fayetteville you are
supporting a local artist. I think the city should continue to give a platform to a variety of local artists
If cost is affordable and events are well advertised, more people will participate
If the arts and entertainment district found a way to carve out a pedestrian only space (even if only
after 6:00, on weekends, etc.), I think that could go a very long way in livening up the area. Cars are
noisy and get in the way of performers. We need density not parking lots, so ideas collide and mingle
and meet, not bumpers.
If we could find a way to make the razorback greenway to be tied into arts, culture, and excitement I
think that could be really transformative. This could be art infused into the path itself, it could be cool
tunnels with art and lights within, it could be a whole host of different things that expose so many
people to art in a way that would be so accessible and fun and promote the things that already make
NWA so great!
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 12
If we had a music trust, or a musicians union, or support from the city in any way, it would set us apart
dramatically. We need to be cultivating new, unique artists and recording artists. *new ones*
In a perfect world we'd have a venue downtown that could be activated inexpensively by artists for
exhibits and art installations such as Meow Wolf.
Incorporate U of A and Fayetteville high into art events.
Invest in artists and the community before focusing on more murals and building.
Invest in redeveloping areas of the Downtown, Uptown and the 71B Transit Corridor connecting the
two.
Invest in the culture that's here. Several artists in the community do not have the opportunities that
others may have.
Invest in your artists before they're all gone.
Isn't that what you get paid to do??
It will be impossible to cultivate a community of local art and artists without a comprehensive housing
plan and immediate concrete actions (beyond plans on paper) to reverse recent trends.
It would be amazing to have a City of Fayetteville Gospel Choir. That would be an uplifting experience
for all who are involved/attend, and it would make the current choral scene more musically diverse.
It would be fun to hold some kind of community wide crafting competition. It'd be fun to get to watch
people craft real time and a fun way to showcase local makers
Let Fayetteville grow and stop pushing out businesses. Currently, everyone drives up north for Arts and
Culture and their restaurants as they are much better than what is offered in Fayetteville. If the city
were allowed to grow normally over the last decade we would have a larger budget for arts and
culture. The current system of pushing out any business only hurts Fayetteville and the arts as it is
slowly decreasing interest in the city as a whole. Letting only car washes and oil change locations
doesn't improve Fayetteville or it's citizens in the slightest.
Let's bring the North Forest Lights to the Ramble or some version of it. Let's figure out how to engage
Mt. Sequoyah area to be a gem for our artist community, bring biking trails from east Fayetteville to
the top of Mt. Sequoyah and connect our parts of the communtity.
Local is key. We are not bentonville and do not want to be bentonville.
Look toward traditional rather than the latest new shiny thing, keeping community grounded rather
than transient.
Love outdoor art on trails and murals on buildings in B'ville.
Mainly just creating way more public art all over the city. So much of Fayetteville feels like suburban
sprawl, so anyway, that neighborhoods can develop their own identities through arts would be
extremely helpful! Even creating neighborhood murals would be so transformative when you compare
Fayetteville to the other areas in town. Making them as whimsical and quirky as possible would be
ideal!
Make it local! Communities north of us bring in events and entertainment from other communities.
Create art and culture exhibits and activities from/with local Arkansas artists.
Make run down buildings open , accessible and AFFORDABLE to artist to have places to create.
Make sure that not all events feel too sterile/curated. Bentonville has a monopoly on corporate arts &
culture vibes, so we should double -down on the fact that Fayetteville is a bit weirder!
Maybe try to get builders to build better looking buildings. Too much stark modern boring stuff being
built. That's not " Funky" and is making Fayetteville less attractive.
Maybe we can focus on music since Bentonville has the art scene
Mixing wellness and art
More art and patron to support us!
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 13
More art exhibits. Partner with local galleries. When art is displayed it gets artists talking which leads to
a more connected art community. Make sure to overlap genres in exhibits to bring in more people. Not
every event needs food trucks.
More artist -led initiatives.
More collaborations between different kinds of creative ventures. More interactive public art.
More innovative, experimental events that are available to people who are less physically able. Old frail
people are left out and want art as much as anyone.
More large public art works and murals. I love going to my hometown of Fort Smith and seeing the
Unexpected project. I'd heard that Fayetteville turned that project down. And while I'm super happy
for Fort Smith, I was sad because that would bring tourism/money to our area. I love what Bentonville,
Springdale, and Rogers are doing and am not sure why Fayetteville seems to be excluded from CACHE
and other programs that the Waltons/Tysons support.
More murals and installation pieces by local artists!! And not the same artists repeated lots of times...
hire new people! More installation spaces. Talk to @maddhousestyle
More murals. Install statues and locally made installs along popular streets like college and MLK (which
just opened an art school by Hill St,) improving quality of life while also encouraging walkability. I think
also adding murals to the pavement on the bike trail would be very cool, more installs along the bike
trail that could also provide some source of integrated solar lighting would help deter crime, improve
walkability, encourage exploration, would be very cool.
More music
more public art along trail, maybe a section dedicated to art or a sculpture garden.
continue to leverage the college to create partnerships between the arts program there, public schools,
and the community
More public mural workshops or community art wall events. More Ozark centered folk festivals.
Celebrate regional history and folk craft.
Murals murals everywhere! Street painting too where safe! More murals in schools!
Music festivals
Music festivals
My biggest concern for Fayetteville is the increasing traffic. We are growing so fast and really need a
viable public transportation system, centralize the arts and cultural experiences, making parking
somewhere outside that Big area and have public transport to it.
My MIL is taking a sewing class / fashion show in another city. More fiber arts!
Support local artists housing. Its a lot easier to be creative when you don't have to worry about
skyrocketing rent
My one thought is that we're probably spreading our art and artists too thin and the venues and artists
end up competing against each other instead of supporting each other. It's a good problem to have but
we don't have the population to support how much we have going on .... yet! We have a lot of spaces
and it's kind of spread out. I think the concentrated efforts to focus on one aspect at a time, lately the
ramble, is smart. My big transformative idea would be to create a non -university theater space (for
film) near the square.
Nothing big/transformative- but making it more known what our traditional/yearly events are and
making sure those are quality events every time.
Oh baby yes. More murals, murals everywhere. Initiatives to encourage development downtown. A
new outdoor music amphitheater that takes advantage of the amazing Boston mountains to the south.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 14
Opportunities to view films - start a Fayetteville Film Fest?
Have artists paint creative items like other cities do and place them around the city (we've done this
before, i.e. hogs, rocking chairs, etc. - something unique to Fayetteville)
Our parks are great venues for festivals and performances. We can't compete with Crystal Bridges.
Public transportation between Bentonville and Fayetteville would be a great choice.
Outdoor water park with nature preserved- Underwood's Park
Parking is an issue to come to any events in our cultural downtown or Dickson street areas - cost and
availability. Being late and Fear of getting towed and or ticketed are not a great motivators to coming
down to the arts corridor
PRESERVATION
Provide a free/extremely affordable performance space for local nonprofits
Provide a safe punk venue so people don't have to put on DIY house shows. One understood to be an
adult setting, for example, smoking should be allowed.
Public art installations, like a mural tour
Restaurant crawls, street festivals
See the trolley idea. Trolley can have a rotating "gallery" of local artists. A mobile gallery with art inside
and out.
Seems like more people would rather drive north than stay in Fayetteville for entertainment, a lot due
to parking issues, another is that Fayetteville has turned into a over priced college town with
unaffordable homes
Site specific performance, Taylor Mac, bread and puppet
So many. I would love to take a few people willing to listen around Fayetteville and show them the
actual places people visit and what makes us unique. It would be cheaper to allow the small businesses
to flourish. Fayetteville's overall business model makes no economic sense long term. On the path
we're on now, build up will continue until it sucks here, artists can't afford to live here, and then people
will bail. I wish I could explain how important the arts are for long term city growth, but this box is too
small.
Stay focused on local up n comers, they've been holding the vision this whole time
Stop spending so much to be the best biking trails in Fayetteville or Parks and rec. use that money to
make festivals for kids of different ages, different cultural events, a place that's covered but not to big
like in Springdale on Emma. Maybe we already have a place we can use, it needs easy parking and easy
accessible for all. Free to attend.
Subsidized spaces downtown for artists and performers to work and/or display/perform their work. It
doesn't even need to be fancy and polished.
Support arts institutions from the back end (what CACHE should have done if it had been siccessful)
Take advantage of the presence of the University of Arkansas to incorporate a community of educated
people providing and maintaining a well educated local community of an environmental and social
diversity aware population. The current and increasing non -permanent student population is not
enriching the uniqueness of our city, nor is our permanent community able to maintain prosperity and
permanence of its uniqueness. Surely, there's a better way for the University and the local community
to be better connected and involved with the impacts of each other.
The big transformative thing really would be to prioritize the growth of artists. I think most
communities that say they are arts/culture communities don't really walk the walk, you know? In order
for arts to thrive, artists need to have places where they can (afford to) live and learn and work and
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 15
that is really difficult to come by. I realize this is not just a city issue, and I am speaking as someone
mainly involved in music. There are amazing people in our community who are working on this (shout
out folk school!) but it has to be just as important to support the people who live here as it is to
welcome students, sports fans, and tourists. It's definitely about getting good venues in place, but it's
also about affordable housing in the places where you want artists to be.
The biggest opportunity I see for Fayetteville is investing in the arts and culture of the various
neighborhoods in Fayetteville. As the city grows, having these little pockets of supported diversity and
culture throughout the city will relieve pressure on downtown and allow Fayetteville to expand
uniformly across the city.
The current WAC lease expires in approximately 25 years. We might want to consider a 2,200 seat
venue within 20 years. That is the size which is missing in our region.
The Roots Festival set a significant precedent for showcasing the artistic, culinary, and musical
contributions by diverse, vibrant cultural groups through time. Fayetteville has its own history and mix
of cultural groups on which to focus and engage in creating an annual or biennial festival unique to the
City.
There are many artists that live in Fayetteville. More encouragement of collaboration within city for
Fayetteville artists to work toward a common goal/piece or work with visiting artists.
The area is in need of more art that becomes central to the place. Wilson Park has the castle that is art
but can also be experienced and enjoyed throughout the year. The Arts Corridor should have more art
that people happen upon and associate with Fayetteville instead of having to go out of the way to view
art. It becomes central to the Fayetteville experience versus having to search it out. The Walton Arts
Center as the starting point of the corridor needs to become more welcoming and artistically
inspiring/inquisitive from the outside. The corner steps are wasted space that the public could be
experiencing and enjoying art. Sustainability, enjoyment, and inclusion should be key factors of the arts
and culture of Fayetteville as we plan for the future.
There would probably be more participation in the arts if the city wouldn't kowtow so much to a select
few groups or individuals.
This arts corridor will make or break things for Fayetteville. If we can't make that more than just a park,
then we've failed.
This is a question to ask the artists in our community, they know what makes this place this place
instead a weird manufactured thing like Bentonville
This is not a big idea, but I think more could be done to publicize and showcase Fayetteville's rich
architectural heritage and resources, especially domestic architecture.
Tourists want a quaint, historic, traditional town (think Eureka Springs) in which to stroll around, attend
arts events, get food, and shop. We should be filling our downtown with the traditional, human -scale,
historic -looking architecture through which people want to stroll, rather than with alienating
Modernist architecture that drives people back into their cars.
Transformative ideas
Unique festivals and kids museum
Utilize our downtown spaces more often and close down areas for car traffic.
We are a little more homegrown/diy than the folks up the corridor and local creatives are doing
amazing things- how can we support and expand on that?
We just need to start competing in the sector of art fairs.
We need to stop depending on Walton money. Because the Waltons have a history of financially
manipulating situations to get venues transferred from Fayetteville to Bentonville (their home town).
Examples: The Amp. The original art gallery at the Waltin Arts Center (they had it shut down for several
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 16
years so as not to compete with Crystal Bridges). I'm sure there are other examples I'm unaware of.
Fayetteville needs to wean itself off the Walton money teat.
We should not have to go to Tulsa for arts, shopping, quality museums. Zoo, use local people to do
public art. We need a new mayor county judge. Jail is not an arts destination
Why does it all have to feel like there is an agenda. Why does it have to be about race, religion and
sexual orientation. Why can't we just say things are for everyone and stop labeling everything as for
this or for that group. Our children won't look at everyone as equal if we keep labeling everything.
Work with juvenile courts & mental health coordinators to develop art therapy programs that heal
juvenile offenders and reduce recidivism
Would love to see a riverfront park with music events similar to what is in Fort Smith
would love to see more support for local working artists. I feel that Bentonville has the national reach
and national artists but Fayetteville could be a place that really supports local artists. how can we
provide them with more affordable studio spaces and gathering spaces? it's cost prohibitive for an
average person to build a small business with the costs of real estate, ex: we no longer have an art
store!
Yeah stop trying so hard to be the martyr town of Arkansas. You simply do not have that ammo. Again,
one of the whitest towns on the map and you continue to misconstrue investing in the arts as investing
in the diverse community you so badly desire to brag about at your conferences with city governments
that are over 20 times the population and diversity you are. It's embarrassing how self-serving you act,
recalibrate your reality and serve t your source of tax revenue.
Yearly big weekend Festivals
Yes culinary events
Yes, real affordable art studios.
Younger people involvement in planning. All these old people do it and that's not how it should be. Put
younger people on the boards all across the city government.
Are there additional arts and cultural facilities you would like to see developed in
Fayetteville?
A drop -in kids art studio
A food hall would be also an amazing addition to Fayetteville. Id love to see a large fountain in a plaza
or courtyard added somewhere in the downtown area or a park. With tables and chairs around it.
European style. The green lawn that is empty beside the library would be cool to utilize as a pocket
park or market if the Fayetteville Public Library agreed to it. I'm always at the library wishing that there
was a park there for the kids to play at or just benches.
A free streetcar that goes from the downtown square, up Block Ave, then all the way up Dickson to the
U of A. A student on campus should be able to step onto a trolley that takes them to the Farmer's
Market and back again with as few barriers in terms of cost and convenience as possible. It should be a
tourist attraction, take pictures with the trolley conductor. The trolleys should have their own social
media to document their experiences.
A free use performance venue would be an incredible resource for the community
a fun, small space for rotating interactive installations
A history museum, a science museum, a planetarium
A larger concert venue
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 17
A Light Rail Transit System connecting the four Downtowns and Regional Growth Centers.
A mural art alley.
A music hall/museum of sorts with instruments for people to explore
A place for bands to perform that can't afford (or has an audience that can't afford) to play at the WAC
or George's or As live. There used to be Backspace, and Stage 18 on Center Street, both gone now,
possibly due to the pandemic stopping shows for years. Now apparently there is the HopOut DIY
collective, who don't even have an official venue, and Nomad's South Fayetteville which is tiny and not
sound proofed.
A pottery facility that artists can use for their craft and also teach classes. We used to have a place in
the Nelson's Crossing shopping center that would take orders for decorative plates and mugs that
would be personalized with whatever you want on it.
A proper art museum that regularly showcases local artists.
A quilting guild/group.
A theater that shows independent films would be a huge gain for Fayetteville. A graffiti park would be
rad; like the Cadillac Ranch or the Castle in Austin, TX. Neighborhood pubs.
absolutely! more accessible art galleries and live theatre
Aerial dance community, classes
Affordable artist residency or co-working/co-living artist homes.
Affordable community center
Affordable spaces for dance performance and dance classes
affordable spaces for practice, studios, etc. that are integrated into the city instead of pushed to the
outside.
An art and culture building to house art events and connect locals to artists and resources. Similar to
Experience Fayetteville
An art museum with a growing foundation and collection. With opportunities for traveling collections
and local and Arkansas artists.
Anything on the west side
Art and sculpture park, children's art museum, and art installations along the bike trail and at our
public transport stops (ex: bus stops & cross walks) be amazing.
Would love some of our local parks to have rotating culinary spots free for local artisans to take up and
feature their creations (example: food stand at Walker Park featuring local entrepreneur that could sell
their goods... near the crowded water splash park in the summer :))
Art Museums within Fayetteville
Artist residency program
Arts in the Park plays, for free admission. It's a great way to introduce children to plays. It provides
families with a free wholesome cultural experience they can do together.
As an artist with a limited home studio, I would like to see, affordable studio space offered. I am a large
works artist and there are times of year, like now where I am putting a new collection together for an
upcoming show or sale, and my entire home is forced to become an art studio.
As someone who teaches art and craft classes it can be difficult to find an affordable venue for my
classes. In my dream world Fayetteville has a community center where rooms can be reserved for
creative workshops at little or no cost. These rooms would have good lighting, a sink, plain concrete
floors, and plenty of folding tables and chairs on hand. There would be different size rooms to
accommodate a variety of workshops. There are plenty of event spaces available in our area but most
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 18
of them don't want you to get paint on the floor or furniture. And in order to pay for these spaces I
have to raise the price of my classes which excludes a lot of people. And makes me sad.
As stated in a previous question, I'd like to see a stand alone comedy club in Fayetteville. The likes of
which, would rival the famous comedy clubs from around the country.
Ballet
Ballet troupe with a permanent home. Classic ballet, not modern dance.
Ballroom dancing studios that are affordable
Be nice to have a show that showcases individuals with disabilities. Or shows that feature kids selling
their crafts/wares
Better outdoor facilities/stages, with quality acoustics
Bring back a local theatre Like the Ozarks theater or Dickson Theater
Center Street between University and Gregg Streets... Under the train bridge; It is necessary to do an
artistic intervention to put more lights and Murals... It is part of the greenway, but it looks very
abandoned and decaying, dirty and with graffitis
... It could be a very beautiful arch on symbol of Fayetteville..... the library / the train / the University
...everything converges in that corner
Children's theatre.
Christmas market included in the Lights of the Ozarks.
Community art spaces outside of the Waltons
Community participation programs where citizens are invited to do theatre, visual arts, dance, music,
and possibly landscaping/ beautification projects of public areas.
Develop an outdoors music venue for festivals at Mt Kessler.
Encourage more outdoor music & art (like what is planned for the Ramble)
Eventvenues
Excited for the completion of The Ramble!
Fayetteville is in need of an open studio space where artists can come in and do their art amongst
other artists. This facility could be a drop off point for art supplies donations and for a monthly fee, you
could use the supplies available at the facility. Think of an art library with all kind of tools that can be
loaned out.
Fayetteville needs more outdoor music spaces! Something like Grinders in the crossroads area of
Kansas City, Mo would be awesome.
Giant mural on new parking garage and every large surface in the city as possible
Group activities that are inclusive like open play Pickkeball
Group non -passive activities where singles can go. Dancing, speeches, open rack Pickleball. .
I do not feel the facilities are as necessary if the types of events do not improve. Outdoor street fairs,
existing areas and parks can be utilized to meet a massively improved culture and art experience.
I feel we could be welcoming and commissioning more permanent art in our public spaces, namely
sculptures. The Cultural Arts Corridor, while a nice public space, still seems completely devoid of any
permanent sculptures like would be expected in such a space. A set of memorial sculptures honoring
the armed forces at Veterans Park (currently having nothing ... again something you would expect at a
park bearing such a name) would provide an amazing sense of place at an already nice park.
I hope for vibrant and frequent programming in the new civic plaza. The physical elements of the Arts
Corridor are great, and we have had great programming in the Ramble. Now we need to extend that
into the civic plaza . This will make or break the whole project. People will flock to Dickson on foot and
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 19
bicycle for events. Please, frequent live music and art festivals in the plaza! Reference the Railyard Live
setup in Rogers.
I know this is absolutely not the cities' job but like. I would love to see a jazz club on dickson. That also
maybe had certain nights where it was a traditional club marketed toward like the average millennial
and not courting a college student crowd. I& just spitballing here but it would be fun to go out dancing
and not feel like I am surrounded by children.
I like that the "Ramble" is protecting the creek and gardens and providing an outdoor venue for
enjoying art and nature.
I say we start by maintaining the ones we have, that doesn't mean we won't get new art/ artists, it just
means they will have someplace to start
I think more spaces or better use of spaces would help —it also feels that some things that happen
happen at the sands time and end up poorly advertised or poorly attended so a strategy that spaces
things out across different spaces would be interesting
I think that ship has sailed. Crystal Bridges and The Momentary have that covered. We can't even
repair signage or art that is in disrepair.
I think the film community is ready for development, but it would require an influx of resources and a
theater space near the square that isn't controlled by the university. I think inviting major visiting
artists like the library does is a great example and could be a major step for the film community too.
I think we need more venues for all ages and more listening room style venues for older folks.
I want to say yes, but I know it will take away from already scarce housing.
I would like to see event spaces outside of just the downtown area
I would love to see a dance school in Fayetteville for all ages that could also house a dance company of
NWA. I would also like to see more centralized gathering places like a food hall.
I would love to see a smaller than George's ticketed listening room (100 capacity would be great). I
hear this frequently amongst musicians. Musicians typically make less at the front room at George's
with their operational costs and door split than they would at a Mexican restaurant patio.
I would love to see an equivalent to the Yvonne Richardson center near Gulley Park! More art -focused
community engagement in additional areas beyond downtown would be great!
I would love to see an indie movie theater in Dayetteville that I could walk or bus to.
I would love to see Eugene Sargent start up a sculpture collective. But he would need financial help for
that to happen. I've been applying for grants, but I'd love some help with grant writing for artists. He
could be teaching young people welding as it applies to making sculpture.
I would love to see pottery wheel options for kids under the age of 10. Immersive art would be really
cool- I love Meow Wolf and those types of exhibits. Really, anything that combines different mediums,
such as music and painting are fun! More partnerships with local schools would also be great.
I'd love a meow wolf
I'd love to see a natural history museum! Other than that, more facilities like the ramble would be
great. And more opportunities for art workshops!
I'd love to see smaller theaters with aspiring actors, rather than just the Walton Arts Center!
In general, I feel the city has so much potential and its important for us to continue to try to improve
the city for the sake of all that live here. A cost of improving is that more people will want to come live
here as well but that is a great sign that we are creating an environment that is so desirable that others
would want to be here too.
Independent film venue
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 20
Indigenous art spaces. DIY art spaces (like all the ones that have been/are being torn down to
accommodate gentrification & student housing). Performance Art spaces (not theatre productions -
performance art).
Indigenous culture
Keep WAC healthy and thriving! Promote shows more.
Let the small facilities survive. Protect them. If you don't know where they are ask some artists. Our
muralists a good place to start.
Likewise community is nice, more places that operate similar might be beneficial.
Live music, art fairs, use all the public spaces
Local art museum in Fayetteville! with opportunities for local artists to be displayed
Maker spaces and places for lower -income artists to set up a studio. Innovation labs.
Maybe a place that's covered for outdoor craft festivals, doesn't have to be huge. Springdale has a nice
one on Emma.
More accessibility to studio space for artists of all disciplines. More community lead arts education in
multiple disciplines. Live/work space for creative professionals.
More affordable adult art classes
More art installations on trails and pedestrian sidewalks/pathways
More art museums. and galleries
More Art spaces and interactive green spaces
More community centered art installs like art park on poplar
More dance clubs please! More large public art! More music festivals that are not
roots/bluegrass/hippy music. We need museums (art, history, or ecology) and other rainy day /
inclimate weather options.
Would appreciate more lower cost venues that can be rented by individuals and groups for creative
endeavors.
Better architecture and design should be encouraged.
Affordable housing options for artists and creatives are desperately needed.
More dedicated artist housing, affordable housing in general, and shared studio spaces in walkable
areas would be the most significant stimulation to the local artist community. I would also love to see a
world -class museum and/or foundation dedicated to architecture and interior design leveraging our
rich architectural history (Fay Jones, Segraves, Stone, Williams, Fowler, Jacks, Blackwell, Baribeau, etc.)
More varying sizes of music venues, from intimate to concert halls, would help to rebuild our music
scene.
More emphasis on time tested traditional thread and fabric arts that have endured over decades and
evolved from necessity into art forms such as quilting and other needlecrafts.
More family and child oriented spaces. Would love to see a multipurpose arts community center with
rooms available to the public and free/donation based workshops. A children's museum. Don't spend a
bunch more money if cost to the public is going to remain high though. You all need to work on making
it more accessible and affordable, not bougier. Work on making existing things like first Thursday
better events (where are the bouncy houses like in Bentonville? The happier my kids are the longer we
can't stay and spend money supporting local businesses). Bring something like 8th St market to
Fayetteville -- but focus on making it more practical and funny instead of corporate.
More hands-on immersive activities
More like the bub at Wilson Park. Why don't we invest some of our reserves in improving our parks.
More splash pads, playgrounds and stages like Concerts in the Park at Gulley!!!
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 21
More live music
More local museum space and galley space, maker spaces, coffee shops or breweries with art nights
More mural programs, funding for different types of art shows and markets, venues that are artist
friendly to exhibit (cheap).
More music venues
Rehearsal venues
Community art venues
Affordable and community building studio space
More music venues with deep promotional partnerships beyond the current circuit of acts
More nature venues
More nature/outdoor centric activities
More opportunities for musical talents. There's a very dead music scene in Fayetteville.
More opportunities for people interested in working behind the scenes
More outdoor kid friendly.
More outdoor events
More outdoor sculptures along the trails.
More outdoor venues for theatre and other performing arts
More performance art in other venues besides bars.
More public art outside the UofA and Historic District areas.
More safe and welcoming places to share and educate community members about multiculturalism,
multilingualism, and use of technology to preserve and increase our natural environment .
More small galleries
More small music venues needed and more galleries or museum access within Fayetteville. Art fairs
too
More that are child centered or family oriented
More variety
More venues for live theatre.
More working spaces for artists' community and work.
Mount Sequoyah has arts and culture facilities that need support to flourish.
Music festivals and museums
Music festivals would be nice
Music venues
Need more museums/exhibits. Would love to see a natural history type museum.
Neighborhood arts spaces would help create a sense of community and place in a growing city. The arts
corridor feels forced, artificial, and amorphous.
No
No, horrible idea. Waltons say otherwise I'm sure.
None come to mind at present.
NOPE we got enough.
Not at this time, but very excited about the Upper Ramble!
Not really because I feel like the heart of the arts culture is diminishing to make way for large money
driven venues. The small cool places are being torn down and replaced with capitalism.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 22
Not really.
Not really. It seems like we have plenty. A comprehensive guide to spaces both public and off the
beaten path would be helpful though.
Not sure if current community art -making classes/opportunities (and cost) are adequate to the
demand
open/community crafting/art spaces, or affordable studio space
are there incentives for arts related businesses that offer creative outlets to the public (painting,
crafting, multimedia, classes)?
Opportunities to view films - start a Fayetteville Film Fest?
Our square needs more development to encourage evening events
Outdoor concert venues
Outdoor music venue
Pedestrian only spaces in arts and cultural areas of the city.
Perhaps a greater variety of craft and art classes at the Creative Center. It's a great concept that could
be expanded upon.
Public art making opportunities on the regular. Free and open to all. Healing arts
Public maker spaces. Access to fully equipped shops with machines and support. Heavy machinery like
table saws, M
miter saws, band saws, drill press, lathe, welder, 3D printer... and STAFF to assist.
Smaller local sites in neighborhoods
Something like Chelsea Market would be a dream with lots of food and arts vendors
Something like Crystal Bridges lol
Something on the West Side of town (across I-49 off Wedington)
Something similar to Coler Preserve with the Airship coffee shop. Myself, family, and friends spend A
Lot of time there, but I'd love to have something like this in Fayetteville. Combine Nature, Walking
Trails, Coffee/Beer shop, and somewhere my kid can run around safely while I relax is the ultimate
experience. Add some chill live music to that experience on occasion and art along the trail is the
cherry on top. I'm not sure this even falls under Cultural Facilities, but I'd love to see another outdoor
swimming pool in Fayetteville. Take that as a side note if it doesn't fit in with Cultural Facilities.
The current WAC lease expires in approximately 25 years. We might want to consider a 2,200 seat
venue within 20 years. That is the size which is missing in our region.
The diy spaces we once had and are losing will be the downfall of creativity here
The folk school is new and exciting
The Quonset huts (Backspace)— but those are dead. Lala Land— but that is also gone. Fayetteville
Underground, but also gone. Other than Mt Sequoyah, it's difficult to think of a remaining place with
grassroots artists.
There's a lot of emphasis on visual arts, I'd like to see a greater promotion of literary arts. The current
literary activities are mostly at the library (which does a fantastic job!) but the people who attend tend
to come from a small subset of the community. What would draw the general public to literary events?
University Museum with archeological activities and presentations
Black history museum with cultural activities
Unsure.
We don't really have a museum
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 23
We have a Folk School now which is awesome! But limited capacity. I would love to see a Folk Center
kind of like Mt. View.
We should not have to go to Tulsa for arts, shopping, quality museums. Zoo, use local people to do
public art. We need a new mayor county judge. Jail is not an arts destination
While George's is great, Fayetteville could use more live music venues or perhaps do a better job at
attracting reputable live music performers and artists. The Walton Arts Center would make a fantastic
venue for musical acts that cater to young people but that doesn't seem to be a priority for the
management team there.
Wood shop!
Would love to see more all -ages venues and spaces for young independent musicians to play loud
music and express themselves. There have been a few grassroots house concert type situations spring
up here and there around town where local garage bands and young musicians gather, but they
understandably often get shut down because of noise and parking issues. It would be nice to see
another venue akin to Backspace emerge.
Would love to see more live music - Fayetteville does a great job with local and regional artists, but I
would like to see Fayetteville bring in bigger artists
Yes
Yes - the Botanical Gardens does an amazing job with their events - small scale but best in class in
Fayetteville. Blow it up big time!
Yes a 8 th st market
Yes —facilities in no way affiliated with Walton funding.
Yes, a general outdoor space for hosting events and festivals. With power hookups, and that's easy to
access for load in and load out and a covered area in case of rain.
Work with FPL to do better advertising of existing resources (maker labs) so that people know they are
out there. Then eventual expansion of these types of creative tools that are typically cost prohibitive -
kilns, laser cutters and printers etc.
Yes, real affordable art studios.
Yes, see question 23.
Yes! And art walk! See other answers.
Yes! Open studio spaces. Woodshops are messy and hard to come by.
Yes! Please buy that church on Township at Gulley Park and make it an arts -infused food hall!
Yes.
Yes. More museums. More art museums and such.
Younger people involvement in planning. All these old people do it and that's not how it should be. Put
younger people on the boards all across the city government.
What types of arts and culture activities would you attend or participate in that are NOT
currently offered in Fayetteville? What's missing?
Free Theater Music concert Performance !!... Both institutions, Walton Center and Theater, should
frequently offer free shows so that everyone has access to theater
A ball. Dress up ball
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 24
A city art social for artists.
Open studio days.
Free art appreciation courses for the community
A Digital Arts Event or Festival with experiential/interactive displays as well. Movie Nights at Gulley
Park!! A German style Christmas Market to combine with Lights of the Ozarks on the square. Get
community members involved near the Downtown area to host an event similar to Lights in the
Heights in Houston. It is SO fun. I lived in Houston Heights in my twenties and never missed the event.
It is such a fun neighborhood/community event. A Witches Ride of Fayetteville for Halloween similar to
Witches Ride of Ocean Springs. Very fun and family friendly event. Plays into the popularity of biking in
the area. A family friendly event in January or February to lift the seasonal depression that often
happens after the holidays are over. Maybe a food truck festival that collabs with Frost Fest and add
fireworks or a city bonfire. Include old school family/kid games in the day to keep warm i.e.
Wheelbarrow races and egg races. Or maybe work on building the Mardi Gras parade up. A "choose
your own adventure" mural series on the trails or in town. Like the choose your own adventure books,
but make it a mural with local places (or maybe just smaller wayfinding signs and a story you could pick
up at the visitor center). My kids would love this but so would I. Folk/Bluegrass/Blues Festival
combined with workshops/classes for art. Where you could listen to music, experience nature, and
watch art/cooking/craft demonstrations or participate in mini classes.
A Fayetteville -based ballet company, more events that are not focused on breweries/beer
A Film Festival would be fun. A city-wide music festival where all of the city parks have stages with
performers, much like the free concert series at Gulley Park, but all over town. A public art gallery that
has a constant rotation of local art. An art themed pub crawl.
A larger museum.
A museum experience. Fayetteville has a long history of exceptional makers (furniture and instrument
makers especially) and artists. A central hub to see past and current art would be fantastic.
A speaker box/stage like Hyde Park in London. People could give speeches to anyone who wsljsbup to
hear. Or they could ding or even jarioje if a plug was available. A city sign up on a website could
organize (and limit) time slots.... And somewhat control whose presenting about what.
A ticketed small capacity listening room (around 100 capacity) like Stage 18 was, I love hearing local
music without everyone talking over it and also as an artist this would allow me to host more events
here instead of Bentonville. I also find myself going to Bentonville for the larger outdoor events, I
recognize this is likely a budget thing, but bringing larger acts downtown (or even back to the mall
parking lot) would be amazing.
Affordable art classes for adults
affordable art studios in the city. Like in abandoned buildings or such. ...and when I say affordable I
mean something an actual artist can afford not all the BS places out that the rent is the same as
houses, thats not affordable and you will never have a real growing arts community if the artists can't
afford it. Which right now they can't ...and it doing nothing but getting worse.
All the racist ones
Alternative Press Expos, art installations, Independent cinema
An anual arts festival on the downtown square
An area, preferably all within walking distance where you gallery hop. It's close to restaurants,
shopping, too. I would advocate for downtown of course. An event, like an art walk would coincide
with First Thursday so maybe the galleries are open later those Thursdays. Perhaps there are special
events at those galleries those nights. It would be such a wonderful addition. And it would be FREE.
Usually my first Thursday experiences are a little lackluster because I want art and galleries to be
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 25
included! I moved from Lincoln NE and they have a great First Friday event where all local galleries
participate. It may be worth checking out how other cities to doing it and I urge to you adopt the same!
It's so wonderful. And Fayetteville is missing out.
An Art Fair. This would give local artists the opportunity to sell original work. While craft markets are
many, the craft market clientele is not geared toward the fine artist. A fine art fair, in contrast, could
bring in local and international artists alike to attract collectors. I could see an art fair having some
association with events such as Roots Fest, which brings in art appreciators from all over.
An awesome museum. I'd like to see the razorback Greenway become a beautiful native landscape
with lots of restaurants and shops.
An outdoor art exhibit similar to Crystal Bridges. I enjoy walking regularly and it would be great if we
infused regular walking paths with art, livelihood, and an experience that people could enjoy daily or
even be so compelled to travel locally to come experience.
Annual Home/studio tour of artists
Anything on the west side of town
art auctions, big AFFORDABLE studio buildings to create and talk to artists.
Art in nature programming
Art museum; larger music venues
Art walk like in Argenta. Alamo drafthouse.
Artist's studio tours
Arts and Crafts festivals
Arts in the Park. Basically pop up performances of decent quality. I only recall one. It was in Wilson
Park, in the 90's. They did A MidSummer Night's Dream. It was free. Hundreds attended. Back then the
ACO in Springdale offered those as well, also free. Very well attended. SO enjoyable! Late Spring to late
Summer. It would be great if the City would sponsor these again, like how it spinsors the Gulley Park
music Series.
Attention to the East side of Fayetteville. Totally disagree with the focus on "The Mayor's Box' focus. I
don't feel included in this side of town.
Ballet
Better, realistic housing opportunities!!!
Can't really think of anything! Maybe like a marathon? Or a garden of the month thing? Antique fest!
Children Activities
city promoted architecture guide for the wealth of award -winning architecture in the city/region.
City wide yard sale.
Citywide scavenger hunts like Cotopaxi's Questival :)
Classes or workshops to learn new skills.. glass making, weaving etc.
Different themes food events. More open air events.
Community
Culinary events and pop up like Bentonville
Cultural festivals
Cultural heritage experiences, science museum, cultural connections to nature, celebrations of trees,
wildlife celebrations, world cultural shops, incentives for local businesses.
Dinner theater
Drag shows with a positive energy
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 26
Dragon Boat races at Lake Fayetteville, Cultural or craft festivals in other parts of town like East
Fayetteville, Bringing the University and the City together for more inclusive events.
Emerging artists gallery/promotion; because we are lucky enough to be so saturated with talent, it can
be difficult for emerging artists to find a place or learn how to start doing what they love.
eSports
Ethnic festivals to celebrate and learn about different American cultures
Events where local crafters can display and sell their creative products to the general public with
opportunities fir on site demonstrations of artistic talents.
Events with a broader range of cultures, like ones that support specific nationalities
Fayetteville has an ample variety of A&C activities.
Fayetteville needs more museums!!! I don't want to have to go all the way to Bentonville to see good
art. I would like to see an art museum and a science museum, or something like it, closer to
Fayetteville. Fayetteville has more stuff to do if you are an outdoorsy person, which I am not.
Festivals
Film School
FILM/MOVIE STUFF
Fine art Photography
Food festival
Galleries that will sponsor artist local and abroad.
Great question!! ...I can think of nothing.
Greek Culture/Art and or markets/festivals, Jewish culture/Art and/or markets/festivals, Italian culture/
Art and/or markets/festivals, many European cultures I don't feel like are not as well represented as
other cultures. Renaissance fair would be very cool, more creativity with farmers markets and flea
markets for local business owners and locally sourced foods crafts and art would really add to the
economy and community that I live in.
Gulley Park summer concert series should include classical music.
History museum, planetarium
I don't think there are a lot of Fine Art Fairs in Fayetteville. I do know that there are markets that
happen but I think there's difference between art fairs that include craft art and art fairs that art strictly
FINE ART. Art fairs that are specifically geared toward FINE ART allow for artists who create that kind of
work to not have to lower their prices. When people attend craft fairs, there's a expectation or an
understanding that things will be priced pretty low because it's craft. But say for example an art fair like
the Super Fine Art Fair or something like Miami Art Basel -people go there with an expectation to pay
more than craft fair prices. Those types of art fairs attract customers that can and will pay the prices
that artists NEED and SHOULD be charging in order to actually make a livable wage with what they do.
Of course I don't want to exclude any type of artist and I'm not saying that craft art ISN'T art, because it
is, but having art markets that lump ALL makers into one market hurts the fine artist community more
than helps it.
I feel like the city has done a great job offering events at parks, particularly the ramble. I love the gulley
park concert series. I would love to see more events at gulley throughout the year. I love events that
happen within community centers like parks, because the infrastructure ( parking) is there and it
encourages hyper local community.
I feel like this survey has language focused mainly on visual art and theatre and my main interest is
music —I'd like to see music venues that I can afford to attend regularly. High cost of tickets at Walton
Center, Walmart Amp, etc mean I can only go if I really love the artist
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 27
I feel sad that the local and DIY arts and culture community has been slowly dwindling, it seems in
response to a lack of awareness from the more powerful community members and/or gentrification
that has changed affordability and accessibility of local community art and culture spaces. Losing
Backspace, LalaLand/the art experience, and now entirety of The Alley. These community spaces were
an integral experience growing up in the arts/culture in this area.
TLDR: more support for local artists and bands. We have so much here that we need to connect and
build platforms for! We don't need to be searching for musicians and artists out of the area when we
have so much here to uplift
I have already completed this survey but left out a couple of thoughts. I'd love it if SONA had a show
somewhere outdoors maybe at a park. It would be a wonderful experience. Or maybe at Gulley Park a
smaller section of SONA could play or even the Fayetteville High School orchestra could have the
opportunity to play there. Movie Nights at Gulley Park would be nice. A Fayetteville Hygee festival in
January or February. I'd love to take barista classes or maybe beer making classes at the library. Having
a foodie festival that combines blues and folk music. Sort of like what the Roots festival was but bigger.
I have already completed this survey so that is why most of the questions are blank. I had a few
additional thoughts. A very large art festival like the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs or the
Bayou Arts Festival in Houston would be a fun addition. Some type of Festival held at Mount Kessler. I
think it is really pretty out there and it would be nice to appreciate it in a festival environment.
Something that combines art and music maybe. A renaissance festival is another idea. Small
renaissance festivals are not really that impressive, but I went to one outside of Houston once that was
so large and incredibly fun.
I have been very impressed with the things the city has been doing lately. It seems like there are a lot
of events, and I do try to attend them when possible. I think innovative art experiences like Phantasma
are so fun. I would love to see some immersive art experiences that the community could contribute to
and help create. I would also like to see STEAM events for my kids. Most of what drives me to be
involved in the community art scene is my kids.
I think a creative reuse center would do very well here. Something like Texas Art Asylum in Houston or
SCRAP in San Francisco. It would be a non profit space that sells donated supplies, supports teachers
and art education with free or reduced price materials, offers free or affordable workshops for the
community, encourages sustainability and repurposing, etc.
I think we have a good mix but they could be offered more frequently an more affordable for lower
income paycheck to paycheck families. I would love to attend workshops but can't afford them. I would
also love to see more family friendly events, especially for LITTLE children. Fayetteville isn't very
toddler friendly compared to the rest of NWA. I would love to see a big international street food fest. I
would love to see a community center that holds arts/cultural events and is free of charge for the
community to utilize. I would love to see more concerts that have more variety than the classic folksy
Fayetteville genre. I would love to see more film/cinema based events and a bigger variety of cultural
celebrations.
I would appreciate an indie movie theater very much. I used to visit independent movie theaters very
regularly in other cities I've lived in and feel like it's a major gap here.
I would like art openings to coordinate so that you could go to several in an evening or on the same day
monthly like a Thursday. Or coordinate a food event with and art opening etc
I would like more art galleries and arts -focused museums.
I would LOVE a large, public drum circle like the one in Asheville!
It would also be super cool to have an arts district somewhere along the trail system.
I would support any independent music festivals or events.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 28
I'd like to see a legit comedy club in Fayetteville at some point. There are several venues which host
comedy events, but having a dedicated space, Le, Helium Comedy Club, The Mothership, The Comedy
Store... would be a great addition to the arts culture. I'd like to see another pro sports team in the area
at some point. If that's hockey, basketball, lacrosse, something else major to give these sports fans
another outlet aside from the Razorbacks.
I'd like to see more with and about the indigenous cultures/groups that have been and are here now.
I'd love more cultural events, more public dance events, and other free events. I would volunteer!
Indigenous festivals
Installation art, kinetic art, Sculptures that can be experienced with touch, multi -sensory art pieces for
both old and young. More dance and movement opportunities.
International/diverse food and culture festivals
It would be great to have something that celebrates unique aspects of Fayetteville history and culture,
like what foods and music were invented here. Or more opportunities for international residents or
Igbtq or black residents to show their art contributions to the city. But overall we have a variety of
stuff!
It's not so much that they aren't offered, but that I miss them because I didn't realize they were
happening.
It would be great to have a better central hub for everything that's happening, especially if one isn't
using much social media. Experience Fayetteville and the Fayetteville Flyer do a pretty good job of
coverage, but it would be amazing if there was a daily digest that came out via text/email when events
are uploaded to a centralized listing.
Large concert events. The UofA should utilize Bud Walton Arena for a small number of large concerts
each year.
Large outdoor community dining experiences, such as the Dinner En Blanc type event, where long rows
of tables are provided on a closed street, such as Dickson Street, and amenities such as wine can be
purchased to supplement tables of guests who pot -luck meals.
Larger festivals
Live music for families
Living sustainably i.e. making a sustainable economic living that also sustains biodiversity of our natural
surroundings so that our area can maintain clean drinking water, clean swimming water, clean air
instead of chicken house air while simply driving around with windows down. There should be more
support for creative repurposed, re -used, and recycled products made and sold by local residents.
There should be more variety of affordable and well located art studio spaces for local makers and
there should be more opportunities for small booth art and craft selling booths in places like the
Ramble or Downtown sidewalks or easily visible locations for passers by to notice.
Losing our diy spaces, affordability, availability, money
Lower cost art classes and workshops, eco-centered art
lower cost or free music venues, possibly outdoors. Support and space for local, homegrown art and
music.
Meet ups sponsored by local community for different age groups to make friends. It is really hard for
young people to meet and make friends if you are not in school.
More activations for local artists.
More art and fashion centric events.
more art classes, like figure drawing especially for non-professional artists. We could also use more
theatre venue/performance opportunities, especially more affordable than the WAC.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 29
More art gallery and artist events. I think allot of the pure art events are not happening in this area. We
need more art festivals that draw people in. Currently it's a drive to another city to go to a reputable
art event or sell as a vendor.
More arts/cultural institutions not owned/run by the Waltons
More children and youth focused activities
More choirs!
More classes in creativity
More live music/festivals
More local restaurants
More art installations around town
Affordable concerts
Better community calendar of arts events/opportunities
More areas of accessible beauty/beautification around town
Great variety of arts experiences both as a participant and as an observer
More cooking and craft classes, more murals
More culturally diverse music festivals. Benefits for songwriters and artists to create more. (Helping
more folks have galleries are recording opportunity)
More dance opportunities would be greatly appreciated. Would also like more diversity of music styles
including electronic and music from around the globe. More public art is needed. Overall looking for
more places to get dressed up, be weird, and have fun!
More family friendly events are needed where children under the age of 10 are encouraged and
welcome to attend. The botanical gardens have the best programming of any location in Northwest
Arkansas but would be great if every major event had a kid friendly space.
More fashion & film events would be nice. Also perhaps job fairs. Job fairs please
More festivals that aren't culinary or food based. Cultural festivals, holidays that aren't in the winter
months, art, etc
More Film Festivals
More film showings.
More free events and more community artist involvement. Also pay your artists please they have to eat
too
More free events, bring back the old street festivals of Springfest or Block Party
More galleries, more 'funky' retail,...
More galleries. More shops offering spiritual classes like the four of wands. The square is depressingly
empty these days.
More group involvement. Much more! Please! Such as how cities in Mexico have outdoor dance areas
w band stand. And in England a public area where people can stand and give impromptu speeches (or
maybe sing? Provide an electric plug so people can use a speaker and entertain anyone nearby. For
example, the Walker Park remodel could have both of these types of places.... Instead of just a (money
making) food court area. But that wasn't a suggested choice on their open ended survey. They did
include a grassy concert area. Big deal. Nice... but how redundant (that already happens at Gulley Park
and future WAC grassy area) and passively listening to music (that's boring to me) is also non -inclusive
compared to speeches, and dancing... and .... Open rack inclusive -to -singles pickleball (which is
constantly suggested on chat sites but the city refuses to try it.) I guess it amounts to.... How can
people show up as a single ... (hubby never wants to go out) and not feel so alone and just want to go
back home again feeling kinkier than ever?
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 30
More immersive experiences, regular free public art making
More jazz venues, live music, stand-up
More kids events, classes, workshops, opportunities
More live music at various parks.
More love for visual artists at festivals & events! Pay local artists attend/design/create
More music festivals / live performances - outdoor
More music venues that host bands that are not Americana / rock music. JJ's live has been doing a
good job of that lately. The Momentary is also doing good in that regard. But we need regular live
music from more genres in town, on Dickson. It's a college town , it should be able to support it.
More music, jam sessions, drum circles, improv orchestra, things of that nature.
More opportunities for actual locals to get involved in paid creative opportunities (importing artists
from other areas when we could keep that $$$ in our local economy and support local creative
endeavors, cultivating community, instead.)
More outdoor events, such as dances in the parks
More outdoor experiences that are free so families can attend.
More plays that are not just for families. More opportunities for art projects in the park. More markets
and community events.
More punk, metal, and hiphop shows. Better preservation of Fayetteville history - currently,
fayettevillehistory.com is ran completely independently by a single Fayetteville historian. Why? We
have Ozark Folkways in Winslow and the Museum of Ozark History in Shiloh, but neither are that close
to Fayetteville, and neither are marketed very well.
More small live music venues. More culinary events.
More spaces for local artists to show and present their work.
More stuff for younger people to get involved in city government. The old guys gotta go. Help the
younger get involved.
More unique or niche music events, such as an electronic music festival or an open-mic style hip -hop
festival.
More variety in community art classes, events for fiber artists
More visual art museums, history museum, publicly owned gallery
Most of our area cities have quality city museums. Fayetteville does not. The university has many
opportunities but. Citizens foot the bill but the University is so difficult to park at that the U does not
care about public access except for sporting events.. Historical Society needs more support it is under
utilized Fayetteville is losing its FUNK. Texas investors are tuning the town and city is not keeping up
with growth and heavy handed and moving to the right.
Museums
Museums and art galleries, more pop up experiences! More festivals that are mass appealing. I would
love to see Crystal Bridges and the Walmart Amp don -offshoots in the Fayetteville area. Collaborate
with the Waltons family and Blue Crane / Runway for investment and wider interest in NWA v
Fayetteville or Bentonville. Be a bigger part of the region. Add a top class art gallery to the city - part of
Campus - part of downtown. Create reasons for people to come to the square and Dickson all day
everyday. Playground close to the square. Water play area on the square and entice families. An
amazing ice cream store - on the square.
Music festival
Music festival
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 31
Music Festival
Music festival like they have in Bentonville at the momentary.
Music festivals
Zoos?
Science museum
History museums
Music festivals
Music festivals or multi -day art festivals
New Orleans style parades. Also, bring back the Block Street Block Party!!!
New Years and Independence Day celebrations!
Not enough galleries. Too few places (collectives) to see local art for sale.
Nothing it is getting to much, people don't realize this is a natural state and we are destroying the
environment with all them festivities over and over! We are parking on gras , being parks taking the
quit away from animals to breed and be in peace! WE HAVE ENOUGH !
WHAT WE HAVE IS ENOUGH WE DO NOT NEED MORE!
NWA Girls they do craft fairs with woman/small business es, they have huge events in Springdale and
Lowell. The Towns center should let them use their place and/or square. Crystal bridges has learning
packets for school. It would be great to have places that hang art for sale like restaurants. I liked
Sunday Market at Botanicals when it was mainly art and local stuff. Easier to get on list than farmers
market. Local festivals such as Bikes, Blues, BBQ was a loss to Fayetteville. It's about supporting all
different people and cultures. More cultural festivities.
Arts for kids. My daughter wants to put her art up in coffee house, you display it for a month, people
buy it and get it when you take you show down. They use to do it at Atlanta Bread Company. Children
are proud of arts, check out JLC Middle school's performance of Matilda April 16, 2024 at 6:30. It's on
east/south side of Fayetteville but it shows how all kids should be able to have a chance to be a part of
the arts. How can Fayetteville nourish children in arts to keep them safe and out of trouble. I like craft
fairs, the fair grounds inside is ok. I wish they would have craft fairs at parks or something nice outside.
Look at Sleet city and how many vendors they have when they do fairs. That shows people who do arts
and crafts at home would like to share/sell there stuff. Craft fairs cost so much to enter. Sleet city
charges $25. Give all an opportunity to show arts at craft fairs in Fayetteville, on square, park, or
somewhere easy.
One thing I wish NWA had was a natural history museum, something like the one in DC or Cleveland.
Open Mouth used to host monthly public poetry readings, bringing in poets from around the country
and providing time and space for community members to read. Now that they've gone entirely virtual,
I'm not aware of anything similar happening.
Open Studios
Opera
Outdoor concert venue. Most current live music in Fayetteville takes place in bars.
Outdoor concerts
Outdoor concerts (like the AMP, but in Fayetteville), late night Italian coffee shops which support
artists, community art projects closer to the edge of the city (far west or far east Fayetteville) to
promote community and that 'in-between' space that many cities lack.
Outdoor music festivals,
Outdoor music venues
Outdoor street or park performance. Interactive performances with the audience.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 32
Paint pottery studio. Decent price
Performance art, provocative art installations. Literally anything new. Fayetteville is *so scared* to be
on the cutting edge
Performance art. An annual craft fair focusing on local artists. A museum in Fayetteville that would
provide a niche experience. So something that doesn't currently exist.
Performance venues that are small scale, coffee shops, tiny bars etc. With the loss of AMPM bar
there's not a regular space for intimate and experimental performances.
Photography art market specifically, A Christmas market on the Square, A different Halloween event
than at Ramble.
Pop up locations around town for things like drum circles! It would be fun if each park could have a
drum circle during various full moons throughout the year!
Or keep all of them at Gulley park!
Pottery options and kid museums
Public art experiences
Music in non -conventional places
Local artists gatherings
Hip -hop
Public theatre
Regular survey exhibitions that showcase current art created in the region (something like Made in
L.A.); arts events that bring the university and the city together in meaningful ways; serious efforts to
integrate the history and culture of underrepresented local communities.
Renaissance Faire ('missing' is probably too strong a word); art museum (definitely missing)
Roots Fest
Roots festival and similar.
Site specific theatre and dance, cirque performance, flamenco performance and workshop, more live
dance music, esp Afro Brazilian. Bring back Roots Fest!
small live music venues - like House of Songs in Bentonville - more and different art making classes -
community theater opportunities like in Bentonville and Rogers - more culinary experiences like food
tastings or themed dinners
Smaller performance's and arts in small venues.
Something with animals and art. Like making Christmas ornaments with your dogs paw print.
Spaces for independent artists (outside of corporate or non-profit organizations) to create their art. FPL
has started to do this with their Innovation Lab/Music studio, unfortunately those programs are still
incredibly inaccessible to a large amount of Fayetteville residents due to limited training timings and
capacity. We have public spaces to fix bicycles. Why don't we have public spaces with free resources
available to create art?
Affordable training programs for aspiring artists. If we're so "arts oriented", why is it nearly impossible
for one to create a career in the arts in this area?
LESS FOCUS ON THE WALTONS! Why do we allow them to control our arts scene? They're the patron
saints of shitting on every local artists while continuously wealth hoarding and pulling the strings of all
the local art scenes - consistently bringing in outside artists (non -locals) that will silence the loud ones
here. Its disgusting. Alice Walton and Peter Lane can go to hell. More guerilla art.
Also, why did we get rid of Block Street Block Party? That was such a great opportunity for local
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 33
musicians, makers, and artists!
Can the city of Fayetteville please book someone other than Ashton Barabee and folk/bluegrass bands
for free concerts? Why is everyone so white? Why hasn't anyone reached out to Her Set Her Sound to
do a DJ set for one of those? Please god, something other than folk, country, or bluegrass. PLEASE. I
don't even dislike those genres, it's just this identity that we've clung to for so long and it's hardcore
rooted in white supremacy and black erasure. I swear to god if I hear another summer of banjos
coming out of Gulley Park I will pull my hair out.
I think you should look to the City of Springdale for examples as far as cultural events are concerned.
They're doing the most to highlight the varying cultures within the community! I've learned more about
the diverse population of the surrounding area in downtown Springdale more than anywhere else
(including other states/cities I've lived in). They always have interactive workshops, dances, events, etc.
I typically spend more time in Springdale than I do in Fayetteville these days.
St Patrick's day parade or Irish festival
Supporting musicians who aren't fortunate enough to break through the mould in terms of
"acceptable" genre.
The city of Fayetteville has a deeply misguided and superficial understanding of how to support
traditional arts related activities — it's even clear in how this survey defines it. I attend folk arts related
activities regularly but they're events held by the university or by cultural groups themselves. I can't
think of a single event the city has actively produced that was meaningful in a deep way.
The city seems set on gentrification of our local communities. The grassroots & diy art scene is
available less & less because of this. Love for what made Fayetteville beautiful and grassroots in the
first place is what's missing.
The Fayetteville square is empty weekend afternoons and evenings. Anything to bring people
downtown
The original bank building era Fayetteville Underground is missing. I loved visiting that art community
and watching it come to life every first Thursday night. I also like to go see the Unexpected murals in
Fort Smith.
The tiny artist areas that are all being destroyed for the sake of 'progress'. Those are the places people
get excited to come upon when they visit. The same is true for any city. Sedona made the same
mistake. Nobody cares about your strip malls and car washes. They want unique art and experiences -
like Trailside and all the small business there. Kill them, and have killed Fayetteville's heart. You've
already pushed out all of our most amazing artists, except maybe Matt Miller. Artists and small
businesses need their nooks.
There are not as many independent and foreign film offerings as I would like.
There are not many opportunities to view old, diverse or unique films/movies in Fayetteville. The BFF is
an opportunity but it's not in Fayetteville. Once a year a Film Fest is offered at the WAC, but not
throughout the year.
there needs to be better options for culinary types of experiences, theres too much college focused
cheap bar and grill type places, and less focus on good quality local restaurants
There's a few murals around town that are interesting to look at and visit, but they're mostly spread
out and don't create a cohesive mural community. I think devoting a portion of large empty walls
around town to beautify the city, improve the desire to walk around, and ultimately improve the foot
traffic through the small businesses in these areas would be awesome.
Training/learning/job fair opportunities for people interested in working behind the scenes in events
and performing arts
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 34
University Museum
We dont have enough cultural celebration events, I would love to see a Powwow hosted in Fayetteville
to bring together our native communities in the Ozarks
We have a lot of good things we risk losing as artists and their venues are priced out of the area
We have such a fantastic network of trails that run along various creeks. I think more installations like
the Ramble would be welcome!
We need a live music venue with quality sound. George's sounds awful, and musicians don't want to
play there. The WAC is homophobic.
We need a wider variety of culinary cuisine and experiences.
We need more spaces for artists in our city to perform. small and mid sized spaces, where young artists
can work stuff out and play for people, play months -long residencies, test things out.
We need more volunteer and community theatre in Fayetteville.
We're missing a museum, mural tour / public art, and more cultural community events
Well it really sucks to have to drive to Crystal Bridges and that its in Bentonville, which is kind of the
worst place on earth and like if they made disneyland for walmart enjoyers
What I'd like to see more of are working creative spaces that are financially accessible to creatives with
smaller budgets to be able to exercise their craft and/or offer classes.
What's not available- still not enough parking, plus don't like to pay for parking on or around Dickson. I
went to a event at WAC that ran late, by the time I walked to the new parking garage ( I have a
disability) I was 9 mins late I had a citation for $15.00.
World class art museum
Would love some more traditional theater experiences - classic plays, not presented with "modern"
twists but just portrayed accurately and as written. Example - Shakespeare as written, as opposed to
Shakespeare as interpreted through a modern day lens.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 35
CREATIVE ECONOMY
SNAPSHOT REPORT
Fa
A
CREATIVE ECONOMY CHARTS
CREATIVE OCCUPATION GROWTH (2011 TO PRESENT)
This chart shows the rate of change of your creative job growth over time
10%
8%
R 6%
z
u 4%
z
a
x
U2%
0
W
0%
N
ca
0 -2%
LL
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
CREATIVE INDUSTRY EARNINGS (2011 TO PRESENT)
This chart shows your creative industry earnings over time.
$130M
$120M
j; $110M
to
0
z
z
Cr
$90M
2021 2022
Kgncharts.com
$80M -
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Hlahcharts.com
CREATIVE ECONOMY CHARTS
2022 FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS REGION POPULATION BY RACE TOP 4 NONPROFIT REVENUES OF 2022
This chart shows the demographic makeup by race of the region selected. This chart shows the top four types of creative
nonprofits by program revenues in your region that
2.2% filed IRS990 or 990EZ forms
8.4 %
0.
2.5%
0.6 %
5.0 %
DEMOGRAPHICS
White
Amer. Indian or AK Native
Hawaiian or Other Pac. Island
Two or More Races
01.1%
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
S 1.25M
Sim
S7SOk
SSOOk
S2SOk
SO
■ Visual Arts
■ Theater
■ Arts & Humanities Councils & Agencies
■ Folk Arts
Highcharts.com
Data Sources: Economic Modeling Specialists International, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, National Center for Charitable
Statistics. Due to rounding some percent values may not equal 1009'0
Detaded Information on Data Sources Release Notes Terms of Service Privacy Policy WESTAF © Creative VitalityT"' Suite 2024
Creative Vitality Index Total Population
Q 1.44 116,847
CVI Value
United States CVI = 1.0
This regional snapshot report gives the big
picture of a region's creative landscape. It
provides an overview of creative jobs, industry
earnings, FDR grants, and Nonprofit revenues.
Past 5 years of CVI Performance
1.80 1.78 1.82
1.59 1.44
LA L. I i
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
2022 Creative jobs Occupations with greatest number of jobs
127 111 103 102
A 5% �
since 2021 I
21248
Total Creative jobs
There are 110 more Architects (with Interior Merch & Wndw Librarians Photographers
creative jobs in the exceptions) Designers Displayers
region since 2021
2022 Creative Industries
Industries with greatest earnings
- 9%
IN
Industry type
Industry Earnings
since 2021
Architectural Services
$14.1 M
$123.8M
Total Industry Earnings
Commercial Gravure Printing
$9.21V
There is a gain of $11.6 M
Television Broadcasting
$8.71V
in creative industry
Fine Arts Schools
$8.1M
earnings in the region
since 2021
Advertising Agencies
$7.01V
2022 Cultural Nonprofit Nonprofit types with greatest number of organizations
3% Q 2 2 2 2
since 2021�2.0
$29.3M 1.5
Nonprofit Revenues 1.0
There are $942 K less in 0.5
revenues in the region since 0.0
1
2021 Arts & Culture Arts Education Historical Societies & Visual Arts Bands & Ensembles
Historic
DATA SOURCES: Economic Modeling Specialists International, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, National Center for Charitable Statistics
CREATIVE VITALTY SUITE: The Creative Vitality Index compares the per capita concentration of creative activity in two regions. Data on creative industries,
occupations, and cultural nonprofit revenues are indexed using a population -based calculation. The resulting CVI Value shows a region's creative vitality
compared to another region. For more information on data sources visit: learn.cvsuite.org
WESTAF © Creative Vitality- Suite 2024 cvsuite.org Report created: 5/7/2024
Data Sources (Version 2023.2)
Descriptive Names of Industries (NAICS codes) & Occupations (SOC codes) have been truncated on the Regional Snapshot Report.
For full descriptive names please visit the education section of learn.cvsuite.org
Due to rounding some percent values may not equal 100%.
Occupations: Economic Modeling Specialists International.
SOC Codes (75) 11-2011, 11-2021, 11-2032, 11-2033, 13-1011, 17-1011, 17-1012, 17-1021, 17-3011, 19-3091, 19-3093,
21-2021, 25-4011, 25-4012, 25-4013, 25-4022, 25-4031, 27-1011, 27-1012, 27-1013, 27-1014, 27-1019, 27-1021, 27-1022,
27-1023, 27-1024, 27-1025, 27-1026, 27-1027, 27-1029, 27-2011, 27-2012, 27-2031, 27-2032, 27-2041, 27-2042, 27-2091,
27-2099, 27-3011, 27-3023, 27-3031, 27-3041, 27-3042, 27-3043, 27-3091, 27-3099, 27-4011, 27-4012, 27-4014, 27-4015,
27-4021, 27-4031, 27-4032, 27-4099, 39-3031, 39-3092, 39-3099, 39-5091, 41-3011, 43-2099, 43-4121, 47-2044, 47-2161,
49-9063, 51-6041, 51-6051, 51-6052, 51-7011, 51-7021, 51-7031, 51-9051, 51-9071, 51-9151, 51-9194, 51-9195
Industry Earnings: Economic Modeling Specialists International.
NAICS Codes (81) 238150, 238340, 238390, 323111, 323113, 323117, 323120, 327110, 327212, 332323, 337212, 339910,
339992, 423940, 424920, 448310, 451130, 451140, 451211, 453110, 453310, 453920, 511110, 511120, 511130, 511140,
511191, 511199, 511210, 512110, 512120, 512131, 512132, 512191, 512199, 512230, 512240, 512250, 512290, 515111,
515112, 515120, 515210, 517311, 519110, 519120, 519130, 541310, 541320, 541340, 541410, 541420, 541430, 541490,
541810, 541820, 541830, 541840, 541850, 541860, 541870, 541890, 541921, 541922, 611610, 711110, 711120, 711130,
711190, 711310, 711320, 711410, 711510, 712110, 712120, 712130, 712190, 811420, 812921, 812922, 813410
Class of worker: Economic Modeling Specialists International:
Non-QCEW Employees, QCEW Employees, Self-employed
State Arts Agency Grants: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Cultural Nonprofit Revenues: National Center for Charitable Statistics
Demographic: Economic Modeling Specialists International.
Creative vitality index (CVI): The Creative Vitality Index compares the per capita concentration of creative activity in two regions.
Data on creative industries, occupations, and cultural nonprofit revenues are indexed using a population -based calculation. The
resulting CVI Value shows a region's creative vitality compared to another region.
Fayetteville, Arkansas Region contains:
72701, 72702, 72703, 72704
Job Occupation Codes included in Creative West's Creative Vitality Index for creative industries
11 - Management Occupations
11-2011 Advertising and Promotion Managers
11-2031 Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
13 - Business and Financial Operations Occupations
13-1011 Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
17 - Architecture and Engineering Occupations
17-1011 Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
17-1012 Landscape Architects
17-3011 Architectural and Civil Drafters
19 - Life, Physical and Social Science Occupations
19-3091 Anthropologists and Archeologists
19-3093 Historians
21 - Community and Social Service Occupations
21-2021 Directors, Religious Activities and Education
25 - Education, Training, and Library Occupations
25-4011 Archivists;
25-4012 Curators
25-4013 Museum Technicians and Conservators
25-4021 Librarians
25-4031 Library Technicians
25-9011 Audio -Visual and Multimedia Collections Specialists
27 - Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media Occupations
27-1011 Art Directors;
27-1012 Draft Artists
27-1013
Fine Artists, including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
27-1014
Multimedia Artists and Animators
27-1019
Artists and Related Workers, All Other
27-1021
Commercial and Industrial Designers
27-1022
Fashion Designers
27-1023
Floral Designers
27-1024
Graphic Designers
27-1025
Interior Designers
27-1026
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
27-1027
Set and Exhibit Designers
27-1029
Designers, All Other
27-2011
Actors
Appendix - Creative Industries Occupation Codes - 1
27-2012
Producers and Directors
27-2031
Dancers
27-2032
Choreographers
27-2041
Music Directors and Composers
27-2042
Musicians and Singers
27-3011
Radio and Television Announcers
27-3021
Broadcast News Analysts
27-3022
Reporters and Correspondents
27-3031
Public Relations Specialists
27-3041
Editor
27-3042
Technical Writers
27-3043
Writers and Authors
27-3091
Interpreters and Translators
27-3099
Media and Communication Workers, All Others
27-4011
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians
27-4012
Broadcast Technicians
27-4014
Sound Engineering Technicians
27-4021
Photographers
27-4031
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture
27-4032
Film and Video Editors
27-4099
Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Others
39 - Personal Care and Service Occupations
39-3031
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
39-3092
Costume Attendants
39-3099
Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Others
39-5091
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and performance
41 - Sales and Related Occupations
41-3011 Advertising Sales Agents;
43 - Office and Administrative Support Occupations
43-4121 Library Assistants, Clerical;
49 - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-9063 Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
51 - Production Occupations
51-9071 Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers; Production Occupations
Appendix - Creative Industries Occupation Codes - 2
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Plan Alignment Assessment
2024
Overview: Arts and Culture has been included and prioritized in City Planning efforts going back
decades. There's been strong interest in making the City of Fayetteville a destination for the arts,
preserving neighborhood character and uniqueness and promoting arts, culture and historic nodes in
the city. All of these different recommendations have been extracted and referenced in this document
and will be taken into account for the final Cultural Master Plan for the City of Fayetteville.
Relevant plans reviewed for Arts and Culture Master Plan include:
Code if Cited
in Plan
PLAN NAME & DATE
CP40
THE CITY PLAN 2040 VISION, 2020
EVMP
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN, 2024
PRSMP
PARK AND RECREATION SYSTEM MASTER PLAN, FEBRUARY 2023
FFP
FAYETTEVILLE FIRST - CITY 5 YEAR PLAN, 2016
WFP
WELCOMING FAYETTEVILLE PLAN, 2016
CAP
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, 2024 - ENERGY ACTION PLAN, 2018
DMP
DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, 2006
71BCP
71 B CORRIDOR PLAN, 2019
WPNP
WALKER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, 2008
WPMP
WALKER PARK MASTER PLAN 2023
CPMP
CENTENNIAL PARK CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN 2019
GPMP
GULLEY PARK MASTER PLAN 2019
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 1
BDPMP IBRYCE DAVIS PARK MASTER PLAN 2023
RTS JARTSPACE, Presentation of Findings, 2019
VN JArts Vibrancy in Northwest Arkansas, SMU 2017
PLAN NAME & DATE
Excerpts pertaining to Arts and Culture; Excerpts for Alignment with Arts
and Culture Master Plan
THE CITY PLAN 2040
Growth Concept Map
VISION, 2020
The Growth Concept Map depicts, in broad terms, how Fayetteville should grow over the
(CP40)
next 20 years.... The map reflects city-wide policies to create diverse, efficient, and well-
connected communities that are affordable and rich in local employment, access to
transportation, services, and culture. P. 12.
Vision Statement
In 2040, Fayetteville will be a resource -efficient community, in which citizens and
stakeholders can live, work, learn, and grow. Fayetteville will have adopted policies to
achieve sustainability, to provide economic growth, to preserve and protect our natural
and cultural resources, and to enhance the quality of life for all residents. Residents will
have equitable access to neighborhoods that are healthy, walkable, and distinct. P. 21
Goal 1: We will make appropriate infill and revitalization our highest priority
Goal 1 Objectives
3.1.7 Encourage protection of community character in established neighborhoods.
"... development tools should be established to ensure that neighborhood cohesion and
character is not sacrificed at the expense of new development. P.25
3.7 City Plan 2040 Benchmarks
Short Term 2019-2025
• Identify gaps in affordability throughout the city and set numerical targets for
housing that is affordable to a variety of households, including workforce,
supportive, low-income, families with children, and senior housing. (Goal 1, 3, 4 &
6) P. 48
• Identify new or expand existing dedicated revenue sources for affordable
housing. (Goal 6) p. 48
• Identify opportunities for the creation of affordable housing on publicly -owned
land and develop partnerships with developers to provide flexible, affordable
work space and housing. (Goal 6)
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 2
• Seek funding to complete a citywide Community Preservation Plan to identify
resources for future historic survey and registration, assess current preservation
efforts, and plan for new initiatives. (Goal 1)
• Work to preserve the historic character and integrity of neighborhoods with
multiple approaches including but not limited to: create one or more Local
Regulated District(s) in neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic
Places; and utilize other preservation tools such as overlay districts with the main
goal of preserving historic character. (Goal 1) p. 49
THE CITY PLAN 2040
VISION, 2020 Section 4.4 Regional Growth Patterns and Transitions
(CP40) 21st Century Regionalism. P. 60-61
"... the continued regionalization of the two -county area has encouraged cities within
the region to become partners in attracting economic growth opportunities, while at the
same time becoming competitors for developing the amenities that residents and new
arrivals to the region seek. Having achieved the threshold level of a major economic
center due to their joint size and resources, each city is now a catalyst for the others'
development. Whereas larger industries may have previously looked at labor force
indicators and the production resources of the individual cities as limited, the now
combined resources are attracting national attention. Notable regional projects that have
been completed since the year 2000 include the opening of the Arvest Ballpark in
Springdale in 2008, the opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville
in 2011, the completion of the 36-mile long Razorback Regional Greenway multi -use trail
network connecting Fayetteville to Bella Vista in 2015, the opening of the Scott Family
Amazeum in Rogers in 2015, he expansion of the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville in
2016, and the development of hundreds of miles of mountain bike trails on public lands
throughout the region including the Slaughter Pen Trail in Bentonville and Kessler
Mountain Trails in Fayetteville.
As Northwest Arkansas continues to develop as a regional entity it will become more
important than ever for the major cities of the region to continue to diversify their
economic base and find niche markets in which to thrive. Fayetteville is poised to lead
the region with our offerings of high quality of life, low cost of living and ever-expanding
job and commerce opportunities."
Goal 6. We will create opportunities for attainable housing
6.6 Housing Strategies
Alternatives to the typical larger -lot single family homes and garden -style apartments that
characterize much of Fayetteville's housing stock are needed, including .... accessory
dwelling units, and live/work units can help meet this emerging demand. P. 78
Action: Fayetteville should identify gaps in affordability throughout the city and set
numerical targets for housing that is affordable to a variety of households, including
workforce, supportive, low-income, families with children, and senior housing. P. 79
• Identify new or expand existing dedicated revenue sources for affordable
housing.
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 3
• Identify new or expand existing dedicated revenue sources for affordable
housing.
• Examine potential regulatory barriers and policies that impede the provision of
household affordability, including: infrastructure costs, the costs and benefits of
development ordinances on housing development, and how the City's fees and
requirements impact the cost of living for households in Fayetteville.
• Identify opportunities for the creation of affordable housing on publicly -owned
land and develop partnerships with developers to provide flexible, affordable
work space and housing.
• Support the creation of a "real-time" database of available affordable housing
units, services, resources, and incentives to strengthen the process of connecting
qualified buyers and renters with affordable housing to comprehensively lower
monthly household expenses. P.80
THE CITY PLAN 2040
VISION, 2020
VISION,
Section 10.4: Historic and Cultural Resources (pp 110 ) Cultural Resources
"In 1992, the Walton Arts Center opened its' doors to the public, the product of a six -year
collaboration between City government, the University of Arkansas and private sector
sponsors and philanthropists." 110
The organization has grown significantly over the last quarter of a century and now
operates three facilities — the original Walton Arts Center, the neighboring Nadine Baum
Studios and the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) in Rogers. The Walton Arts
Center completed a $23 million renovation and expansion of the original performing arts
campus in November 2016. The expansion dramatically increased front of house and
event space, production support space and administrative offices, adding more than
30,000 square feet and improving the operational capacity and visitor experience for both
patrons and artists. Widely viewed as the project that 'turned around" the Dickson St.
Entertainment District after a period of decline, the Walton Arts Center is now the
premiere live performance space in Northwest Arkansas. 110
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN In the Plan Framework section:
2024 "The Department of Economic Vitality has also identified four key themes that are
(EVMP) integrated throughout each of the strategic focus areas, precisely because they are
intertwined with the economic fabric of Fayetteville's cultural identity:
• Arts and the creative economy
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion, including an explicit focus on populations who face
persistent barriers to economic mobility
• Environmental stewardship
• Quality of life and sustainable growth, including continued response to pandemic
related economic impacts and economic uncertainty (p. 13)
If Fayetteville's residents are its greatest assets —the true drivers of
the small businesses and cultural institutions that make the community
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 4
recognizable —then displacement and sprawl are the greatest foes to the future of
equitable economic growth in Fayetteville.
(p. 65)
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN Step 5: Assess Cross -Divisional Land Acquisition Opportunities
2024 The Department of Economic Vitality will coordinate with applicable departments to
(EVMP) explore municipal acquisition of parcels of land to strategically provide public goods and
equitable community benefit. For example, coordination with other departments could
necessitate
amendment to other key master planning documents and processes.
...Strategic land acquisition should include review of key corners of Neighborhood Center
intersections or sites that could be leveraged for
future public -private partnerships or publicly supported housing development."
"Acquiring municipally -owned land when the City's financial health and economic outlook
allow it provides the City with the opportunity to lock in land prices critical to making the
math pencil on future publicly beneficial projects driven by public -private partnerships."
EVMP, p. 71
There are nine "Master Plan Target Industries:
#3 is Creative Economy
Targeted Industry Sectors
• Advanced manufacturing
• Circular economy and sustainability
• Creative economy "The creative economy consists of economic activity that
depends on individuals and organizations using their creativity to drive jobs,
revenue, community resources, and cultural engagement.liv Few sectors are as
deeply rooted in Fayetteville's history as the creative economy and the arts.
Whether its world class theatre production along West Avenue, a range of local
performances at the iconic George's Majestic Lounge, or film production at Rock
Hill Studios, the arts sector not only provides hundreds of jobs throughout
Fayetteville but also defines our sense of place and community culture." (EVMP p.
104 )
• Healthcare
• Information technology
• Infrastructure, including construction and clean technology
• Outdoor recreation
• Professional services
• Research and development
SECTION: SMALL BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND INDUSTRY
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 5
Today, 84% of private sector employment in the City of Fayetteville comes from small
businesses, and nearly 97% of the 3,900+ active businesses in Fayetteville employ fewer
than 50 individuals. (evmp 94)
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN "Small businesses, arts and entertainment, the recreation economy, and the hospitality
2024 sector are four segments integral to Fayetteville's local economy. Continuing to grow and
(EVMP) render these sectors more resilient to economic change is a focal point of the Small
Business, Entrepreneurship, and Industry section of this Master Plan." evmp 95
Goal:
Increase the number of jobs within Fayetteville's targeted industry sectors from 63% to
70% of private sector employment by 2033 (95)
SUPPORTING STRATEGY 3. Provide tailored entrepreneurial support to artists and other
members of the creative economy
(evmp 96)
Ongoing Action Items (EVMP 100)
• ACTION ITEM 28. Host educational events on financial literacy and the process
for residents declaring themselves as artists on all applicable local, state, and
federal business and tax forms [AC, CON, EV]
• ACTION ITEM 29. Communicate educational opportunities and resources
proactively and with accessibility to artists in mind [AC]
• ACTION ITEM 30. Pursue partnerships with artist -focused entrepreneurial
services organizations (e.g., Artists, Inc., Creative Capital) [AC]
Short -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 31. Integrate the creative economy into existing and future
entrepreneurial programming funded by the City of Fayetteville [AC, CON, EV]
SUPPORTING STRATEGY 8. Prioritize continued economic growth and resiliency of arts,
entertainment, and recreation (107)
Ongoing Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 63. Survey the creative economy (i.e., businesses classified under
NAICS code 71— Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation) as part of the City's future
business retention and expansion services [AC, EV]
• ACTION ITEM 64. Continue to advocate for the expansion of state -level film tax
credits through the Arkansas Film Commission [AC, EV]
Short -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 65. Explore the consolidation of the Entertainment District and the
Downtown Business District into one parking district to ensure consistent
application of programs, rate structures, and technology [AC, EV, PW]
• ACTION ITEM 66. Explore the creation of a municipal -level tax rebate program,
tax credit, or other incentive to supplement the State of Arkansas's existing
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 6
programs to support grassroots and independent film production, encourage
local production hiring practices, and retain local industry talent in Fayetteville
[EV]
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN I Mid -Term Action Items
2024 • ACTION ITEM 67. Explore developing a promotional campaign to bring
(EVMP awareness to local business establishments, showcasing local art as a means of
increasing business traffic and providing exposure to the local creative economy
[AC, DFC, EF]
• ACTION ITEM 68. Explore developing an external live -work -play marketing
campaign through Experience Fayetteville to promote the creative economy and
the recreation economy as key contributing factors to Fayetteville's quality of life
and community character [AC, EF, EV, PNRCA]
SECTION: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EMPLOYMENT, AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY
GOAL 4. Raise the City of Fayetteville's Arts Vibrancy Index score by increasing the
supply of independent artists working in Fayetteville
4A. Increase the retention rate from 13.4% to 16.9% of University of Arkansas students
graduating from the Fulbright College's arts programs or the Fay Jones School of
Architecture
Supporting Strategy 1. Deploy a proactive talent
retention and attraction program to connect workers with high -quality jobs paying living
wages in target industries
Ongoing Action Items (p. 113)
• ACTION ITEM 1. Promote existing tools, equipment, and resources that are
available for use by the creative economy (e.g., Fayetteville Public Library's
Center for Innovation and tool lending library) [AC, EV]
Short -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 2. Expand the City's definition of the creative economy to include
skilled trades (e.g., carpentry, masonry, welding) [AC, EV]
Mid -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 6. Identify local opportunities for artist placement across a wide
range of industry sectors, including industries not traditionally viewed as career
pathways for fine artists [AC, EV, UA]
SECTION: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Placemaking and Quality of Life Enablers
Placemaking is another community development term with competing definitions and
connotations, but it is fundamentally concerned with building communities around places.
While placemaking as a term is relatively new, the concept has deep roots in urban
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 7
planning and advocacy work and highlights the importance of building cities for the
people who live in them. Ixix Key elements of placemaking include sociability, uses and
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN activities, access and linkages, and comfort and image. 131
2024
(EVMP) "Quality of place informs quality of life, positioning placemaking in its many forms as an
economic vitality consideration."
Given Fayetteville's rich cultural history as a site of grassroots arts organizations and
activities, creative placemaking is of particular relevance to in discussions about how a
sense of place can enhance the community's overall quality of life.
More explicit ties to economic development matter for the long-term provision of public
goods, including funding for arts and entertainment. The City can ensure that municipally -
supported creative placemaking has accountability mechanisms in place to ensure work is
tied to equitable planning and development policies and practices and to minimize
displacement of resident populations or cultural assets. Approaching placemaking efforts
with an equitable growth framework can take the best parts of these processes while
advancing Fayetteville's core values.
To strengthen placemaking efforts encouraged by the 2024 Economic Vitality Master
Plan —and perhaps complementary to the forthcoming Arts and Culture Master Plan —the
City can co -develop an equitable growth framework, including equitable growth metrics
that can be integrated into the Neighborhood Center Advancement Plan (e.g., access to
goods, services, and public amenities; access to housing opportunities; access to
employment opportunities; environmental justice). Proactively co -developing an
equitable growth framework alongside our community allows us to acknowledge that
change is inevitable, but displacement is controllable with the appropriate community
consultation, resources, and political will. 131
SUPPORTING STRATEGY 1. Preserve and bolster community character by integrating
public art, greenspace, and recreational amenities into parcel- and Neighborhood
Center -level development strategies as well as neighborhood -supported placemaking
Ongoing Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 1. Explore various placemaking strategies, including wayfinding
and the incorporation of public art, to celebrate the unique community identities
of neighborhood centers [AC, PNRCA]
• ACTION ITEM 3. Support the adoption and implementation of the City's first
Cultural Arts Master Plan under the guidance of the City's Arts and Culture
Director and the Fayetteville Arts Council [City]
Short -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 4. Explore a density bonus incentive within Fayetteville's
neighborhood centers for the development of accessible studio space [AC, DS,
EV]
• ACTION ITEM 5. Explore funding sources for studio space stipends for artists and
members of the creative economy [AC, EV] 131
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 8
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN Mid -Term Action Items
2024 • ACTION ITEM 6. Pass an ordinance adopting a Percent for the Arts funding
(EVMP) stream for the City of Fayetteville's public capital improvements [AC, City, EV]
• ACTION ITEM 8. Encourage and pursue concentrations of the arts and creative
economy beyond Downtown [AC, EV] 133
Long -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 9. Recognize the role of art in placemaking and include public art
as core infrastructure for each of Fayetteville's neighborhood centers [AC, DS,
EV]
• ACTION ITEM 10. Encourage alternative leasing arrangements and policies to
ensure fair access for a diverse range of artists (e.g., short-term or alternative
lease arrangements to activate vacant space) [AC, EV] 133
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 9
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN
2024
PARK AND RECREATION ***First picture in the plan is of Wilson Park and the artwork in the park.
SYSTEM MASTER PLAN,
FEBRUARY 2023 GUIDING PRINCIPLES The plan is framed around the five guiding principles:
(PRSMP)
Fourth Guiding Principle:
Gathering and Placemaking
Our parks are designed to provide gathering spaces and amenities for our community
while celebrating our unique culture, the arts and music, the people, and the beauty of
the region.
Gathering and Placemaking Improve parks to address comfort and the ability to gather for
activities. Partner with organizations and provide infrastructure to support events in
parks system. Create more art infused spaces. P.47
Gathering and Placemaking Goals
• Goal D1: Design parks and greenways to celebrate our heritage and communities
surrounding landscape and culture.
• Goal D3: Partner with organizations and provide infrastructure to support
programming and events in the parks system, such as theater, music, races,
games, food access, and markets.
• Goal D4: Seek opportunities to integrate art into public spaces. P.53
Placemaking is a design concept that explores ways to bring people together in shaping
shared public spaces to promote the celebration of arts and culture and social health and
wellbeing. It is defined as "more than just promoting better urban design, placemaking
facilitates creative patterns of use, paying particular attention to the physical, cultural,
and social identities that define a place and support its ongoing evolution." Some of
Fayetteville's parks, such as Gulley Park and Wilson Park, currently are authentic to the
place and people and more identifiable as contributing to the city's character. However,
others are more generic spaces and could be enlivened with a placemaking approach.
P.72
Parks are 'third' places in our lives (home being the first place, work being the second
place, and gathering places being the third place) where we gather, relax, socialize and
recreate. Fayetteville has a culture of parks serving as third spaces, including events such
as movies in the park, concert series, farmer's markets downtown, and playing, running
and biking.72
Goal D1 . Design parks and greenways to celebrate our heritage and community's
surrounding landscape and culture.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The arts bring people together and celebrate what makes
Fayetteville unique. The parks system can celebrate the special cultural, recreational
and environmental needs of the community through an integration of the arts. This
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 10
PARK AND RECREATION might include signage and wayfinding, physical spaces for events and gathering, and
SYSTEM MASTER PLAN, events and programs that connect with the local arts and identity of a diversity of
FEBRUARY 2023 communities. P.74
(PRSMP)
GOAL D1 STRATEGIES
a Coordinate with the Heritage and Historic Preservation Master Plan under
development to integrate strategies for design of parks and interpretation
elements.
b Integrate strategies from the Welcoming Fayetteville Plan such as signage and
marketing materials in multiple languages, hosting events to celebrate immigrant
culture and heritage, and advertise parks and recreation programs in social
service directories.
c Include art and interpretive signage in the creation of new spaces and the
renovation of existing ones.
d Design and program parks to highlight the unique natural, historical, cultural
and/or economic identity of the surrounding area and community in which they
are located. a Study, identify, and prioritize locations that would benefit from
gathering and placemaking efforts.
GOAL D1 PRIORITY ACTIONS
• Develop bilingual sign package to increase welcoming.
• Work with Arts and Culture and Historic Preservation to identify opportunities
for investment.
• Provide interpretive elements and signage at Underwood Park relating to the
history of the property.
• Create a community activity node with the redevelopment of Walker Park.
• Increase arts and cultural programs in parks coordinated with ideas from the
Arts and Culture Plan and partnership opportunities. P 74
Goals D2 . Improve parks to address comfort and the ability to gather for activities
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The community survey and community open houses
emphasized a desire from Fayetteville residents to increase park amenities that bring
people together. This could include non-traditional ways, such as hammocks and yard
games in the park and also an interest in more traditional amenities such as benches and
pavilions. P.75
GOAL D2 STRATEGIES
Provide park features and programs relevant to the surrounding community for
the ways they would like to gather. b Increase social and group recreational
activities in parks such as hammocks, outdoor ping pong, chess, and bocce and
yard game areas.
c Increase amenities in parks such as benches, shelters, parking, bathrooms,
cooling features, and water fountains in line with park type level of service
standards.
d Develop programming with a goal of allowing people to meet and visit.
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 11
PARK AND RECREATION GOAL D2 PRIORITY ACTIONS
SYSTEM MASTER PLAN, • Engage citizens in the design of Walker and Underwood Park to understand their
FEBRUARY 2023 needs.
(PRSMP) • Construct activity nodes including yard games in community parks.
• Analyze existing amenities to determine where additional amenities are needed
to meet level of service standards.
• Partner with others to promote recurring social gatherings such as coffee outside,
etc. p.75
Goal D3 . Partner with organizations and provide infrastructure to support programming
and events in the parks system, such as theater, music, races, games, food access, and
markets.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? There are a number of successful events offered to bring the
community together such as the Gulley Park Concert Series and First Thursday, which
takes place in the Historic Downtown Square and offers music, arts, and bike rides to
celebrate the local arts. There is a desire to see these events and larger events, especially
bike and running races, to promote use of parks and trails and support the local economy.
P. 76
GOAL D3 STRATEGIES
a Continue strengthening partnerships with youth centers such as schools and the
Boys and Girls Club for program provision.
b Support active programming that brings people to their parks for art, events,
programs, recreation and community. This programming should be diverse and
adapted to represent the community culture and encourage the creation of social
connections.
c Consider long-term concessionaire facility needs to encourage their presence in
Community and Regional Parks to provide food, beverage, information, and
equipment rentals.
d Update mobile vendor ordinance to increase opportunities in parks.
GOAL D3 PRIORITY ACTIONS
• Meet with partners to gauge interest in sharing resources.
• Build arts and culture programming budget annually to increase offerings.
• Evaluate parks for concessionaire needs and develop infrastructure.
• Identify and develop areas in parks for mobile vendors to serve park users.
Goal D4 . Seek opportunities to integrate art into public spaces .
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The Castle at Wilson Park is a local favorite and an example of
how the arts can integrate into parks. Other examples could integrate interactive
sculpture into play, art and interpretive elements, passive sculpture, murals and other
integrations of art into nature. P.77
GOAL D4 STRATEGIES
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 12
PARK AND RECREATION a Develop an Arts and Culture Master Plan to identify strategic initiatives for
SYSTEM MASTER PLAN, public spaces and programs.
FEBRUARY 2023 b Include programming or spaces that support performing arts and design event
(PRSMP) spaces in parks to serve multiple functions so they are utilized at all times.
c Create more art -infused spaces such as the Castle at Wilson Park.
d Partner with the University of Arkansas's growing Arts and Design Center and
other arts organizations.
GOAL D4 PRIORITY ACTIONS
• Work with consultant support to create Arts and Culture Master Plan.
• Identify opportunities in existing parks for art.
• Identify opportunities for intersection with creative efforts of our community.
• Develop a broad community engagement strategy for gathering and
placemaking.
FAYETTEVILLE FIRST - CITY The strategic focuses, outlined in more detail below, provide Fayetteville with an
5 YEAR PLAN, 2016 actionable guide to strengthen the area's impact on the Northwest Arkansas economy and
(FFP) to solidify Fayetteville's reputation as a place to collaborate, innovate, and create.
FOCUS 1: ARTS AND CULTURE
FURTHER ENHANCE THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Continue to support existing programs that enhance arts and culture locally (p.13)
• Action Item: Pursue grant funding to support programs for the art
• Action Item: Encourage public art installations
"As previously described, public art is a focus in Fayetteville. In order to sustain
this focus long-term, consider the passage of a Percent for Art Ordinance that
allocates a percentage of selected capital projects for installation and
maintenance of permanent works of public art." p. 19
Expand the arts focus in Fayetteville
• Action Item: Support Cultural Arts District development
"The Fayetteville Cultural Arts District will promote and expand the ever-growing
cultural impact of downtown by creating a single marketable district, and as such
should be supported." P. 19
• Action Item: Create additional live/work space for artists
• Action Item: Develop a Downtown Art Program
Develop and support arts programs in public schools
• Action Item: Create an in -school residency program for artists
"Create a program in Fayetteville similar to the Artists -in -Residence program in
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that involves professional artists working with
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 13
students in the Fayetteville School District to create original programs of art. The
support for this effort is already in place through the Arkansas Arts Council Arts in
Education Artist Roster, which is an online listing of professional per formers and
visual or literary artists who are available to participate in a variety of Arts in
Education programs. The Arts in Education (AIE) program is designed to
strengthen the role of the arts in pre K-12 educational settings by fostering
participation in the arts as an integral part of life and the basic education
FAYETTEVILLE FIRST - CITY
process." P. 20
5 YEAR PLAN, 2016
• Action Item: Pursue grants to support these programs
(FFP)
Continue to support the craft beer industry
• Action Item: Partner to support existing breweries
• Action Item: Assess need for educational programs
WELCOMING
THE COMMUNITY: RECOMMENDATIONS
FAYETTEVILLE PLAN, 2016
5. Host and attend events to celebrate immigrant culture and heritage p.16)
(WFP)
"Every September, cities across the country join Welcoming America in celebrating
Welcoming Week as a way to change the rhetoric, shape the immigrant experience, and
affirm values. Cities are encouraged to host festivals, volunteer projects, or classes that
bring native- and foreign -born communities together. The City of Fayetteville will
celebrate Welcoming Week every year and will seek ways to unite neighbors.
Additionally, the Mayor will support ongoing events during this time of year, such as the
Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce's annual Hispanic Heritage Festival." P.19
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN,
'Picture of Ramble in Appendix 1—example of a project that serves two City goals,
2024
biodiversity and open space preservation and arts and culture.
ENERGY ACTION PLAN,
2018
(CAP)
DOWNTOWN MASTER
Executive Summary:
PLAN, 2006
Basic Principles #6
(DMP)
Sixth, Fayetteville must recognize in all its actions that this part of the City has an
experience -based economy, and thus continue to expand the focus on arts, culture and
entertainment experiences as Downtown's drawing card. (ESummary)
Most widely shared ideas from charrettes:
"make Fayetteville a real cultural destination" "increase walkability Downtown"
2.17 Plan fundamentals Smart Parking
Parking should not be placed on corner lots at key intersections. Surface parking lots on
corners disrupts the urban fabric. Most parking needs to be located near the middle of
the block, so that the valuable street edges can be recaptured for urban architecture or
green space. Where possible, parking lots and structures should be lined with build-ings or
otherwise screened so that parking does not visually dominate the street scene. Lining
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 14
parking structures with habitable space along the street edge is crucial to natural
DOWNTOWN MASTER surveillance and street character. These "liner buildings" provide an opportune location
PLAN, 2006 for affordable housing, offices, and small business. Liner buildings are particularly well
(DMP) suited for live -work units or artist studios. P. 2.17
Section 6. An Experience Economy
"What draws people to Downtown? It is the experience --the high quality of life
associated with living and working and being entertained in a downtown environment
with so much to offer, including arts, culture, and fun. Therefore the City should
continue to nurture these anchor functions." 2.27
To reach the next level of quality and sustained economic benefit, a Cultural and
Entertainment Overlay District should be formed to coordinate the evolution of the area
and to establish a fairly compact geo-graphic limit within which these activities should
be focused. Fayetteville's rich history and cultural institutions make the area a prime
candidate for forming an overlay district (see Cultural Districts box). 2.27
The formalizing of the Cultural and Entertainment Overlay District will be an affirmation
of the City's commitment to keep Downtown a center for creativity, innovation, and
fun. Distinctive flags or signs can be used to mark the overlay district. The City, business
organizations and cultural institutions should also promote the overlay district in tourist
brochures and regional media, and recruit businesses that will enhance the scene to
locate there. 2.27
The building form regulations should closely approximate (or match) those for the "Main
Street / Center" category, but these should be paired with liberalized and modified sign
controls (to promote the exuberant signs and lighting traditional in theatre districts), the
barest minimum parking requirements (if any), and a provision for long hours of
operation. Outdoor music should be welcomed within the overlay district, but noise
control ordinances could provide for a stepdown in permissible volume levels in areas
approaching the edges of the district, and some consideration should be given to
limiting the hours for outdoor amplified music so as to manage any disturbance. P.2.28
Keeping the district compact will be of benefit to the cultural institutions and
entertainment businesses as well, because such districts thrive most when the attractions
are bundled closely together in a walkable, easily -navigable scene. 2.28
Today the recognizable center of the arts district is roughly at the intersection of West
Avenue and Dickson Street, anchored by the Walton Arts Center; other outposts of the
arts such as the Nadine Baum Studios and galleries are located nearby, but these are
separated by parking lots, vacant parcels, and assorted businesses. The entertainment
scene is more tightly clustered and primarily linear, along Dickson Street, with some
activity (including bars and restaurants) in the midblock areas and along perpendicular
streets. To encourage its development in directions that will minimize disturbance to
surrounding residential neighborhoods, as the district coalesces it should grow primarily
south, in the area along West Avenue and parallel to the railroad tracks (see Proposed
Cultural and Entertainment Overlay District Boundary on page 2.29).
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 15
DOWNTOWN MASTER This area lends itself to expanded cultural facilities, vibrant evening activities, and
PLAN, 2006 efficiently -provided shared parking. The Illustrative Master Plan depicts how a 2500-seat
(DMP) performance hall can be added to the Walton Arts Center's south side, and how a
community parking facility with "liners" of entertainment businesses and artist housing
can be developed on the West Avenue parcel. 2.28
To promote growth for cultural and entertainment venues in the area:
1) use its regulatory powers to enable these uses in the desired locations and
discourage certain uses outside these locations;
2) use the incentives available within the overlay district to make these sites most
attractive;
3) participate in the construction and financing of the shared parking facility(ies)
and other desirable functions, such as cultural facilities and artist housing; and
4) target street improvements and other infrastructure upgrades in this area. 2.29
National Trends in Downtown Redevelopment
Redevelopment of ailing commercial districts and city neighborhoods has been taking
place across the nation. Redevelopment has proceeded through five strategies:
• the creation or enhancement of arts districts;
• the creation of housing in or near commercial areas;
• destination retail or lifestyle centers with entertainment;
• new office and retail/mixed use districts; and
• new open space amenities.
All of the strategies have in common the concept of "placemaking" or creating a critical
mass of change that can alter local perceptions of the area to be redeveloped.
Arts Districts
In Northwest Arkansas, downtown Fayetteville is the only place with the ability to support
arts facilities on a regional scale. This is important because the arts are now perceived to
be a significant means for encouraging the public to visit and use peripheral businesses
adjoining arts facilities. Some arts districts occur in areas with old existing buildings, such
as obsolete warehouses that can offer artists studios at a cost low enough to encourage a
critical number of studios and galleries. Major arts districts in large cities typically include
at least four types of facilities: museums, galleries, symphony or opera performing arts
venues and retail to appeal to visitors such as restaurants and cafes.
The reason for looking at the arts as a generator of economic potential is that arts
districts draw people on a regular basis and provide foot traffic for local restaurants,
cafes and retail businesses. In Denver, for instance, the city's cultural district drew 7.9
million visitors in 1997, more visitors than attended Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies, and
Avalanche 4.2
games combined. Arts facilities are seen as an amenity that enhances quality of life and
yields a perception of quality to an area. The arts are also seen as an amenity that
draws new residential and office development.
Arts districts can include many different functions from museums, galleries, theaters,
small cinemas, and educational facilities, to building redevelopments for artists' lofts and
live/work units with studios on the first floor and living space on the second. Creating an
arts district requires many of these uses in conjunction, and usually relies upon the
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 16
DOWNTOWN MASTER renovation of old building stock including old warehouses, theaters, hotels and other
PLAN, 2006 buildings of architectural interest. In Berkeley California, a new performing arts facility
(DMP) was combined with streetscape art installations and the redevelopment of City Hall. In
Portland, a new building for art education is part of the on -going revitalization of the Pearl
District, a former warehouse district.
At the same time as yielding benefits, arts facilities and developments are rarely self-
sustaining, and usually require a variety of funding and equity sources to succeed
including public funding, patrons or donors, and sometimes the use of sales taxes and
local improvement districts to fund improvements. Creating arts facilities requires a
public commitment of funding that varies with the size of the proposed project. Live/work
space, in particular, has been successful in such diverse areas as Salt Lake City,
Minneapolis and Little Rock, Arkansas.
The most successful arts districts have strings of galleries intermixed with theater and
symphony venues. One possibility is to establish an arts incubator as an adaptive re -use
project. Arts incubators are projects that offer lower rent for live/work studios in
exchange for public benefit, such as requirements for public open studio nights. The
residents or tenants are required to be practicing artists and to display work on a
monthly basis to the public. While some funding would be required, such projects have
succeeded and economic development funding is available for incubators. 4.3
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 17
DOWNTOWN MASTER
PLAN, 2006
(DMP)
71 B CORRIDOR PLAN,
PLACEMAKING AND PUBLIC ART
2019
As stated earlier, creating distinctive urban places along the 71B corridor is important to
(71BCP)
the overall concept. This strategy has important environmental, economic, functional,
and image -building dimensions. A high -quality physical environment helps transform a
commercial corridor into an attractive place to live, while an improved image builds the
corridor as a destination that attracts customers and builds business. Placemaking
improvements also help users orient themselves along the street, improving its user
experience and overall ease of use. Public art has a proven role to play in the process of
creating places and should be a major part of the development of this corridor. The
adjacency of the corridor to both the developing Arts Corridor and the University of
Arkansas art department facilities provides the special opportunity to bring
environmental art into a high -traffic public realm. This section is by no means a
comprehensive plan for public art but is intended to open discussion on the value of a
unified, contextual program for this highly public corridor. It identifies six specific types of
art installations:
Subdistrict gateways. These define the edges and themes of identifiable districts along
the the street, such as the research campus and Mill District along South School and the
Restaurant District along College north of Township.
Urban intersections. These installations would help define major intersections along the
way, including such locations as the MLK and Rolling Hills intersections. At special
intersections such as bus rapid transit stops, art and function can be combined with
thematically designed shelters or stations. Pedestrian crossings. Major pedestrian
intersections such as the Greenway and Town Branch Trail crossings can be marked by
placemaking elements that also increase safety and visibility.
Sculpture Trail. Popular trails can become linear art galleries that attract users and enrich
the experience of using the trail. Skokie, Illinois' North Branch Trail segment demonstrates
the popularity of art installations along trails.
Free -Standing Art. Major open spaces such as those envisioned with a redesign of the
Fulbright interchange, the redirection of Green Acres Drive, and the center of
roundabouts provide possibilities for major landmark installation. Smaller, repetitive
installations along the way can also be used to interpret local history, bring attention to
specific sites, and even incorporate community art, including the art of young people, into
the streetscape. The maps on these pages provides a starting point for directing the
locations of various installations along the corridor. Pp. 118-119
Major Free -Standing Art Functional Installation (e.g. bus shelter/station)
WALKER PARK
Theme from Charette: "Jefferson Building as a community center/arts uses" p. 13.
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN,
(former Elementary School was sold to Potter House non-profit in 2023.)
2008
(WPNP)
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ADUs are commonly called granny units because
historically they were designed as an alternative housing option for senior family
members. In older neighborhoods, they were often located above an attached garage or
stood alone as a separate cottage unit. Sometimes they were an integral part of the main
home with separate cooking, sleeping, and bathing facilities. ADUs can create attainable
housing in a number of ways. They are often designed as a housing alternative for
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 18
members of the family who may have special needs or life circumstances. Families with
college -age children may choose to construct an ADU rather than pay rent for a dorm
room or off -campus apartment. Additionally, ADUs as rental units can provide the
necessary income needed for a family to meet their monthly mortgage obligations. The
relatively low residential density and the neighborhood's proximity to the downtown
and University of Arkansas make the Walker Park Neighborhood ideal for homeowners
seeking to supplement their income by creating ADUs. P.22
How the Jefferson Building ultimately is used will be determined by the Fayetteville School
District, the availability of funding to the Jefferson Project group or the private sector.
However, the proposed design would make the building a centerpiece for the
neighborhood and honor the history of the school as well as the neighborhood. The
design also makes the area an asset to the recently created Cultural Arts District, which
encompasses the Jefferson Building.p.33
The other suggestions mentioned for Walker Park emphasized adding uses that would
serve a broader population within the neighborhood. Walker Park currently serves as a
regional sports park; adding other uses such as an outdoor amphitheater, a disc golf
course, splash pad or dog park would broaden the user population. This evolution would
enable Walker Park to transition from a regional park to a neighborhood park. P. 38
The State Historic Preservation Program annually offers preservation grants to restore
historically significant structures and memorials. The Waxhaws Memorial symbolizes an
important part of Arkansas and Fayetteville history, but has fallen into disrepair. Restoring
this memorial and highlighting a northeast entrance to Walker Park would contribute to
the history embedded in the Jefferson Square area and invite residents north of the park
into the nature trail system.
Long Term Recommendation
Add additional uses to Walker Park such as a splash pad and outdoor amphitheater.
These amenities are unique and will diversify and increase users of the park. Adding these
features to then north end of the park will also create a children's area and performance
space for residents who live to the north of the park. However, these features are more
costly than previous uses mentioned, requiring more planning for infrastructure and
capital expenses. P. 46
WALKER PARK MASTER
New plan includes a Stage
PLAN 2023
(WPMP)
CENTENNIAL PARK
Conceptual Plan includes a Stage
CONCEPTUAL MASTER
PLAN 2019
(CPMP)
GULLEY PARK MASTER
***Art Garden indicated as well as a designated area for Performance (which includes a
PLAN 2019
support area and placement for food trucks).
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 19
(GPMP)
Art Garden: This area of the park has more trees than the open fields, but not enough
trees to be a forested area. As such it creates many places that could serve as locations
for sculptures and art works possibly developed by the growing art related efforts in the
city and at the University of Arkansas.
Performance Area: The area that hosts the Gulley Park Concert Series and other events. A
large pavilion, a restroom, and an area for food trucks and other support activities is
included. Electricity could be provided so vendors will not have to use generators during
the concerts. (from Land Use Theme Descriptions)
ARTSPACE, Presentation Key Theme Fayetteville: More space for working artists; keeping and retaining students
of Findings, 2019
Where in Northwest Arkansas would you consider
relocating to a live/work community?
Fayetteville 122 64%
Bentonville 95 49%
Rogers 73 38%
Springdale 69 36%
Other 22 11%
Where would you consider renting private
studio or creative workspace on an ongoing
basis?
Fayetteville 122 59%
Rogers 85 43%
Bentonville 74 36%
Springdale 50 24%
Other 26 13%
Fayetteville Recommendation:
A classic mixed -use development including:
• Affordable live/work artist housing
• Working studios for individual artists
• Link to Fayetteville Square artists, bike trails and
area transportation
• Integration with the Cultural Arts Corridor
• Programmatic connections to University Arts
Campus Expansion and Arts and Design District
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 20
Arts Vibrancy in "The recently established University of Arkansas School of Art should help to attract
Northwest Arkansas, SMU independent artists to NW Arkansas. The challenge will be to keep these independent
2017 (AVN) artists in the community. We note that the University of Arkansas already offered degrees
in music and theatre. NW Arkansas is competitively ranked in the theatre sector but not in
opera, music, or dance. The situation in NW Arkansas is similar to Dallas, TX, where SMU's
long-established Meadows School of the Arts attracts
artists to Dallas but the city has struggled to maintain a thriving community of
independent artists." p.5
Other plans consulted:
MASTER STREETS PLAN, 2020
THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, 2015- UPDATE WITH CP 2020
BRYCE DAVIS PARK MASTER PLAN 2023
FAYETTEVILLE MOBILITY PLAN, 2018
Regional Plans
Rogers Cultural Plan 2021
Northwest Arkansas Music Ecosystem Strategy and Action Plan, 2020
Plans underway (not yet reviewed):
Experience Fayetteville Tourism Plan
Downtown Fayetteville Plan
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 21
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Public Art Assessment, Gap Analysis & Initial Recommendations
2024
Public Art Program Background
Fayetteville has a tradition of supporting and producing art in the public realm, whether that be a
fountain in front of the Town Center, "Sprayetteville" murals, or paintings on utility boxes. But until
recently, the City of Fayetteville has not had a formal public art program. Most of the City's artwork
collection came to the former Parks department through donations of artwork or collaborations with
other City departments (Recycling, Police department, etc.). With the recent founding of the new Arts
and Culture Division, the City has the opportunity to formalize its Public Art Program, fund it and staff it,
and manage and care for the existing collection as well as commission new works of art.
Collection Assessment
In March 2023, our consulting team personally visited and inventoried nearly every piece of art that is
owned and maintained by the City of Fayetteville. The collection numbers approximately 40 pieces in
total. This assessment pertains to the artwork in the City's collection only. The revised Fayetteville Public
Art Inventory 3.20.24 includes a few artworks that have been destroyed, moved or the consultants were
unable to locate. There are other works of art around the City, which seem to be private installations,
property of the Library or murals and artwork owned and maintained by Experience Fayetteville. The
University has its own public art collection as well. In addition, there are temporary sculptures that are
placed within the Lower Ramble that were not a part of this assessment.
Currently, the diversity of artwork in the collection is quite limited; the collection consists predominantly
of murals and utility box paintings and donated small-scale sculptures. Nearly all of the artwork (95%) is
by local artists from Fayetteville or Northwest Arkansas. Only one sculpture is by an out-of-state artist.
One highlight of the collection is a grouping of artworks located in Wilson Park that is a series of
playable/functional sculptures centered around "Point Seven" or the Wilson Park Castle. The work is in
excellent condition (appearing to be recently restored) and is a fine example of the draw of public art
and its ability to create memorable spaces for all ages. On our visit, a family from Texas was enjoying the
castle, and they mentioned that they had researched the location before they arrived and wanted to
experience the park as a tourist destination.
Appendix - Fayetteville Public Art Assessment - 1
Count of Form/Type
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Form/Type
The collection overall is in good condition, though several of the utility boxes have deteriorated to the
point where they will need to be scraped and/or repainted. Overall, this is typical of murals —they require
regular maintenance if they are to remain in place longer than a few years. Two of the smaller donated
sculptures are also in fair to poor condition due to chipped and peeling powder -coated paint. More
details on the condition of the collection are in the revised Fayetteville Public Art Inventory 3.20.24.
Public Art Program Resources
City of Fayetteville's Public Art Website—A simple google search for public art in Fayetteville, AR went
directly to the City's Public Art website, which is embedded under Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural
Affairs, and then under the Arts and Culture Tab. It appears as though the items on the Public Art
"splash page" are out of date. The page starts with a description of what public art is, and then links to a
2018 video produced by Experience Fayetteville. Following that, the page is a long list of headings
including a section "About Fayetteville's Murals" and then continues with a listing "Recent
Commissions" and "Collaborations: which are also out of date. The interactive map isn't intuitively
placed on the site, popping up under "Ongoing Projects." https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/3200/Public-
Art
Generally, the Department would do well to overhaul this resource, keeping it simple so it is easy to
keep up-to-date, and also feature resources for artists (such as RFQs) more prominently.
Appendix - Fayetteville Public Art Assessment - 2
Other Web -Based Resources for the Public Art Program
There are other websites that are linked to the City of Fayettevile's Public Art website. A cursory search
showed the following links:
https://www.experiencefavetteville.com/experience/art
https://www.arkansas.com/articles/favetteville-public-art-tours
These pages are great assets to the City's public art program and the Arts and Culture Department in
General. As the public art program grows, continuing to coordinate and collaborate with these websites
and cross-referencing will make more resources available to the public and tourists.
Fayetteville Public Art Inventory
The internal collection list was updated as of March 2024 as the Fayetteville Public Art Inventory. There
are a few artworks that have been moved, destroyed or were unable to be located. Arts and Culture
staff will need to follow up with these items and confirm their disposition or new location and update
the inventory. It is recommended that the inventory be updated at least annually, or as new artwork is
commissioned or acquired.
Currently there are three sections of the inventory: one for the City -owned collection, one listing
Experience Fayetteville's collection and another list with secondary works which is a list of private and
unidentified artwork that are in the public realm.
Collection Map
The Fayetteville Art Walk Interactive Map does not directly correspond to the Public Art Inventory, as
the map includes artwork owned by the City, Experience Fayetteville and other private owners. The map
also does not include temporary works, such as those displayed in the Lower Ramble. Some pieces on
the map were not found (either the artwork was moved, destroyed or the information on the map is
incorrect). To date, there are no other public art maps or tours beyond this one.
Public Art Funding
In 2024, the City funded the Public Art program in the amount of $155,000 from the CIP five year capital
plan. The program requested $500,000. The funding is allocated as follows:
• $20-25k for Juneteenth Murals on Nelson Hackett Blvd (project complete)
• Yvonne Richardson Community Center Murals (funded through project funds)
• Artwork related to the Upper Ramble construction
The strategy for funding the public art program into the future is unknown.
Public Art Staffing
The current Arts and Culture Department Director is also serving as the primary staff for the Public Art
Program. The City's appointed Arts Commission is serving as the Commission for the Public Art Program.
Gaps
• The Public Art Program lacks:
Appendix - Fayetteville Public Art Assessment - 3
o Dedicated public art staff;
o A percent -for -art ordinance for a set -aside from capital improvement projects for art;
o Dedicated, sustained funding for public art maintenance;
o A maintenance plan for the care and preservation of public art; and
o Formal, adopted public art policies (except for an existing donation policy).
• Marketing of the program is limited:
o The public art website is not up-to-date and a bit disorganized;
o The Art Walk Interactive Map is also out of date;
o There is limited cross -promotion of the public art program and other cultural
programming at the City.
• Maintenance is an issue; several of the utility box murals are in need of repainting;
• Currently, the public art collection is limited in scope, primarily murals and 95% local artists,
making it hyper -local.
• The community is eager for more public art; and
• Without a percent -for -art ordinance or more formalized program, the City may be missing
opportunities to include art in City -funded development.
Initial Recommendations
• Staff the program properly, even with a part time consultant, to ensure there is at least one
person dedicated to public art oversight and project management.
• With additional staff, improve the on-line visibility of the program, create an up-to-date map
and establish additional marketing/promotional pathways (ie. social media, tours, etc.)
• Develop policies and procedures for the Public Art Program:
o Acquisition methods and processes
o Selection/site criteria
o Standard Policies: donation, deaccession, maintenance, and mural/temporary work
o Mural vs. Sign Code
o Eventual codification of a public art ordinance
o CIP contributions (by code or voluntary)
o Sample contracts
o VARA information
o Public Art Framework Plan with steps toward building and funding the program
• Strategize and advocate for a 1% or 2% for art program, either by ordinance or voluntary.
• Seek out funding partnerships through other entities, like Business Improvement Districts (BID).
• Augment the program through grants (local, state, national) and/or philanthropy.
• Legally determine City ownership of art pieces and ensure the City maintains those works.
• Build a small pool of funding for use to upgrade/repair damaged sculptures and failing utility box
murals.
• As funding is more sustainable and new commission opportunities grow, consider how to
expand the program to represent more diverse art forms and engage more artists.
• Collaborate with the University of Arkansas through internships or apprenticeships, for example
to help run a summer utility box mural program or to maintain or repair existing artwork.
Appendix - Fayetteville Public Art Assessment - 4
• Reprise "Sprayetteville" in collaboration with Experience Fayetteville or another fiscal sponsor
as this program was highly successful with the public and they want more.
• Partner with the Downton Fayetteville Coalition to fund more public art within the Downtown
core.
• As the program grows,
• Focus on a few key projects:
o Upper Ramble (finishes in November 2025).
o Hotel in Upper Ramble - encourage the developer to include art
o Alley & Mural beautification program, potentially in partnership with Downtown
Fayetteville Coalition (Little Rock Alley Art Project, Fort Collins Downtown Alley
Projects).
o Grants for neighborhood murals (not on City property) - perhaps through CDBG funding.
Appendix - Fayetteville Public Art Assessment - 5
Peer Cities Report
for the Fayetteville Arts & Culture Plan
2024
Table of Contents
Overview....................................................................................................................................................2
KeyFindings................................................................................................................................................3
Municipal Departments Benchmark Summary..........................................................................................5
Municipal Cultural Facilities and Venues....................................................................................................9
Notable Non -Municipal Cultural Facilities................................................................................................11
Municipal Arts & Culture Programs/Events.............................................................................................15
Unique Arts & Culture Events...................................................................................................................17
Municipal Special Events Offices/Coordination.......................................................................................22
Film& Video Support...............................................................................................................................24
PublicArt Programs..................................................................................................................................27
GrantingPrograms...................................................................................................................................30
Arts/Creative Districts..............................................................................................................................34
Creative Business/Entrepreneurial Support.............................................................................................36
TourismSupport.......................................................................................................................................37
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 1
Overview
This Peer Cities Report is driven by the City of Fayetteville's desire to strategically develop and deepen
its role in arts and culture. The intent of the report is to identify and benchmark best practices, trends,
innovation and success from selected samples to provide both a current snapshot of the industry and
inspiration for cultural planning.
The report benchmarks seven cities identified as having similar characteristics as Fayetteville in terms
of population size, demographics, distance from a large metropolitan area and a major state university
within its borders. Each benchmark city is also known for its arts and culture scene, making it a good
candidate for understanding the role the municipal government has in the arts and culture ecosystem.
The seven benchmark cities are:
•
Asheville, North Carolina
•
Boise, Idaho
•
Boulder, Colorado
•
Fort Collins, Colorado
•
Lawrence, Kansas
•
Little Rock, Arkansas
•
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
This study looked at how each municipality internally engages with arts and culture. Specifically, our
research asked the following questions:
• Does the city have an arts and culture department? What does it do?
• Does the city own and operate arts and culture facilities or venues?
• Is the city involved in supporting special events or festivals?
• Does the city support film and video in its local community?
• Does the city have an art in public places program?
• Does the city provide grants to the arts and culture community?
Methodology
In preparing this report, research consisted of extensive internet research, reviewing existing arts and
culture planning and other city planning documents that were available, delving into public records on
city policies and budgets as well as specific inquiries directly to staff. It's worth noting that the level of
detailed information varied among cities, affecting our ability to collect all the desired data points fully.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 2
Key Findings
Before diving into the detailed data, we've highlighted several key findings that stand out and merit
special attention.
• % for Art: Each city (except Little Rock) has a percent -for -art program, with Lawrence applying
2%. In addition, Boulder and Boise have innovative programs of note: Boise has ground-
breaking public art collaborations with public works, the airport, and water
conservation/treatment center in which artists were part of the design teams. Boulder oversees
a Creative Neighborhoods Program as well as "Experiments in Public Art" featuring temporary
art "experiments."
• Artist Registry: Oklahoma City maintains a local artists registry available on the city's website.
• Artists' Support: Boulder's Arts and Culture Website has a helpful "Resources and
Opportunities" page for artists to link to local, regional and national websites and resources for
artists.
• Community Programs: Fort Collins began its Cultural Community Programs in 2022 (through
ARPA funding) to integrate arts and culture experiences into the Fort Collins community by
activating unconventional public spaces with pop-up events and activations.
• Craft Your Commerce: Mountain Bizworks in Asheville hosts a series of workshops titled "Craft
Your Commerce" for creatives to expand their entrepreneurial skills.
• Creative District: Little Rock has designated the Main Street Creative Corridor as a place to be
for those wanting to incorporate art and culture into their everyday lives and is revitalizing
Main Street one block at a time, using economic development stimulated by the arts rather
than a traditional retail base.
• Film: The state of Oklahoma has a very robust program for promoting the film and TV industry
in its state and has gone even further to target film and music together with their incentive
programs, doubling down on the commitment to the creative economy in this area.
https://www.okfilmmusic.org/
• Grant making: Four cities provide granting programs for local arts and culture organizations
and artists as a way to invest directly in the sector.. Boulder's Cultural Grant program strives to
be innovative and respond to local needs. Recently they've developed "hiring artists incentives"
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 3
and "venue affordability fund" which partners with key cultural venues to provide free or
reduced cost rental rates for the sector.
• Mural Registry: The City of Boise has a Mural Registry to browse in addition to a searchable
database of its entire collection.
• Public Art Training: The City of Boise offers a yearly Public Art Academy for artists looking to
learn how to break into public art.
• Special Events Support: While all the cities require special event permitting, Boise, Fort Collins,
and Oklahoma City (with Lawrence in development) have special event offices within local
government to provide guidance and support to ensure safe, sustainable and successful events.
• Studio Tour: To engage the community with a greater number of local artists, Fort Collins'
Studio Tour runs over three days, partnering with local artists who open their studios to the
public.
• Unique Festival: Lawrence Busker Festival occurs one weekend a year with unusual
entertainment all over historic downtown Lawrence. A roster of street performers from all
around the world perform: magicians, jugglers, musicians, acrobats, and more.
The following pages offer an in-depth look at the data points outlined in the benchmark study.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 4
Municipal Departments Benchmark Summary
We looked at each city to see if it had an arts and culture department and what that department does.
The following summarizes this data for each city.
City of Asheville, NC
-3, Population: 95,056 (Metro area 417,202)
-3, City Arts & Culture Department: Department of Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities
-3, What it does: Owns and operates the city's major cultural facilities and venues. (see below)
-3, Facilities/Venues:
♦ Harrah's Cherokee Center —Asheville
• ExploreAsheville.com Arena,
• Thomas Wolfe Auditorium,
♦ WNC Nature Center
♦ McCormick Field
♦ Aston Park Tennis Center
♦ John B Lewis Soccer Complex
-3, Public Art: Planning and Urban Design houses and staffs the 1% for Art Program Public Art
Program.
-3, Staff: 27.75; .5 FTE for Public Art
-3, Estimated Annual Funding &: $5,530,847 Harrah's Center -
-3, Source: Enterprise Fund = Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville (HCCA )Fund
City of Boise, ID
-3, Population: 235,421 (Metro area 764,718), state capitol
-3, City Arts & Culture Department: Department of Arts and History
-3, What it does: Serves primarily an advisory role to the local arts and history industry. It offers
granting opportunities, professional development support for artists and historians.
-3, Facilities/Venues: The department oversees two city -owned historic sites: James Astle House
and the Emra Hayman House.
-3, Public Art: Public Works houses the Public Art Program. The public art program is embedded in
their new building programs. The City has a ground -breaking public art/public works
collaboration and art/airport collaboration. water conservation/treatment center and the
airport; artists were part of the design teams.
♦ Benchmark Alert: https://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/media/5633/public-works-arts-
plan-print.pdf
♦ https://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/media/5991/airport-art-plan-v212.pdf
-3, Staff: 16 FTE, including a full-time cultural asset manager.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 5
-3, Estimated Annual Funding: $3,121419
—3, Source: General Fund
City of Boulder, CO
—3, Population: 105,898 (Metro area 330,758)
—3, City Arts & Culture Department: The Boulder Office of Arts and Culture
—3, What it does: A division of the Community Vitality department, the BOAC is responsible for the
oversight of cultural grants, creative sector programs, public art, support for cultural nonprofits,
creative neighborhoods programs, and support for individual artists and creative professionals.
—3, Facilities/Venues: The City owns two facilities that they lease for a nominal fee to non-profit
organizations, the Dairy Center for the Arts and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.
—3, Public Art: Boulder recently instituted a formal 1% for Art Program in 2018. The program also
oversees a Creative Neighborhoods Program as well as "Experiments in Public Art" which
receives an additional $150K per year.
—3, Staff: 6 FTE
—3, Estimated Annual Funding: $1.5 million in 2024; $4 million or more in 2025.
—3, Source: As of 2025, the Office will be funded almost entirely from the voter approved
designation of the existing "2A Tax revenue" to arts and culture. The exact amount is
undetermined at this time. Public Art will continue to be funded through 1% for art on capital
improvements, the general fund and other funding streams.
—3, Benchmark Alert: Boulder's 2024 budget provided $925,000 to support the City's cultural grant
program to arts and culture nonprofit organizations. The majority of the grants budget ($800K)
provides critical multi -year general operating support to over 40 arts organizations. The
remaining $125K supports project grants, grants to artists and arts educators and capacity
building funds.
City of Fort Collins, CO
Population: 170,376 (Metro area 370,771)
City Arts and Culture Department: The Cultural Services Department
—3o What it does: Fosters an inclusive, culturally rich, creatively vibrant and arts -engaged
community. It owns and operates four facilities and manages the art in public places program,
Fort Fund Grant Program for arts and culture nonprofit organizations, and the Cultural
Community Program.
—3, Facilities/Venues: It owns and operates 4 facilities:
♦ The Lincoln Center (performing and visual arts)
♦ Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (public/private)
♦ Gardens on Spring Creek (botanic gardens)
♦ Center for Creativity
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 6
-3, Public Art: Cultural Services manages the 1% for art public art program.
-3, Staff: 45 FTE; 1 FTE + consultants for public art.
-3, Estimated Annual Funding: $9,378,597
-3, Source: General Fund, earned revenue, contributed revenue
City of Lawrence, KS
-3, Population: 96,207 (Metro area 120,553)
-3, City Arts and Culture Department: The City recently added Arts and Culture to its Parks and
Recreation department.
-3, What it does: The newly expanded department is currently working on a Parks, Recreation, Arts
and Culture Comprehensive Plan that will be completed in 2024. The Arts & Culture
Commission is charged "to promote, encourage, and coordinate the artistic and cultural
activities of the community through recommendations made to the Governing Body of the City
and through coordinating endeavors of those groups and organizations which identify
themselves as primarily concerned with the artistic environment of Lawrence." The City
manages the Phoenix Awards and Community Arts Grants.
-3, Facilities/Venues: The City doesn't own or operate any facilities but they manage the following
programs:
-3, Public Art: the City manages a 2% for art program and Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition.
-3, Staff: 2.84 FTE
-3, Estimated Annual Funding & Source: embedded in Parks & Recreation Budget.
-3, Source: Funding is embedded in the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department which is funded
primarily through the General Fund and Transient Guest Tax.
City of Little Rock, AR
-3, Population: 203,842 (Metro 748,031), state capitol
-3, City Arts & Culture Department: The City does not have a designated cultural department, but
does have an Arts & Culture Commission which was established "to promote policies and
encourage endeavors for the appreciation and enhancement of the arts and culture resources
of Little Rock."
-3, What it does: The Commission organizes and promotes the Open Studios Program.
-3, Facilities/Venues: Although the city doesn;t own or operate facilities, the city does appropriate
funding to partner agencies that are run and managed by separately:
♦ Museum of Fine Arts $2,200,000
♦ Museum of Discovery $192,000
♦ River Market $1,071,692
♦ MacArthur Military Museum $307,345
-3, Public Art: The city does not have a formal public art program.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 7
-3, Staff: 1 FTE (Creative Economy and Special Projects Supervisor)
-3, Estimated Annual Funding & Source: $3,777,037 to above organizations.
-3, Source: The facilities above are considered separate entities from the city and receive funds
from service charges that are used to operate their respective facilities and a Hotel, Motel, and
Restaurant Sales Tax.
City of Oklahoma City, OK
-3, Population: 702,767 (Metro area 1,459,380) state capitol
-3, City Arts and Culture Department: the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs
-3, What it does: As a division of the Planning Department, OACA is charged with expanding and
improving the quality of the community's arts and cultural opportunities so the community can
experience social, physical, educational and economic enrichment. The OACA facilitates cultural
planning and implementation and the relationships between artists, cultural organizations, and
other groups.
-3, Facilities/Venues: the City does not own or operate cultural facilities.
-3, Public Art: The OACA oversees the coordination and stewardship of the 1% for Public Art
Program,
♦ Benchmark Alert: OKC Arts has a local artists registry:
https://www.okc.gov/departments/planning/programs/office-of-arts-and-cultural-
affairs/artist-registry
-3, Staff: 2.5 FTE (2024-2025)
-3, Estimated Annual Funding & Source: $532,097 (2025)
-3, Source: General Fund and Special Purpose Fund
The table below summarizes the above information:
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 8
Asheville, North Carolina
Boise, Idaho
Boulder, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Lawrence, Kansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Fayvetle/illu, Arkanza%
v0 4qo- SP
Municipal Cultural Facilities and Venue -
Which benchmark cities own and operate arts and cultural facilities?
City of Asheville, NC
x
x I x
The City of Asheville's Department of Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities manages a
collection of sporting & entertainment facilities and operations including the Harrah's Cherokee Center
— Asheville which includes the ExploreAsheville.com Arena and the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, WNC
Nature Center, McCormick Field, Aston Park Tennis Center, John B Lewis Soccer Complex and outdoor
events within parks and public spaces, permitted by the City's Office of Special Events.
City of Boise, ID
The City of Boise Department of Arts and History manages the James Castle House, the Erma Hayman
House through its Cultural Sites program. The City of Boise owns —but does not operate —buildings
that house the Boise Art Museum, The Cabin, Black History Museum, the Discovery Center, and the
Human Rights Education Center. Boise Public Works is responsible for the maintenance of the
buildings; Parks & Recreation is responsible for grounds maintenance. Eight Community Centers (some
in partnership with Boise School District), including Fort Boise Art Center, the Foothills Learning
Center, and Boise Watershed Environmental Education Center, are owned and operated by Boise City
Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments with limited partnerships with the Department of
Arts & History.
City of Boulder, CO
The City of Boulder's Office of Arts and Culture does not operate any art facilities or venues in Boulder.
The City does own the building and property used by the Dairy Arts Center and BMOCA through an
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 9
ongoing nominal lease. The facility includes a 225 seat theatre, 116 seat theatre, black box theatre, 70
seat cinema space, two art galleries, workshop space, and rentable lobby space for 250. The Dairy
books and produces its own events and also serves as a rental facility for many other arts organizations
in Boulder. (See grants for more details on venue support)
City of Fort Collins, CO
The City of Fort Collins Cultural Services Department includes the Lincoln Center for the Performing
Arts with a 1200 seat theatre, 220 seat theatre, art gallery and conference center; the public/private
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, the Gardens on Spring Creek, and Creative Community Center,
with affordable community space for exhibitions, performances, classes, meetings, etc.
City of Lawrence, KS
The Lawrence Arts Center is a public/private partnership started in the 1970s, with a new facility built
in 2002. Community raised $3.5 million which the City matched. City owns the facility which is
operated by the nonprofit "Lawrence Art Center." The facility includes five gallery spaces, 300-seat
theatre, Black Box Theater, fully equipped studios for drawing, painting, ceramics, jewelry,
photography and printmaking. LAC focuses on "art is for everyone" and provides financial aid and an
Artists -in -residence program. 10th & Mass Studios is an extension of LAC offering arts classes, events,
and rentals. In 2023, LAC acquired the building to expand programming further through the City of
Lawrence's Arts Commons Tax Increment Fund (TIF) agreement, financing and generous donors.
City of Little Rock, AR
The City of Little Rock established an Arts and Culture Commission to promote policies and encourage
endeavors for the appreciation and enhancement of the arts and culture resources of Little Rock. The
City does not appear to have a specific arts and culture department or own/manage arts facilities or
venues. The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Board of Trustees was created by Little Rock City
Ordinance No. 11,111 (Code of Ordinances Section 22-181). In 2016, voters did pass a hotel -tax bond to
reimagine the former Arkansas Arts Center into the Arkansas Museum of Fine Art, of which the City of
Little Rock is one of many funders.
City of Oklahoma City, OK
The city's Arts & Cultural Affairs (Arts) was established in 2012 to guide, coordinate, and accelerate arts
and cultural development. While this department oversees the 1% Public Art program, the Arts
Commission, and engages in municipal arts strategic planning and research, it doesn't own nor manage
arts facilities.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 10
Notable Non -Municipal Cultural Facilities
Each of the cities also have non -municipal facilities to provide arts and cultural programming for their
respective communities. A few significant non -municipal cultural facilities for each city are noted
below.
Asheville, NC
• Wortham Center for Performing Arts: a three -venue complex comprising Diana Wortham
Theatre (500 seats), Tina McGuire Theatre (100 seats) and Henry LaBrun Studio (85 people)..
• Asheville Art Museum: Asheville Art Museum presents 15 to 20 exhibitions each year and along
with its collections explore 20th- and 21st-century American art and preserve the artistic
traditions of the Southern Appalachian region.
• Magnetic Theater: Located in the River District with a devotion to displaying new and exciting
original work from talented playwrights. Features a New Play Development Program and an
open script submission policy.
• Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre: offers a casual outdoor performances environment featuring
Shakespeare by the Montford Park Players.
• NC Stage Company: 127-seat, off-Broadway style of professional theatre.
Boise, ID
• Velma V. Morrison Center for Performing Arts: Located on Boise State University campus, the
2,002-seat Morrison Center annually hosts hundreds of live entertainment and arts education
offerings. A Boise State affiliate, the Center's budget is supported by ticket sales, facility rentals,
donations, grants, and the generous support of the Morrison Center Endowment Foundation,
Inc.
• Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy: Home to Ballet Idaho, Boise Philharmonic, and Opera
Idaho, located in the Cultural District in Boise, the Academy is renowned for its educational
outreach programs. The Academy was launched in 1992 from a generous endowment from J.R.
Simplot. The Academy has expanded from a single building to three, including the Academy, the
Annex, Ballet Idaho offices.
• Luminary: The Keith and Catherine Stein Luminary is an all -digital museum space, producing a
range of immersive, interactive and sensory experiences focused on visual and performing arts
and cultural exhibitions.
• Discovery Center of Idaho: Idaho's only science center was begun by the Junior League of Boise.
• Boise Art Museum (BAM): Idaho's only collecting art museum hosts an annual outdoor arts
festival featuring more than 200 artists.
• Basque Center: The Basque Center was built in 1949 and is a gathering place for Basque people
in the area, supporting Basque dancing, events and gatherings.
Boulder, CO
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 11
• Boulder Museum for Contemporary Art (BMOCA): Founded by a group of local artists in 1972,
BMOCA is one of Colorado's premier contemporary art venues. It is a non -collecting institution.
• Boulder Theater: Art deco institution since 1906 and an anchor in downtown providing a venue
for music, film, and meetings.
• Chautauqua Auditorium: It is the only chautauqua west of the Mississippi that has continuously
operated with its original structures intact, largely used for their original purposes. Offers
musical, arts and educational programs attracting over 1M visitors annually.
• eTown Hall: A multipurpose, multimedia center in the heart of downtown Boulder that is home
to eTown's world -class live music venue, full service recording studio, post production audio
and video suites, cafe & bar.
• MackyAuditorium: University of Colorado's multidisciplinary venue with 2052 seats serving the
campus and the region.
Fort Collins, CO
• University Center for the Arts: owned/operated by CSU, the UCA is comprised of a 550 seat
music hall, 150 recital hall, black box dance space, and practice and classroom spaces.
Programming partners with the City of Fort Collins Cultural Services Department for the
Classical Music Series.
• Museum of Art Fort Collins (MoA) art museum with temporary exhibits housed in the former
post office in the Old Town area of the city. The museum is a non -collecting institution.
• Mishawaka Amphitheater: Iconic riverfront music venue in the Poudre Canyon with seasonal
outdoor amphitheater with capacity of 1000, indoor lounge & full -service cafe.
• Washington's: a downtown live music venue with capacity of 900 owned and operated by
Bohemian Live Music, which also owns The Armory, a premier listening room featuring acoustic
acts with 200-person capacity.
• The Comedy Fort: standalone comedy club in downtown Fort Collins with shows nearly every
day of the week, open mic nights, and classes.
• The Aggie Theatre: historic movie theatre turned into a live music venue hosting local and big -
name bands. Owned and operated by Z2 Entertainment which also owns the Boulder Theatre,
Boulder Fox, Chautauqua and 10 mile hall.
Lawrence, KS
• Lied Center 2020 seat performing arts center at the University of Kansas, serving the campus
and greater community.
• Spencer Art Museum: Operated by the University of Kansas as the only comprehensive art
museum in the state of Kansas serving more than 50,000 visitors annually.
• Theatre Lawrence: 35,000 square foot theatre and education facility opened in 2013, producing
six to eight major shows each year, touring shows, an extensive youth program, senior
programming, a summer program and a script library.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 12
• Liberty Hall: historic theater in downtown Lawrence, Kansas with a main stage, a small cinema,
a coffee shop and a video library
• The Bottleneck: Live -music venue featuring local and touring bands; capacity up to 500.
• Americana Music Academy: A nonprofit school teaching all forms of American roots music;
offers individual and group lessons, workshops, summer camps, jam sessions, and concerts and
events.
• The Granada: former movie theatre turned live music venue/nightclub with capacity of 900.
Little Rock, AR
• Robinson Center: The Robinson Center is a 2,222 seat, 25,000 square foot live performance,
convention, and exhibition space.
• Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts: Arkansas' premier art museum, formerly known as the Arkansas
Arts Center. The museum is a free and inclusive cultural space for the community to engage
with the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, theatre, and courses.
• Mosaic Templars Cultural Center: A nationally -accredited, world -class Department of Arkansas
Heritage museum and cultural center and is dedicated to telling the story of the African
American experience in Arkansas.
• Arkansas Repertory Theatre: 340-seat auditorium and 100-seat black box space
• River Market Entertainment District: a riverside hub with an international food hall, a twice -
weekly farmer's market & frequent concerts. Home of First Security Amphitheatre outdoor
concert venue (7 acres, 7,000 capacity, 1375 fixed seating, 60x60 covered/trussed stage). The
district is also a banded drinking zone.
• Little Rock Zoo: It is home to more than 725 animals representing over 200 species, and covers
an area of 33 acres.
• The Looney Bin Comedy Club: Intimate theater presents rising comedy stars, stand-up, improv &
sketch comedy shows, plus in-house classes.
Oklahoma City, OK
• Rose State College Hudiburq Chevrolet Performing Arts Center (partners with Civic Center Music
Hall) 1400 seat venue.
• Civic Center Music Hall: Managed and operated in conjunction with the Rose State Performing
Arts Theatre. Together they serve more than 300,000 patrons at around 250 performances at
four different stages each year. In 2018, the Civic Center Foundation assumed full management
of the Civic Center Music Hall and Rose State College Performing Arts Theatre from the City of
Oklahoma City.
• OCCC Visual Performing Arts Center Theater: Modern campus facility with 1,000+ seats hosting
concerts, live theater & other community events
• Armstrong Auditorium: multi -award -winning Armstrong Auditorium is home to the
Armstrong International Cultural Foundation's performing arts series.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 13
• Oklahoma Contemporary: focuses on living artists and contemporary art. The new building
hosts free exhibitions, events and performances year-round and offers low-cost, high -quality
arts classes and camps for youth and adults.
• Oklahoma City Museum of Art: is one of the leading arts institutions in the region. The museum
presents exhibitions organized from prestigious museums and collections throughout the world
as well as its own collection. The Museum's Samuel Roberts Noble Theater screens
international, independent, documentary, and classic films.
• The Criterion: Located in the heart of Oklahoma City's Bricktown District, The Criterion is a
3,000 capacity live performance venue.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 14
Municipal Arts & Culture Programs/Events
For the municipalities that own and operate major cultural facilities, they are also programming events,
classes, and exhibitions within those facilities. For those without major facilities, their level of
programming efforts vary.
Asheville, NC
As part of the City of Asheville's Department of Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities, the
Harrah's Cherokee Center hosts more than 200 event days each year, and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium is
home to the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.
Boulder, CO
The City of Boulder's Office of Arts and Culture is launching a Public Art Walking Tour Program and is a
major sponsor of Boulder Arts Week and they fund a Cultural Grants Program. Aside from this, it
serves a marketing role for the city's cultural landscape, a significant resource in linking artists and
performers to partnering cultural facilities.
Boise, ID
The Department of Arts and History programming includes the "Fettuccine Forum" a free speaker
series that invites the public to interact with politicians, artists, historians, activists, advocates, and
professionals in an effort to promote good citizenship and responsible growth through education. The
city also organizes history tours and public art tours. Otherwise, the Department "serves an advisory
role to a $50 million local arts and history industry," awards grant funding to artists and historians, and
manages Boise's percent -for -art funding and art collection.
Fort Collins:, CO
As a municipality that owns and operates major cultural facilities, Fort Collins Cultural Services
Department is also programming a wide spectrum of events, performances, educational opportunities,
and exhibitions within those facilities. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is also a rental facility
for other arts and community organizations and the Center for Creativity is specifically designated for
community uses.
Benchmark Alert: Fort Collins Cultural Services Department began its Cultural Community
Programs in 2022 (through ARPA funding) to integrate arts and culture experiences into the
Fort Collins community by activating unconventional public spaces with pop-up events, and
activations.
https://www.fcgov.com/cuIturaIservices/communityprogram#cb-51710-7569
The Program includes all art forms and disciplines with an equitable engagement strategy. The
first year's programming saw 108 unique engagements, 33 internal and external partnerships,
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 15
249 artists hired, including individuals part of groups, 4,700+ community members engaged,
actively and passively.
Lawrence, KS
As major arts facilities are run by the nonprofit Lawrence Arts Center, the City of Lawrence Arts &
Culture Division focuses on grant making to the arts and culture industry (see Grants), marketing and
special events. Parks and Recreation hosts three seasonal arts and crafts fairs for exhibitors to
showcase and sell their work and hosts eight free outdoor summer band concerts in South Park.
Little Rock, AR
The Parks and Recreation Department hosts a Therapeutic Recreation Arts Festival annually and the
Arts & Culture Commission is hosting an open studio tour in 2024. The Downtown Little Rock
Partnership (501.c.3) sponsors events (2nd Fridays, Main Street Food Truck Festival) and mural
projects, including an Alley Art Project.
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City's Art & Cultural Affairs Department oversees the city's public art program and is home
to the city's Art Commission, but they rely on Arts Council Oklahoma City for arts programming and
events, including the well -established annual Festival of the Arts..
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 16
Unique Arts & Culture Event --
All of the benchmarked cities boast a slate of events to engage residents and visitors with arts and
culture. Common among them are:
• First Friday Gallery Walks (or Second Friday or Last Friday)
• Juneteenth Festivals
• Food Truck Festivals
• Outdoor Summer Concerts
• Latino Festivals
• Pride Parades and Festivals
• Film Festivals
• Book Festivals
• Art Festivals, Art Markets, or Art Week
The following listings are a few different examples beyond those listed above from each location.
Asheville, NC
Asheville Art in the Park: Asheville Art in the Park takes place on three consecutive Saturdays in
downtown Asheville in October. Some of the local artists who exhibit at these events are
nationally -known.
Asheville Ideas Fest: Innovative thinkers and inspiring speakers convene at UNC-Asheville in
June for this annual event.
The Big Crafty happens twice a year in July (Pack Square) and December (Harrah's Cherokee
Center Asheville). This is one of the best festivals in Asheville, offering an inclusive space for all
artists to showcase and sell their work.
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands: Showcasing the finest artwork of nearly 200 craftspeople
from around the region, this four -day festival offers live demonstrations.
GRINDFest: GRINDFest is a free, three-day festival that celebrates Black freedom, as well as the
success of Black entrepreneurs + business owners in Asheville. Held in the River Arts District,
the celebration includes music, live performances, food, local vendors + learning opportunities.
Indigenous Walls Project: a mural project that aims to raise awareness about the existence and
identity of indigenous communities and to work with developers to bring land back to
indigenous people. In 2022, organizer Jared Wheately created an Intertribal Graffiti Jam,
recruiting artists from tribes around the country to come to Asheville for an art takeover. The
week-long event produced 8,000 square feet of murals.
Leaf Festivals: The LEAF Global Arts Foundation hosts three annual festivals, combining artistic
performances from around the world, educational activities and workshops.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 17
Boise:
LoveShinePlay Festival: Formerly known as the Asheville Yoga Festival, LoveShinePlay is a four -
day event held downtown that includes an expansive schedule of lectures on practical
astrology. Classes are held around Asheville in hotels, community centers, and outdoor stages
alongside a downtown marketplace of wellness vendors.
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival: Hailed as the nation's longest running folk festival, this event
focuses on old-time and bluegrass music and dance preserving classic Southern Appalachian
culture.
Art in the Park: Boise Art Museum's Art in the Park is an open-air festival widely recognized as
one of the premiere cultural events in the Northwest.
Bipoc Playwrights Festival: Seeks to champion emerging and mid -career playwrights from
marginalized communities by connecting exceptional works with professional actors, directors
and technicians.
Boise Fashion Week: Celebrates, elevates, and promotes the unique and diverse fashion
community in Boise.
Boise Music Week: 10 days of free musical entertainment for all ages. Started in 1919, the
festival is the longest running free musical celebration in the United States.
Boise Soul Food Fest: The mission of the Boise Soul Food Festival is to educate and grow the
Boise African American culture for present and future generations. The Soul Food Festival's
purpose is to celebrate and educate the greater region about Black culture and enhance and
nurture racial understanding and harmony within the community.
Fiber Frolic: a day -long festival in downtown Boise that celebrates Idaho wool, sheep, and
Basque history. All are invited to experience the frolic with educational booths, wooly vendors,
crafts, and a community yarn -bombing installation! A collaboration between the Twisted Ewe
yarn shop with the the Basque Community, City of Boise Arts and History, and the Idaho Wool
Grower's Association
Jaialdi Basque Festival: a festival to celebrate the Basque culture and heritage that recurs every
5 years with 30,000 attendees.
Boulder:
Boulder Arts Week: Celebrates the city's robust art scene and its thousands of artists and over
140 arts organizations. The week-long celebration across the community showcases the best
and brightest local talent through cultural experiences from murals and installations to music
and dance, and includes workshops, masterclasses, and discussions.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 18
Boulder Creek Festival: Four days, 30+ bands, 3 stages plus 200 artisans, 30 restaurants, kids
activities, and Streetwise Art Battle. Local bands, performers and dancers are encouraged to
apply to be considered to perform.
Boulder Comedy Festival: just completing its second year, the Boulder Comedy Festival brings
focus to and highlights women and diversity in comedy. Nationally touring comics featured on
Comedy Central, Netflix, and Amazon come together with festival winners and local comedians
to create a sea of hilarity in Boulder and the surrounding areas.
The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is a professional theatre company in association with the
University of Colorado Boulder. Since 1958, the summer -long festival has produced a series of
Shakespeare's plays under the stars, but in 2024 hosted the season indoors.
Pearl Street Arts Fest: includes over 100 artists showcasing a variety of art, from functional
pieces like furniture and jewelry, to sculptures, paintings and mixed media in their booths on
the outdoor Pearl Street Mall.
Streetwise Mural Festival: Each year, a new theme exploring the intersection of art and activism
is explored through installing public artworks and murals that center womxn, BIPOC, LGBTQIA,
and emerging artists based in Colorado and beyond.
Fort Collins:
Fort Collins Artist Studio Tour and Sale: Over one weekend, the public is invited to a free self -
guided tour of local artists' studios. Artists provide demonstrations, share how and where art is
created and offer their work for sale. Artists apply to be included on the tour. The weekend
kicks -off with an exhibition featuring work by Studio Tour artists at the Center for Creativity.
FoCoMX (Fort Collins Music Experience): This two-day music festival features a diverse lineup of
350+ Colorado bands from all genres on 30 Downtown Fort Collins stages. Bands submit an
application to be considered.
Tour de Fat: Tour de Fat is an annual costumed bicycle parade followed by a party at New
Belgium Brewing with music, entertainment, contests and games. Bike Fort Collins.
Fort Collins Art Week: During Art Week, community members can get their hands dirty with a
workshop, explore public art, take bike mural tours, hunt for Tiny Art, listen to live music or
read a book with Poudre River Libraries. A slate of events are promoted to celebrate the lively
arts and culture scene.
Lawrence KS:
Benchmark Alert: Lawrence Busker Festival: for one weekend a year you will find unusual
entertainment all over historic downtown Lawrence. A roster of street performers from all
around the world perform: Magicians, jugglers, musicians, acrobats, and more will perform.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 19
Kaw River Roots Festival: A celebration of roots music, with multiple stages, across three
venues, and over a dozen live acts over two days in downtown Lawrence.
Free State Festival: is a signature community event that celebrates the free spirit of Kansas
through independent films, live music, comedy and art experiences in venues throughout the
city of Lawrence. It is a week-long annual event that attracts visitors from the midwest region.
Civil War on the Border (Watkins Museum of History): annual themed event (2024 theme is
food insecurity, past and present) featuring events such as bus and walking tours of local Civil
War sites, in -person and online talks with historians, and documentaries.
Haskell Indian Art Market: Shoppers swarm Haskell Indian Nations University to browse the
jewelry, pottery, carving, paintings, and other artwork at the annual Haskell Indian Art Market.
The event showcases original, handmade items made by Native American artists from across
the country. Traditional Native American food is served and entertainment occurs daily.
Little Rock:
Jazz in the Park: On Wednesdays in April and September, Little Rock's River Market Pavilions
come to life with the sounds of soulful jazz and joyful music from local jazz and R&B musicians.
501 Fest: Every year on or around May 1 (5/01), the community gathers for a day of festivities
that include live entertainment, a marketplace full of local vendors, food, and fun for the entire
family to enjoy. Powered by the NTWRK agency in partnership with Creators' Village, the event
is dedicated to uplifting artists and creators while addressing social and emotional needs in low
socioeconomic communities.
Lanterns at Wildwood Park for the Arts: This annual festival is a fundraising event for Wildwood
Park, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Originally the festival was patterned after similar
lanterns festivals in China celebrating the lunar new year. "Lanterns" was created in partnership
with the Arkansas Chinese-American Association. As it became more popular, additional
cultural tributes were added and Lanterns became a multicultural event spread across the
entire park. Each year, it celebrates the food, music, crafts, and performing arts of a new
combination of world cultures.
Oklahoma City:
Asian Night Market Festival: A vibrant celebration of Asian culture hosted by the Asian District
Cultural Association that offers community members the chance to showcase their AANHPI
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) talent, including dance
performance, singers and martial arts plus food vendors and other activities. Over 40,000
people joined the festivities in 2024.
Fiesta De Las Americas: the largest Latino festival in Oklahoma City, the event kicks off with the
Parade of the Americas and offers a full day of family friendly activities, live entertainment, art
and pop-up markets in the Historic Capitol Hill.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 20
Youth Art Sale: The Youth Art Sale is a one -day juried art sale for children ages 8— 18 held
during Festival of the Arts, the flagship event for the Oklahoma City Arts Council.
Prix De West: Every year since 1973 the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosts its
prestigious invitational art exhibit featuring Western paintings and sculpture by contemporary
artists. It is the.largest annual fundraiser for the Museum.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 21
Municipal Special Events Offices/Coordination
All of the benchmark communities host events like festivals, markets, special events and outdoor
concerts on streets, sidewalks, parks, public squares or even parking lots. Most of these spaces are
controlled by the municipality and require coordination with multiple departments within the City. Six
of the cities studied have a dedicated office to assist those individuals or groups who would like to
produce an event within the public realm. These offices consist of one or two staff that serve as
coordinators and liaisons to help guide event producers through the city's process, ensure events are
held safely and responsibly, coordinate potentially competing events, and serve as a resource.
Asheville:
City's Office of Special Events permits Outdoor Special Events on Public Property including City
Streets, Sidewalks, and Parks as well as neighborhood block parties. Also provides Street
Performer Guidelines, generally allowable without permit. The City also provides support
through the Outdoor Special Event Guide.
Fort Collins:
Boise:
Special Event staff guides event producers through the permitting requirements and
regulations when planning a special event in Fort Collins, act as a liaison to various City
departments involved in making sure all events are held safely and responsibly, and serve as a
resource for the community, providing information about the many festivals, outdoor concerts,
runs, walks and parades held in the City each year.
Approximately 75 special events are permitted through the City of Boise's City Clerk's office
each year. The Special Events Team works with and guides event organizers to produce
successful, safe, sustainable events. Events are grouped into three categories: Special Events
(over 1,000 people or road closures with alcohol service/sales), Neighborhood Events + Block
Parties (under 1,000 people), Park + Greenbelt Events (under 1,000 people). The City offers
thorough guidance and support resources online and through their department. Special Events
applicants are required to attend Special Events Team Meetings in advance of the event.
Lawrence:
Special Events support and permitting operates out of the Communications & Events division.
This department appears to be evolving and the website is under construction. The City hosts
three large annual craft fairs. The City's Parks & Recreation Department markets and offers
several recreational facilities for rent for public events. Special use permits are required for
events that are open to the public, involve admission fees or necessitate special
accommodations.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 22
Little Rock:
The City does not have a special events office, however the Public Works Department oversees
permit applications for Parades, Public Assemblies (more than 20 people) and Block Parties.
Special Events/Parades are reviewed by the Public Works and Police Departments and are
approved through the City Manager's Office.
Oklahoma City:
The City's Special Events Office is a division of the City's Public Information & Marketing
Department and provides event organizers with guidance throughout the permitting process
and helps ensure safe and successful and safe events. The office manages a calendar with a list
of permitted events and road closure information.
Boulder:
Special Events Permits are processed through the Office of Special Events. A special event
permit is required for all planned and promoted public activities that meet any of the following
criteria: 50 or more participants; using tents, structures and/or sound amplification; providing,
selling or distributing alcohol and/or food to the public; using public right of ways and/or
impacting vehicle, bike or bus traffic. The Special Events Office provides a comprehensive guide
and planning support to event applicants.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 23
Film & Video Support
Asheville, NC
The City of Asheville does not have a film commission, but film permitting is necessary when
involving city -owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks. Permitting, location agreements
and city service coordination for all filming & photography is managed by the Office of Special
Events, in the Department of Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities. Permitting is
similar to event permitting. Permit Application Fees are $100-$150, plus additional fees for
secondary permits, reserved property use, and support services.
The state of North Carolina Film Office offers film and Entertainment incentives including an up
to 25% rebate via funds from the NC Film and Entertainment Grant. The State has a reported
$31 million in rebate funding and the laws allowing these rebates and incentives was made
permanent in 2017.
Boise, ID
The Idaho Department of Commerce -Tourism Development Office runs the Idaho State's Film
Office. The State of Idaho doesn't offer tax incentives currently, and one person in the office
handles filming inquiries for the State. Time. City of Boise commercial filming permits (ranging
in price from $75-$1550) are managed through the City's Parks and Recreation Special Events
Staff.
Boulder, CO
The City of Boulder's Office of Special Events processes film permits. The Boulder County Film
Commission provides filmmakers information on how to film within city limits and in Boulder
County - helps navigate permitting, suggests locations, acts as a liaison to crew and support
services, and aids in outreach.
The State of Colorado, through the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media in the Office
of Economic Development and International Trade, offers incentives to encourage film
production in Colorado with rebates for up to 20% of qualified expenses. The office also offers
educational programs, region -specific resources, industry support, location and crew referrals
and film festival support and promotion.
Fort Collins, CO
The City of Fort Collins doesn't have a Film Commission, but the City requires commercial
filming permits that are managed through the Emergency Preparations and Security
Department.
The State of Colorado, through the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media in the Office
of Economic Development and International Trade, offers incentives to encourage film
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 24
production in Colorado with rebates for up to 20% of qualified expenses. The office also offers
educational programs, region -specific resources, industry support, location and crew referrals
and film festival support and promotion.
Lawrence, KS
The City of Lawrence requires Special Use Permits for commercial film/videography and those
are processed through the Parks & Recreation Department. The Lawrence Organization of Film
and Theatre (LOFT) was created as a way to help provide resources and support to those involved in
local film and theatre. The organization also works towards helping film and theatre develop more
of a presence within the Lawrence community.
The State of Kansas doesn't offer tax incentives at this time. (Interesting side note, the KCMO
film office offers 10% rebates for qualified expenditures in the 6 wards in Kansas City, MO.)
Little Rock, AR
The City of Little Rock does not appear to require commercial filming or photography permits.
Most public locations are possible and permits are generally not required. The Arkansas Film
Commission requires an application to film on state property. The Arkansas Cinema Society
offers a Filmmaker Travel Stipend for films made in Arkansas or made by an Arkansan.
The State of Arkansas offers fully transferable tax credits or rebates of up to 25% for Music
Videos, Animation, Commercials, Documentaries, Reality TV, Scripted TV, Interactive, Feature
Film, Post Production. (An additional 10% incentive is available for payroll of below -the -line
employees who are: Full-time certified residents of Arkansas; Veterans; and expenditures paid
to a veteran -owned small business for qualified production costs. An additional 5% incentive for
either: expenditures or payroll of below -the -line employees whose full-time permanent address
is located in a Tier 3 or Tier 4 county in the annual ranking of counties established by the
Arkansas Economic Development Commission under Arkansas Code §15-4-270) The incentive
program is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2031.
Oklahoma City, OK
The Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office for filming in the Oklahoma City metro
area. The office is a partnership between the City of Oklahoma City and the Greater Oklahoma
City Chamber, with an emphasis on economic development, inclusivity, and creation of a
thriving production environment. Oklahoma offers a 5% rebate base with up to 5% in "uplifts"
for qualified film and television projects.
The State of Oklahoma through the Oklahoma Film and Music organization,
https://www.okfilmmusic.org/ offers grants and a baseline of 20% rebate for Animation,
Commercials, Documentaries, Web Series, Reality TV, Scripted TV, Feature Film, Visual Effects,
Post Production, Miniseries, etc. that film principal photography in the state. They have
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 25
additional "uplift" percentages available for filming in rural and small communities, use of
certified soundstages, multi -episode or film deals, and use of Oklahoma musicians/producers.
The state also offers a stand-alone post -production incentive offering a 20% base incentive for
post -production work done in Oklahoma by projects that were filmed outside of Oklahoma. The
city rebate can be combined with the state program, creating a highly competitive incentive
package.
Benchmark Alert: The state of Oklahoma has chosen to target film and music together with
their incentive programs, doubling down on the commitment to the creative economy in this
area https://www.okfilmmusic.org/
The film and television industry involves a "nationwide network of tens of thousands of
small businesses, the majority which employ 10 or fewer people," and direct industry jobs
generate $53 billion in wages and an average salary 42% higher than the national average.
Compared to other states across the country, Arkansas is in the lower third for direct jobs,
total wages, and production -related jobs for film and television.
Here's where Arkansas stands compared to its neighboring states:
Direct Jobs:
Total Wages:
Production -Related Jobs:
Texas: 38,993
Texas: $1.66 billion
Texas:10,136
Te n n essee: 12,210
Tennessee: $762 million
Louisiana: 6,942
Louisiana:11,469
Louisiana: $469 million
Tennessee:5,774
Missouri: 8,813
Missouri: $335 million
Missouri:1,697
Oklahoma: 5,571
Oklahoma: $208 million
Oklahoma:1,341
Mississippi:1,692
Arkansas: $62 million
Arkansas: 394
Arkansas:1,413
Mississippi: $61 million
Mississippi: 229
Source: RKMA Market Research (2023); MPAA and state film commissions
Film and Television Industry table.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 26
Public Art Programs
Asheville, NC
Asheville has a 1% for Art Program. The Public Art Program is a Division of the Planning & Urban
Design Department. The City of Asheville's Public Art and Culture Commision is the governing
body. Staff consists of .5 FTE and it's stated in the Commission's minutes that it is a top priority
to reevaluate and update the Public Art Master Plan. The primary components of the City of
Asheville's Public Art Program are the Public Art Master Plan, the Percent for Public Art Policy,
the Public Art and Culture Commission, the Public Art Collection, Public Art Program
Administration, and Current Projects. A key feature of the Asheville public art program is the
Urban Trail https://www.exploreasheville.com/urban-trail/. The website for the Public Art
Program is simple, with mostly text and very little information about the collection.
https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/planning-urban-design/strategic-
development/public-art/
Boise, ID
Boise has a robust public art program consisting of a large collection of site -based Installations
(400 works), traffic boxes (216), Boise Visual Chronicle (a city -owned interior collection of 286
2- and 3- dimensional works of art), and Portable Works (150). In addition, the Public Art
Program Team, with 3 FTE, manages public art projects on behalf of Capital City Development
Corporation (CCDC) and public, private and community organizations for original public art, all
contributing to a unique sense of place and vibrancy in the capital city. Funding Sources include:
1.2 %-for-Art Fund, Department of Public Works, Department of Parks and Recreation, Capital
City Development Corporation (CCDC), Energize Our Neighborhoods and the Neighborhood
Investment Program of City of Boise Planning and Development Services.
The public art website is informative, complete and a terrific resource for visitors, residents and
would-be public artists.
https://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/programs/public-art/
Benchmark Alert: the City of Boise offers a yearly Public Art Academy for artists looking to learn
how to break into public art, https://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/learn/guides/public-art/
Benchmark Alert: the City of Boise has a Mural Registry to browse in addition to a searchable
database of its entire collection.
https://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/explore/boise-mural-registry/#/search
Boulder, CO
Boulder recently instituted a formal 1% for Art Program in 2018, following a recommendation
from its Cultural Master Plan. The program also oversees a Creative Neighborhoods Program
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 27
for small neighborhood interventions as well as the "Experiments in Public Art" program which
receives an additional $150K per year. The public art program has 1 FTE and a % employee.
https://bouldercolorado.gov/guide/public-art
Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins has a 1% for Art Program - The Art in Public Places Program is composed of three
tiers plus donations of art to the City. The program is staffed by 1 FTE and consultants.
1% Projects
The first tier consists of construction projects estimated to cost over $250,000. One percent of
the estimated cost of these large projects is designated for works of art.
Design Consultant Projects
The second tier consists of projects costing between $50,000 and $250,000. The project
architect or engineer of these projects must utilize an APP approved artist to participate in the
design of the project for the purpose of incorporating works of art into all aspects of the
project, both functional and aesthetic.
All Construction Projects
The third tier states that the city will try to incorporate artistic and aesthetic values in all
construction projects, including those costing less than $50,000 and in all purchases of personal
property that may be located or used in places open to the public.
Lawrence, KS
The City of Lawrence public art program allows for its "...City Commission may annually set
aside through bond or other normal budgetary procedures an amount not to exceed 2% of the
cost of all capital improvements constructed/acquired or contracted for
construction/acquisition during the previous fiscal year for the acquisition, purchase, and
installation of art in public places."
Lawrence Annual Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition (ODSE) is sponsored by the
Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, which receives financial and staff support from the City of
Lawrence. Artworks are displayed or performed in downtown Lawrence, at Theatre Lawrence
and city-wide. The public art program is staffed by one FTE (but he has other jobs lately!)
https://Iawrenceks.org/lprd/public-art/
Little Rock, AR
The state capital does not have a public art program - the community's public art program is
managed by Downtown Little Rock, a partner organization of The City of Little Rock, and
consists primarily of murals. The Vogel Schwartz Sculpture garden, inspired by Loveland,
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 28
Colorado's Benson Sculpture Garden, is notable and is funded by a non-profit organization,
Sculpture at the River Market. Downtown Little Rock also manages an Alley Art program.
https://www.downtownIr.com/pages/public-art/
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City has a 1% for Art Program is managed by the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, a
division of the City's Planning Department. The website is simple and lists all documents
relevant to the public art program, as well as a rudimentary database of their collection. The
department employs 3 FTEs.
https://www.okc.gov/departments/planning/programs/office-of-arts-cultural-affairs
OKC a public art plan
https://www.okc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2774/63594840741853000O
Oklahoma also has a 1.5% for art program statewide.
https://arts.ok.gov/OAIPP/Art in Public Places Collection.php
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 29
Granting Programs
Of the seven benchmark cities, four (Lawrence, Boise, Fort Collins and Boulder) have municipal granting
programs that directly support arts and culture in their communities. Each of these cities has identified
specific areas of need and tailored their granting program to match. These grants range from general
operating support for organizations to special events to grants directly to artists. Some require
matching funds, others do not. The funding sources for these granting programs include general fund
dollars and hotel and lodging tax. For Asheville, local arts and culture is supported through a County-
wide granting program through tourism, while Little Rock and Oklahoma City seem to rely on state-
wide granting opportunities.
Here is a summary of Municipal Granting Programs:
Asheville: is part of a County -wide granting program through tourism and in partnership with the
regional arts council, ArtsAVL. The City joined this partnership primarily to help support arts -related
events. ArtsAVL has an established granting program offering the following grants:
Arts for Schools Grant: Providing arts -based programs for Buncombe County Schools students.
Arts Build Community Grant: Supporting arts -based community projects for underserved
communities.
Region 17 Artist Support Grant: Supporting emerging and established artists taking the next
step in their careers.
Grassroots Art Program Grant: Provides program and operating support for nonprofit arts
organizations.
Asheville Event Support Grant; For permitted nonprofits events within Asheville's streets,
parks, and outdoor public spaces
Boise: The Boise City Department of Arts and History offers two granting programs: Catalyst Grant
Program and Annual Arts & History Grant program. Applicants may be an individual (but does not fund
professional development or creation of individual work without a public component that means
having the work accessible for free or low cost to the public) or nonprofit organizations or nonprofit
Friends groups affiliated with a government organization. Selected by a Community Review panel made
up of Arts & History Commissioners, practitioners from diverse communities, and program staff.
Recommendations reviewed by Arts & History Commission and City Council. (1997) Per Emily Chivers,
the program's administrator, these two granting programs are funded by the City's general fund .
Catalyst Grant Program: a one-time pilot program to support small-scale and mid -sized arts, history,
and cultural activities such as public programs, events, projects, exhibitions, and tours throughout the
year. (20 @ $2,OOOea). Selected by a Community Review panel made up of Arts & History
Commissioners, practitioners from diverse communities, and program staff.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 30
Annual Arts & History Grants: supports the Department of Arts and History's (A&H) mission to
cultivate a distinct sense of place which reflects Boise's rich past, diverse communities, and
unique natural setting by creating opportunities that nurture and sustain Boise's creative
economy. Funds meaningful creative projects and programs for Boise residents, helping to bring
people together and build positive relationships that help create A City for Everyone. Awards
$150,000 (2025) to support people in established and emerging cultural fields with projects
designed to benefit the community. ($1,000 and $5,000 awards).
Boulder: The City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture offers eight (8) different grant opportunities in
its Cultural Grants Program that is overseen by the Boulder Arts Commission. The Cultural Grants
Program distributed more than $1 million in 2024 and is funded by the City's General Fund (although
soon to be a designated Special Revenue Fund from a voter approved renewal of an existing tax now
dedicated to arts and culture).
• Artists Hiring Incentive Grants: hiring incentive for nonprofits to employ Boulder -based visual,
performing, and literary artists to perform, or create new work. (18 @ $3,OOOea)
• Arts Education grants: Increase exposure of students to unique experiences that may shape
their future in cultural participation and creative careers. (10 @ $3,OOOea)
• Community Project Grants: Encourage innovation and exploration in order to achieve progress
on these Community Priorities from Boulder's Community Cultural Plan. (Individuals: 4 @
$S,OOOea; Organizations: 10 @ 10,OOOea)
• Cultural Field trip Grants: Funding for children who attend a Title 1 school to visit Boulder's arts
institutions and cultural destinations. (5 @ $2,000 ea)
• General Operating Support Grants: To bolster the sustainability of the community's cultural
organizations, a system of operating grants is a priority for the cultural grants program. (varied
by size, $805,987 distributed to 42 organizations in 2024)
• Grant Writing Assistance: provides opportunities for first-time applicants and those who have
not received a grant through the Boulder Arts Commission to get grant writing assistance. (8 @
$500ea)
• Leadership Pipeline Fund Scholarship: Provides financial support and professional
development opportunities for emerging leaders who will focus their career in the arts on
increasing diversity, improving equity, and elevating the voices of historically underrepresented
groups in the arts and culture sector. (2 @ $B4OOOea)
Professional Development Scholarships: Encouraging leadership and the sharing of good
practices through professional development will advance our creative economy, support
professionals and businesses, and enhance cultural dialog. (16 @ $500ea)
• Venue and Online Event Affordability Fund: To facilitate and assist community cultural groups
with access and affordability of performance venues and hosting online programming, the
Boulder Arts Commission is offering support in the form of rental assistance, the purchase of
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 31
Personal Protective Equipment and/or COVID 19 testing, and/or equipment for hosting online
programming, such as video software, cameras, or tech support. (37 @ $1,OOOea)
o Macky Auditorium Fee Waiver: 16 rent-free days to facilitate and assist cultural groups
performing at Macky. For supplementary funds to support your event, apply for the
Venue and Online Event Affordability Fund. (University of Colorado facility)
o eTown Hall Fee Waiver: To facilitate and assist community cultural groups with access
and affordability of performance venues, the Boulder Arts Commission and eTown offer
up to 12 days per calendar year of rent-free space at eTown Hall. (Private non-profit)
o Roots Music Project Fee Waiver: To facilitate and assist community cultural groups with
access and affordability of performance venues, the Boulder Arts Commission and Roots
Music Project offer up to 11 days per calendar year of rent-free space at Roots Music
Project.
Benchmark Alert: Boulder's Arts and Culture Website has a helpful "Resources and Opportunities page
for artists to link to local, regional and national websites and resources for artists:
https://bouldercolorado.gov/services/resources-and-opportunities-artists
Fort Collins: The City of Fort Collins Cultural Services Department offers the Fort Fund Grant Program
to support nonprofit arts, cultural and tourism events that enrich the creative vitality of the
community, promote local heritage and diversity, provide opportunities for arts and cultural
participation, help support Fort Collins as a creative center and tourist destination and promote the
health and well-being of all residents and visitors. Applications are reviewed by the City Council -
appointed Cultural Resources Board who recommends funding to the City Council for final approval.
The granting program is funded through a designated portion of lodging tax revenue. (1989) Grant
categories include:
• Special Event Grants: for single arts, cultural and/or tourism events that last for no more than
three consecutive days. $2,000-$7,500. ($65,000 distributed in 2023 Project II)
• Program Support Grants: for arts and cultural programs that last over a period of at least four
days or multiple programs throughout an extended period of time. Funding requests may be up
to 30% of the specific program budget, not to exceed $30,000. ($205,000 distributed in 2023)
($185,000 distributed in 2023).
• Cross -Sector Impact Grants: for projects that promote the integration of arts and culture with
other sectors to enhance the health and well-being of the community. The grant encourages
collaboration between arts organizations and other sectors to achieve this objective. $2,000-
$7,500
Lawrence: The City of Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission oversees the Community Arts Grant
Program. The grant program is funded through Transient Guest Tax (TGT) revenue which is a tax paid
by hotel guests. The program administers two granting opportunities:
Community Arts Mini Grants: five - $500 grants to help support artists with start-up costs for
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 32
equipment specifically aligned with their art practice.
Community Arts Grants awards ranging from $500 to $10,000 per project. (7 grants = $70k in
2023)
Oklahoma City and Little Rock seem to rely on state-wide granting opportunities.
Oklahoma City: Allied Arts is a regional nonprofit arts support agency that focuses on central
Oklahoma. They offer a granting program that helps ensure a dynamic and sustainable cultural
community in central Oklahoma. The agency is primarily funded through philanthropy including
corporate sponsors, private foundations support and individual donations. They offer three granting
programs:
Educational Outreach program: supports nonprofit arts organizations providing programming
and outreach for underserved K-12 students, veterans, hospitalized adults, developmentally
disabled adults and beyond - from bringing teaching artists into underserved schools to creating
programming for organizations who strictly work with communities of color. (up to $5,000ea
plus Hobby Lobby store gift cards).
Capacity -Building program: helps nonprofit arts and cultural organizations grow stronger, fulfill
their missions and better serve their constituents by supporting organizational training and
board development to volunteer management, strategic planning and other professional
development opportunities. (up to $5,000, with some restrictions including prioritizing
professional development opportunities in Oklahoma and surrounding region).
Allocations program: Annually, Allied Arts distributes campaign funds to its member agencies
through the allocations process. Agencies utilize these funds for a host of needs — from
offsetting administrative costs to bringing world-renowned exhibits and performances to
central Oklahoma. This program is only open to the 25 Allied Arts member agencies in central
Oklahoma.
In addition to Allied Arts, Oklahoma has the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition that offers Thrive Grants
which collaborate with the The Andy Warhol Foundation to further support artists' innovation
throughout Oklahoma with project grants of up to $10,000. THRIVE Grants fund collaborative artist -led
projects across the state of Oklahoma that are open and accessible to the public, prioritizing artist
projects that create new collaborations, connections, and partnerships.
Little Rock: The City of Little Rock provides limited cultural grant opportunities. The City offers an arts
education related grant through the Helen T. Leigh Museum Field Trip Grant Program. Aside from this,
the City relies on the Arkansas Community Foundation's Art in Arkansas Fund and the Arkansas Arts
Council's grant program to provide support for Little Rock's art programming and infrastructure.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 33
Arts/Creative Districts
• Asheville: River Arts District (RAD) is a mile -long stretch along the French Broad riverfront, one
of the oldest rivers in the world, and surrounded by ancient mountains. The district has a rich
history that infuses its vibrant spaces. Beginning in 1985, industrial buildings by the river were
transformed and opened as working artist studios. In 2013, approximately 80 artists of the RAD
voted to incorporate as River Arts District Artists, Inc., a non-profit member organization which
now has over 300 members who work in the RAD. RADA seeks to be a voice for the artists
locally and regionally related to marketing as envisioning the future.
https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/
• Boise: mini -art district: Freak Alley is a "notable venue" for murals, graffiti and public art
located in an alley in downtown Boise. It is said to be the largest outdoor gallery in the
Northwest, and has been a Boise institution since 2002. It began with a painting of a single alley
doorway and now extends from the alley itself to a gravel parking lot. Began by artist Colby
Akers. https://northend.org/freak-alley/
• Boulder: The NoBo Art District is an inclusive, grassroots, community -focused nonprofit
organization dedicated to promoting artists and creative businesses located in north Boulder,
Colorado. Currently, the district is not certified at the state level, but is working towards
certification. https://noboartdistrict.org/
• Fort Collins: Downtown Fort Collins Creative District is certified through the State as a district
that contributes to the state's economy through creativity, culture, and the arts. The program's
goal is to help communities increase jobs, incomes, and investments in creative places. The
State provides benefits to certified creative districts including a cash award (local match
required), access to technical and professional assistance grants, marketing assistance from
Colorado tourism Office, two state highways signs, and access to economic data and Creative
Vitality Suite. https://www.dfccd.org/; https://oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-creative-districts
• Lawrence: Warehouse Arts District located in the East Lawrence neighborhood was historically
filled with industrial and factory buildings but has undergone a transformation in recent years.
It now houses art galleries, lofts, art studios, and the surrounding historic neighborhood. Recent
preservation and development projects in this district have contributed to the revitalization of
this small section of the community. Lawrence has one of the highest percentages of working
artists in the country per capita, and The Warehouse District has become the perfect area for
those wanting space to create and display their works.
https://www.explorelawrence.com/plan-your-visit/neighborhoods/east-lawrence/
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 34
• Little Rock: Main Street Creative Corridor is revitalizing Main Street one block at a time, using
economic development stimulated by the arts rather than a traditional retail base. Home to the
Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Ballet Arkansas, galleries, creative firms, and the Little Rock
Technology Park, the Creative Corridor is rapidly becoming a mixed -use, work -live environment
that is at once sensitive to the historical context of Little Rock's Main Street and invigorating to
its residents and visitors. Initial Planning and design for the Creative Corridor was funded by a
2011 NEA Our Town grant and created by the University of Arkansas Community Design Center
and Marlon Blackwell Architects. Several blocks on Main Street have been reconstructed to
include Low Impact Development streetscapes (rain gardens, porous pavers, bioswales, etc.)
with funding by a grant from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Public, private and non-profit groups have invested in
Main Street led by the Downtown Little Rock Partnership.
https://www.downtownlr.com/places/neighborhoods/main-street-creative-corridor/
• North Little Rock: Argenta Arts District is one of North Little Rock's oldest and most eclectic
neighborhoods where the buildings are more than a century old but the lifestyle is cutting edge.
Argenta is home to art galleries; theaters like The Joint Theater & Coffeehouse, founded by
former SNL writers; local breweries like Flyway Brewing and Diamond Bear, and musical venues
ranging from the 18,000-seat Simmons Bank Arena to the cozy Four Quarter Bar. It is also an
outdoor banded dining district. https://argentaartsdistrict.org/
• Oklahoma City: Paseo District is home to over 20 galleries and more than 80 artists, all within
walking distance. Intermingled with the galleries are fabulous restaurants, a vegan donut shop,
shoe and clothing boutiques, a theatre, gift shops, a yoga studio and more!
https://www.thepaseo.org
• St. Petersburg, FL: Warehouse Arts District Started with artists reclaiming abandoned
warehouse buildings in Midtown St. Petersburg. Concern grew that this affordable studio space
was becoming desirable and rents would soon go up. Interested people decided to create the
Warehouse Arts District Association, which became a nonprofit dedicated to creating a vibrant
arts community in and around St. Petersburg and developing and growing as an energetic group
that creates jobs, attracts artists, participates in the local community and provides arts
education opportunities. In 2014, with the help of public and private donors, WADA purchased
2.7 acres of land in the District and created the ArtsXchange which includes multiple warehouse
buildings that house art studios, galleries and local business. https://warehouseartsdistrict.org/
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 35
Creative Business/Entrepreneurial Support
Ashville: Craft Your Commerce: Mountain Bizworks in Asheville hosts a series of workshops titled
"Craft Your Commerce" for creatives to expand their entrepreneurial skills.
Boise: Through Entrepreneurship + Creative Economy, the City connects creatives and artists to
entrepreneurial resources like Boise Pitch Nights; a local non-profit that offers mentorship, funding
resources and collaborative spaces to help startups launch and grow; Boise State University's Venture
College; and coworking spaces. https://www.cityofboise.org/programs/opportunity-for-
everyone/entrepreneurship-plus-creative-economy/
Boulder: The Boulder Office of Arts and Culture has an informative resource on their webpage for
artists, sharing current and evergreen opportunities. https://bouldercolorado.gov/arts-and-culture-
resources-and-opportunities
Fort Collins: The Downtown Fort Collins Creative District has a resource page for artists, creatives, arts
organizations and creative business on a variety of topics including business assistance, health, funding
sources, connecting with other artists, and more. https://www.dfccd.org/artist-resources/
Little Rock: Mid -America Arts Alliance's Artist INC program, part of the Emily Hall Tremaine
Foundation's "Marketplace Empowerment for Artists" program, is the only stand-alone program in the
Midwest region dedicated exclusively to artist entrepreneur training. https://artistinc.art/about/
Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition's Artist Entrepreneur Program consists of a yearly
cohort of Oklahoma City creatives with artistic businesses in the fields of visual arts, music, dance,
theater, and film/cinematography. Over the course of 10 weeks, participants will learn about topics
such as business plans, legal compliance, accounting, marketing, grant writing, and more. Participants
who successfully complete the program will each be eligible to apply for a $5,000 grant to implement
their creative business plan. OVAC's ASK Program offers professional development for Oklahoma artists
through Consulting, Workshops and Artist Panels. The website also provides resources including an
artist job board, artist opportunities, and funding and fiscal sponsorship opportunities.
https://www.ovac-ok.org/aep
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 36
Tourism Support
Each of the benchmarked cities have visitor's bureaus that, to varying degrees, foster arts and culture
through maps, events calendars, information about tourist destinations, historic sites, museums and
cultural attractions. The following provides links to the tourism bureaus.
Asheville, NC
Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority - members of the Authority administer the
proceeds of the occupancy tax within the legislative mandate of the legislation that established the tax.
The BCTDA's purpose is to further the development of travel, tourism, meetings and events in the
county through marketing, advertising, sales and promotion.
ExploreAsheville is the visitors bureau that works on behalf of the Buncombe County Tourism
Development Authority (BCTDA) to support the community and tourism partners by providing free
marketing opportunities.
https://www.exploreasheville.com/
https://www.exploreasheville.com/things-to-do/arts/
Boise, ID
Visit Boise is the tourism division of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. Their mission is to
establish Boise as a premier destination for tourism, events, conventions, meetings and recreation, and
assist groups with pre -event planning, booking hotel rooms, guest activities and more. Visit Southwest
Idaho also promotes Boise, but less information about Arts and Culture is available here.
https://visitboise.com/
https://visitboise.com/play/arts-and-culture/
Visit Southwest Idaho (Southwest Travel Association)
Boulder, CO
The Visit Boulder organization helps orient visitors, meeting planners or Boulder tourism businesses —
their mission strengthen the local economy by inspiring visitor connections to Boulder's vibrant
landscape and unique culture.
httos://www.bouldercoloradousa.co
https://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/things-to-do/arts-and-culture/
Fort Collins, CO
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 37
Visit Fort Collins is the official visitor information source for Fort Collins, CO. It features a terrific page
on Arts and Entertainment.
https://www.visitftcoIIins.com/
https://www.visitftcollins.com/things-to-do/arts-entertainment/
Lawrence, KS
Explore Lawrence is the convention and visitors bureau of Lawrence, Kansas, assists leisure travelers,
meetings and events planners, sports events planners, groups, the media and locals. The brand is
"Unmistakably Lawrence" https://www.explorelawrence.com
https://www.explorelawrence.com/things-to-do/arts-entertainment/
Little Rock, AR
The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) is the official destination marketing organization
for the City of Little Rock. The website features terrific search categories such as black culture, LGBTQ+,
Theatre & Performing Arts, and Museums & Attractions.
https://www.littlerock.com/a bout/
https://www.Iittlerock.com/things-to-do/
Oklahoma City, OK
Visit Oklahoma City, is the organization helping to promote Oklahoma City as a first-class visitor
destination. We also help contribute to the economic well-being of Oklahoma City and its citizens
through the solicitation and servicing of conventions and other group business. The tourism website
for Oklahoma City has a landing page for LGBTQ+ travelers with travel inspiration.
https://www.visitokc.com/
https://www.visitokc.com/things-to-do/arts-entertainment/
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 38
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Community Engagement Summary
August 2024
The Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan process included a robust community engagement phase from
March through August 2024 to ensure the community's voice directly influenced the Plan. More than
1,250 residents and stakeholders engaged in the planning process through a variety of methods, which
included:
• Project Advisory Group: representatives from the arts and culture industry and community
leaders were convened to help guide the planning process. A series of meetings and workshops
were held throughout the planning process.
• Interactive Project Website: The site https://speakup.fayetteviIle-ar.gov/ included project
background, timeline, information about events, and ways to get involved. The website hosted a
community survey, targeted surveys and a mapping exercise.
• Stakeholder Interviews and Focus Groups: Input was gathered from key stakeholders in the
community and the City organization through a series of one-on-one interviews and focus
groups.
• Listening Sessions: a series of listening sessions were held to hear directly from visual artists,
musicians, performing artists, film and video creatives, arts organizations and other individuals
directly involved in the creative industries. In addition,
• Community Survey: A survey was conducted online through SpeakupFayetteville with additional
paper surveys distributed at key locations throughout the community, with 532 responses.
• Targeted Surveys: Content was designed and distributed specifically to gain the perspective and
valuable input directly from artists and creatives, creative businesses and organizations, and an
additional effort to reach westside residents.
• Engagement Events:
o YRCC Egg Hunt (March 2024): This event provided an opportunity to engage with
families from the nearby neighborhood about the types of arts and culture activities
they were most interested in participating in and encourage attendees to take the
survey.
o Ozark Regional Transportation Route 20 (April 2024): Community members who ride
this key bus route in Fayetteville were engaged in conversation about arts and culture in
Fayetteville during their route.
o Phantasma Silent Dance Party (April 2024): Held in the Lower Ramble, this free silent
dance party attracted a wide -variety of Fayetteville residents to enjoy music and a light
Appendix - Community Engagement Summary - 1
show throughout the forest. Attendees were asked to share key words they hope would
describe arts and culture in Fayetteville and were encouraged to take the survey.
o Cultural Cartography, (April 2024): The public was invited to share cultural assets of
Fayetteville on a map in the upper lobby of TheatreSquared. The exercise was also
completed by the Project Advisory Group, the Arts Council and offered as an online
activity.
o Creative Convergence, (July 2024): Held at the Fayetteville Town Center, this community
conversation brought together attendees to wrestle with three primary questions about
the "What, Where and Why" of arts and culture in Fayetteville. 75 attendees.
o The 17th annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) In the Park community
picnic (July 2024): This annual tradition held in Walker Park celebrates CDBG's
investment in the community and provides information to residents in need about
programs the City and other organizations offer. Attendees from various backgrounds
enjoyed the picnic and visited a series of booths, including completing a survey and
sharing their thoughts about arts and culture in Fayetteville.
• Tours of key facilities and arts and culture events.
• Creative Sector Economic Development discussion: A special session was held to discuss creative
sector economic development opportunities and what different tools may be available to
Fayetteville to support arts and culture.
• Key stakeholders and the community were invited to review and provide feedback on the draft
Arts and Culture Plan (December 2024) through SpeakupFayetteville.
Appendix - Community Engagement Summary - 2
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Creative Convergence: a community conversation about the future of arts
and culture in Fayetteville
July 17, 2024
Engagement Event Summary
On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the Fayetteville Town Center, approximately 75 community members
gathered for a creative conversation about the future of arts and culture in Fayetteville. Through round
table discussions, participants engaged in informal and lively conversations, shared their perspectives
and ideas to help shape the Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan.
All of the input provided was
collected as raw data, and a
graphic facilitator Mark De La
Torre (with the help of several
apprentices) captured the live
conversation in a 15 ft
illustration. The following
includes highlights of the event
and the conversations. All
responses were gathered and
will be used as internal research
for the plan.
Event Summary
The event kicked off with a
welcome from Joanna Bell, City
of Fayetteville Arts and Culture
Manager. The group then experienced inspirational words from featured speaker and multidisciplinary
artist/activist Na'Tosha De'Von. Ms. De'Von shared an original poem about arts and culture in
Fayetteville and spoke about her experience growing her creative practice in Fayetteville.
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Next, the Stilwell Cultural Consulting Team (Jill Stilwell, Kendall Peterson and Jamie Giellis) facilitated the
table conversations.
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 1
Three words: Attendees were asked early in the session and towards the end to share three words that
they hope will describe the arts and culture scene in Fayetteville in 20 years. Their responses are
reflected in this word cloud.
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Small table conversations based on 3 questions
Next, participants were asked three key questions to discuss at their tables. After the discussion, each
table shared a few key ideas with the rest of the group. Between each question, participants were asked
to move tables and engage with a new group of people. Below are highlights summarized from all the
responses that were shared and collected.
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 2
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Question 1: WHAT? What will help make Fayetteville a place where artists and creatives can
flourish, grow, and sustain their artistic/creative practice, in all phases of their career?
Below are some highlights from the responses to Question 1, particularly those responses that were
repeated or shared multiple times.
• Affordable Housing
• Affordable Studio Spaces
• Maker space (for working artists and the community)
• Studio Space and Misc. Artist Needs
• COOPs, city and private funding mix/Rent communal/ cooperative/Co-owning
• Funding - sustainable, diverse support, dedicated funding streams
• Grants
• Percent for public art
• Artists Convening and Networking: appoint an Artist Liaison, host multi -disciplinary gatherings,
networking, community hub for all arts
• Professional Development for Creatives: training in grant writing, services like legal and tax
assistance, mentorships, promotional support, residencies, etc.
• Advocacy: advocate for well paying jobs/wages, respect artists as workers
• Artist Resources: Harnessing local resources
• Art Destination marketing, building a local identity, social media amplification, system to post
shows and exhibits, Strengthening the visibility of existing systems
• Festivals/Events/Art Markert - needed for artist exposure/selling and for the community to
participate in
• Venues/Spaces: a number of spaces were mentioned, including museum space, galleries, dance
space with sprung floor, underage music venue, small performing spaces, multi -disciplinary,
public/private, greenway, pocket parks
Question 2: WHERE? Think of spaces, areas, locations in Fayetteville that would benefit most
from an investment in placemaking?
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 3
Below are the highlights from the responses to Question 2, especially those that were repeated or
shared multiple times.
Past and present creative spaces/Gathering areas
• Likewise, Community Creative Center, Walton Arts Center, Icehouse (west street), Studio 225,
Old Armory, Clunk Music Hall, Orpheum, Backspace (practice spaces off the trail),
TheatreSquared, New art school, Prairie St Live, University of Arkansas spaces
Spaces needing investment to support arts and culture
• Mt. Sequoyah (need a way to get up there)
• Art on the greenway of various genres/Trail adjacent
• Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks; there are some art offerings but could be more
• Parks: Wilson Park, Gulley Park, Centennial Park, City Park
• YRCC - add more creative opportunities
• Public buildings with a shared use agreement
• Ramble/Arts Corridor; high expectations
• Art Deserts: east, west and south side of town, trails, small communities surrounding
Fayetteville(Elkins, Huntsville, Farmington)
• 71B Corridor/College Ave
• The Mall has potential!
• Some spaces that are utilized daytime but not so much at night
• Black historic district could use representative creative space within it
• My T By Design — Art therapy studio
• Pop -ups in vacant spaces
Spaces that could have Rreater access
• University of Arkansas spaces: build collaboration between the City and U of A?
• Public schools — getting artists and art into public schools to encourage arts education at
younger ages/Schools (local art on display and connect to artists)
• Library/Fab Lab
Needed spaces
• Galleries/Galleries in The Square
• Art Market
• Multi -disciplinary space for working, performing, shows, public to come in and see — mentioned
a San Francisco example — both clean and dirty type spaces and encourage collaboration/cross-
over
• Performance Space/Dance Space/Dance
• Outdoor concert/festival venues
Question 3: WHY? If arts and culture are wildly successful in Fayetteville, what will the
community be like/look like/feel like in 20 years?
Below are some themes, and visions for the future in Fayetteville that are drawn from the responses to
Question 3, especially those that were repeated or shared multiple times.
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 4
• Fayetteville is the art capital of Arkansas/Arts center of NW Arkansas/Art Hub/cultural
destination.
• Art everywhere.
• Fayetteville's art scene is what distinguishes it from other areas.
• Fayetteville is welcoming and inclusive.
• Fayetteville is not corporate.
• Art is part of the quality of life in Fayetteville.
• "Stay in Fay:" Fayetteville stays (and grows) as a funky destination, artists and creatives stay in
Fay and attract other creatives, the community stays in Fay to experience and participate in the
arts and tourists are attracted to stay in Fay.
• Thriving, inclusive network of diverse artists working in all genres who are collaborative,
empowered and respected (valued?)
• Fayetteville is a place with vibrant, inspiring arts, which unleashes a sense of hope and
optimism.
• Fayetteville rejects systemic inequality in every aspect of our development of the arts
infrastructure and respects cultural history and difference.
• Art unites the people of Fayetteville and supports their well-being.
• Fayetteville has affordable places to work and create - a place where students and
artists/creatives don't have to leave to create their professional path.
• Artists have financial support and security, homes and businesses with a plethora of
opportunities.
• Good art changes lives, brings love, reduces poverty, reduces divisions.
• "Fayetteville is the leading arts center of Arkansas, serving as an anchor point of accessible
public art. From murals throughout the entire city to public art installments that engage
community members self-expression, Fayetteville will be known as a center of inclusivity,
walkability, and connectivity, embracing nature and fostering local art."
Conclusion
The participants in this creative conversation were incredibly giving of their time and ideas. Many
remained and chatted at length after the session ended, and there was palpable excitement and joy in
the room. Groups were grateful for the opportunity to convene, share their input, and contribute to the
first Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan, which will be introduced later this year.
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 5
M INA*1aelLi 9*111541911I 01193
THREE WORDS [included in word cloud]
Able to make a living
Energizing (2)
Murals
Abundant (2)
Engaged
Nature
Access
Enough Room at the Table
Non-competitive (2)
Accessible (7)
Equal opportunity
NWA Arts Market
Accessible to newcomers and
Experiential
On the map
outsiders
Forward thinking (2)
Open
Afrocentrist
Free
Organic (3)
Ageless
Freedom
Outdoors
Anti -racist
Freedom of Expression
Ozarkans
Artist -run
Funded (2)
Ozarkansas
Authentic
Ground breaking
Pipeline for artists
Beautiful
Growing
Prosperous
Belonging
Homegrown
Recognized
Big
Inclusive (5)
Renowned (2)
Bold
Ingenuity
Respected
Brave
Innovation
Robust
Challenging
Innovative (2)
Surviving Artist vs. Starving
Coherent
Inspiring (2)
artist
Collaborative
Interwoven (2)
Sustained
Colorful (3)
Invests in artists
Thriving (3)
Communal (2)
Invigorating
Truthful
Community
Inviting
Unconventional
Cooperative (2)
Large Scale arts selling
Vibrant (6)
Dance
Live (2)
Thought Provoking
Defiant
Local (3)
Welcome
Democratic
Locally led
Welcoming
Destination
Maintain the funky
Well -funded
Diverse (6)
More opportunities
Wild
Diversely -funded
Multi -generational
Dynamic
Multiply
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 6
Raw Data Collected from the Table Conversations:
Q1: WHAT? What will help make Fayetteville a place where artists and creatives can flourish, grow,
and sustain their artistic/creative practice, in all phases of their career? Think of what resources,
support systems, networks, facilities/venues/support spaces, or services are most needed to nurture
and incubate the arts and culture ecosystem? What's missing? Do you see a role for the City in this?
• Affordable Housing**********
• Affordable studio space (more)******
• Artspace — engage again/relook at plan from the past**** (subsidized artist housing)
• Funding***** (both sustaining support and temporary support)
• Grants
• Artist Liaison (experienced) ***
• Affordable commercial space
• Maker space for all of the arts**
• Artist Collectives
• Art stores
• jobs -well paying
• Multi -disciplinary gatherings
• investments
• More events like this to bring together artists and appreciators from different backgrounds
• There are things that exist but not everyone knows about it — how do we make it more visible
• Framing mental health services as artistry
• Diverse funding — not just propped up by certain people that want to prop up a certain type of
community
• Market like the farmer's market that is consistent — but art specific (multi -disciplinary)
• Create an economic model that respects artists as workers
• Connecting artists to the business community, network, etc. — help business folks understand
the process of creating art — an understanding helps businesses and the city incorporate art into
everything
• Creative spaces inside Fayetteville
• Art Basel/Frieze Art Festival as examples of arts festivals that we could replicate
• Fayetteville Gallery Coalition
• Dance space with sprung floor (indoors and/or outdoors)
• Promotional support
• Underage music venue
• Museum space
• Graffiti Skatepark
• Studios with windows invite collaboration and observations
• Partnership with local University
• Mentorships
• Recording spaces
• Open the entire bike trail to graffiti
• Park Gallery
• Fayetteville Gallery Coalition
• Art Crawl
• Small performing spaces Farmington, West Fay, East/Huntsville, south of town (elkins)
• Arts zoning - later noise deadlines for late night
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 7
• Artist Payments, Wages and housing (arts advocacy)
• We need to teach artists to sell themselves
• Contract services (devin doing?)
• Shared use agreement (city of Fayetteville)
• Artist Tax assistance (look at St Louis model)
• artist legal Assistance
• Tax that directly goes towards art community
• Networking possibilities: art talks, artist of the month, artist spotlight
• Festivals
• System to post shows, exhibits (example = cafe)
o Newsletter (more community organizations origination
o APP - information ecosystem
o Fayetteville specific community calendar
o CACHE = community calendar needs to be filtered for each city.
o Money/revenue in the wrong location
o Accountability
• Problems:
o good for beginning artist;
o no support system for late career artist;
o people do not know what's going on in the area;
0 over complicated way to find opportunities
• Fundraisers/silent auctions - as exposure
• Bridges to bring money to artists: cultural awareness, publications, art education for community
• Maker space (wood, metal equipped, rehearsal space (NWACC Integrated Design Cab; Tulsa
Makerspace, St Louis)
• Artist hub; community hub for all arts
• Grants - no strings (big corps); more**
• Budgeting assistance
• Marketing assistance
• More education
• Professional development
• Creative incubator
• Grant writing support****
• Visiting regional artists
• Visible institutions
• Real opportunities for artists throughout their career
• More collaborations between mediums and groups
• Consistent art market
• Large art events
• Pop-up art spaces/events
• Percent for art bill
• Education opportunities
• Support community communication
• City support to new businesses to incentivise working with artists on commercial spaces
• City support for current businesses to employ artists to redo or update their trade [dress],
menus, interiors, etc.
• Mentorship
• Subsidized workspace, COOP, city and private funding mix
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 8
• Dedicated funding stream
• public space alongside private development
• Systemic change?policy, housing policy
• Events for artists within the community
• Stronger collector culture
• Rent communal cooperative
• Jobs
• An art housing collective for those older - when making art throughout their "careers" they can't
afford Butterfield Trail
• Legal resources for Creatives
• Proposal process (open)
• Social Media Amplification
• Resident Art Program
• Cultural activities are not "counted"
• Bigger arts district
• Public museum (Art)
• .5 Cent Tax designated for art support (like library)
• Art Market like Farmer's market (Town Center)
• Centralized resource Directory
• Match -making service for experienced artists and new artists
• miss having gallery space on the square/bring back gallery art spaces on the square
• more "pump house" community art projects
• more on the greenway (use it to help slow folks down, traffic calming)
• access to multidisciplinary space
• strengthening the visibility of existing systems
• Economic model that respects artists as workers in an industry
• Internships + vocational opportunities to connect artists with the business community
• Promoting cross pollination of artists
• Creating an art infrastructure.
• Art in everything
• More art/galleries on the square
• More pocket parks in neighborhoods outside center
• Access to Maker Spaces
• Where are the stakeholders?
• Diverse funding/Affordability
• Spreading the word
• Harnessing local resources
• Building a local identity
• Championing local artists
• Concept + vision + Discovery = Notoriety; investment = sponsorship
• Residencies Mt Sequoyah 1-4 weeks stipend, meals
• City artist in residence
• Art destination marketing
• Mental health services (how to prioritize health) esp under 18
• Places for 17-24 locally art driven, no spending $$ and not about drinking
• Co -owning
• What does bentonville do
• Media coordination
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 9
• Fine art festivals, True art festival, juried, spoleto
Q2: WHERE? Think of spaces, areas, locations in Fayetteville that would benefit most from an
investment in placemaking? Where are creative spaces in the community? Where does the community
gather? What places could be improved with more attention, activation or better design? Think of a
handful of these places and your suggestions for making them into meaningful spaces that benefit and
build community.
• Mt. Sequoyah (need a way to get up there) *******
• Public buildings with a shared use agreement**
• Black historic district could use representative creative space within it**
• Ramble** (a lot of stuff happening, but not known)
• Spaces for performing arts/visual arts
• Bolster Fayetteville gallery coalition
• Foster creativity in "art deserts" — thinking of small communities surrounding Fayetteville
• Multi -disciplinary space for working, performing, shows, public to come in and see — mentioned
a San Francisco example I couldn't hear — both clean and dirty type spaces and encourage
collaboration/cross-over
• Centennial Park
• Art on the greenway of various genres
• Spaces that are utilized daytime but not so much at night — how do we make them affordable
available during underutilized times
• Library
• Look at places where people are already gathering — maybe need some upgrades/equipment —
help fund that and make them a safe space
• Mighty By Design — Art therapy studio * My-T- By Design (lease)
• Likewise
• Pop -ups in vacant spaces
• Mall has potential!
• Pumphouse — and similarly smaller places spread out over the community
• Bring gallery space back to The Square
• Building in requirement into new development that a percentage of the budget would go to arts
either in that project or into some sort of fund that the city could use for arts
• Public schools — getting artists and art into public schools to encourage arts education at
youngerages
• Arts Corridor doing good but east and west side of town not doing as well — as trails move east
and west find places there to expand arts opportunities
• South Fayetteville — south school — between 13t" Stand Brinks Drive
• Prairie Street Life — part of cultural district
• Parks — Wilson Park, Gully Park — city fund that goes towards concerts and theatre in the parks
• University of Arkansas spaces
• Existing
o Botanic Gardens of the Ozarks - some art offerings but could be more
o Centennial Park
o Fayetteville Parks (overall)
• To create/build on:
o Trail adjacent
o YRCC - add creative opportunities
0 71B Corridor
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 10
o City Park (restaurant)
o Collaborative spaces
o Spaces used/full in the day time but not at night
o Existing gathering spots (police attention)
• Coalition Springdale Labor Let
• Art spaces on greenway
• Develop art deserts in surrounding small towns/communities (Elkins, Huntsville, Farmington)
• Shopping mall/Art space
• Restaurants/Bars
• Art Market
• Market/Collector class
• Performance Space
• Dance Space
• Development
• Accessible Spaces
• Incentives
• Likewise
• University of Ark
• Walton Arts
• Ramble
• Botanic Garden
• Fab Lab
• 7th Street Lot
• Needed: More on West Side
• Needed: popups in vacant Spaces
• Where are creative spaces? CCC, WAC, Mt. Sequoyah, the Library
• Where does the community gather? Gulley Park, The Rumble, Trail system, Library, Botanical
Garden
• What places could be improved? S. School MLK-15th as arts corridor, small studios, shops
• Old Levis Plant - a farmers market type venue for artists but not outside and not seasonal or
weather dependent.
• What could be colonized and improved? the Mall, an art hotel, chicken museum
• THE THIRD SPACE - investing in places that aren't home or work and places that aren't just
places to spend money
• taking over new spaces (like downtown NYC)
• Place for artists to ask for what they need
• Someplace with free wine and live music
• Ramble/ Arts Corridor has challenges for doing new things
• College Ave, Midtown Corridor
• Schools (local art on display and connect to artists)
• Placemaking inspired by artists from here (Carrboro NC, Elizabeth Cotton)
• Museum Exhibitions
• Where were creative spaces? Icehouse (west street), Studio 225, Old Armory, Clunk Music Hall,
Orpheum, Backspace (practice spaces off the trail)
• Characteristics of making a good artist space:
o A warehouse divided
■ 1,200 - 3,800 sq feet divides musicians, painters, metal workers, builders, etc.
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 11
■ Multidisciplinary community that worked and (sometimes lived) together for 25
years
■ Gallery show, circus, bands play
■ Big communal space convertible for different uses
■ Affordable, cooperative, a space to create, an opportunity for the community to
witness and participate
■ Could be anchored by a communal retail space where artists work and public
can gather
o What attracts the public to these spaces?
■ Family friendly, all ages, sober, parking, after-hours open
o Project Artaud in San Francisco
• TheatreSquared
• The Square
• Place to take kids
• New art school
• Prairie St Live
• Studio Leilaui
• Teens need a space
• Gallery
• Likewise
• Trail mix
• Community Creative Center
• Where is the dance?
• Earth Friendly
• TheatreSquared
• University of Arkansas
• South Fayetteville/south School between 13th and Brinks Drive
• Mt Comfort Church and Community Building
• Community Creative Center (Nadine Baum)
• Oak Plaza Shopping Center
• Placemaking incorporated with our trails
• West Weddington
• Who is our audience
• How do we build collaboration between the City and U of A? Or do we?
Question 3: WHY? If arts and culture are wildly successful in Fayetteville, what will the community be
like/look like/feel like in 20 years? Can you write a vision statement or a series of statements that
capture this new future state? Use the words we generated earlier as inspiration, or the words on your
table we captured from our community survey and focus groups.
• The art capital of Arkansas/Arts center of NW Arkansas — inclusivity, accessibility, walkability,
fostering local art
• Invite collaboration as much as we can, empower individuals, multi -generational, eliminate
"starving artists"
• More local art
• More art centered events
• Art tax
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 12
• Retaining artists and attracting other artists — our artists will have security
• Recognize us as what's cool instead of looking to bigger art markets
• To come to a place with vibrant art — it unleashes a sense of hope and optimism
• Diversity
• Quality of life
• Dancing in the streets
• "Stay in Fay"
• Stay its funky self— be organic trendsetters — don't want to do it everybody else's way, do it our
way
• Ordinances that require space for the arts in new developments
• Enhancing the individual
• Growing and growing but on an individual level —grow in local ways, incrementally, not big
business
• Enough room at the table
• Good art changes lives- and if we have 20 years of good and inspiring art here people in
Fayetteville would change and they would be more loving, happy —we could reduce poverty, we
could reduce political division to help us understand each other more
• Art hub — art everywhere — art is tactile — taste it, see it, hear it, feel it
• Art everywhere — schools, public spaces, etc.
• Seamless movement through the city with continuous opportunity for cultural engagement
• Colorful accessible interwoven, on the map, strong patron base, local artist spotlight, art
appreciation experiences, engaging with artists, cross -industry support for the arts, health of the
community at large
• Benton is bike riding, trails — Fayetteville is the art. Own it.
• Economic justice along with everything that is done
• Respect cultural history and difference
• Reject systemic inequality in every aspect of our development of the arts infrastructure building
• Commune/Community
• artists that can live
• Getting away from being only buoyed by private capital/investments
• Having spaces more open to unconventional mediums
• More art that unites people
• Not having all your eggs in one basket (Tyson, Walmart, etc.)
• Art is more present in public and in local schools
• Art is more a part of political discourse and public funding
• Investing more in local arts
• See their artistic Value
• Empowering individuals
• enhance the individual
• 2044: how many students at U of A in 2044?
• Art Hub: what make a hub - galleries, food, museum, performance spaces (for tourists); what do
you need for a successful hub - U of A schools, educational spaces, vibrant community of artists,
art everywhere and integrated for daily life, artists have a plethora of opportunities, accessibility
(parking, transportations), tourists with money
• Art in schools - increase budgets for elementary education in arts (music performance, crafts);
after school programs.
• Art as Leisure - adult classes, art classes as alternative to bar culture
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 13
• Priority of Local Artists - Fort Worth, Santa Fe, San Miguel DeAllende, Knoxville Museum of Art;
Folk art doesn't have to be fine art
• Art Everywhere (vision statement)
• Art in Fayetteville is Tactile -
o Taste - culinary, food
o Hear - local music that permeates - drum circles, fiddle music, community dances
o See
o Touch mosaics on sidewalk
o Feel art and design everywhere
o Small —food, perfumes, trees
• Imagination and hope ignited in all
• Good art changes lives, brings love, reduces poverty, reduces divisions
• Art is tactile in all of your senses
• In 20 Years, Fayetteville is the Art Capital of Arkansas and will export Art and Artists to Art
Deserts in the World.
• Seamless movement throughout the City with continuous opportunity for cultural discovery.
• Funky destination where the people are uniquely capable of creative thought, sharing, and
critical dialogue.
• Large Community Bonding event (all arts involved)
• festival focuses (Folk the Roots, Gallery, Market, Incentives to community involvement
• Nature —integrated with nature
• Recognition
• Designated arts district
• Fayetteville is Art
• Affordable places to work and create - a place where students don't have to leave to create
• Strong patron base
• local artist spotlights
• art appreciation experiences
• cross industry support for arts
• engagement with Artiss
• Health of community at large inherent good
• Based around the health of the creative community.
• Many venues and communication re events;
• Ordinances which require space for the arts in new developments, eg 21C
• Support - financial support - for local artists in all genres
• arts community if famous/recognized nationwide
• Biz community supports and collaborates with the arts community — Artist Liaison
• artists supported by corporations
• artists have security, homes and businesses are filled with art (Public Art)
• Fayetteville is the leading arts center of Arkansas, serving as an anchor point of accessible public
art. From murals throughout the entire city to public art installments that engage community
members self-expression, Fayetteville will be known as a center of inclusivity, walkability, and
connectivity, embracing nature and fostering local art.
• We will retain our artists & attract other creatives
• Art Tax
• Our reputation & know our brand/vibe as a cultural destination for art
• More art created events
• A thriving community of support (ie. similar to farmer's markets, local farming)
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 14
• Financial backing for artists and galleries from private donors/diverse funding
• Administrative/Art Liaison support
• Heart & Soul
• Quality of life : we are the heart of the city
• Top of list
• Diversity
• Thriving networking for new to the area artists, POC, LGBTQIA, Diverse communities
• More Artosphere events,more art centered events, orgs
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 15
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Veeds Assessment
August 2024
Introduction
A key task in developing the Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan is identifying gaps and needs within the existing
Fayetteville arts and culture ecosystem. With the help of the community through a variety of engagement methods
combined with research and peer cities benchmarking, this document presents the findings of an extensive
assessment of the arts and culture needs and areas of potential improvement for Fayetteville. The Needs
Assessment serves as an important grounding document for the Arts and Culture Plan.
While Fayetteville already has an established arts and culture scene, these emerging needs can be viewed as
opportunities to not only support and advance arts and culture, but to differentiate Fayetteville within Northwest
Arkansas (NWA). Fayetteville is where art is made and home to the working, creating, making artists and creatives.
Many of the gaps and needs identified align with supporting, retaining and growing artists, creatives and creative
businesses in Fayetteville.
Public Input
Throughout the engagement process, the community
has expressed strong beliefs that arts and culture are
an important part of Fayetteville. In fact, 90% of people
surveyed said arts and culture opportunities in
Fayetteville are important or very important.
90% of people surveyed said arts and culture
opportunities in Fayetteville are Important (16%)
or Very Important (74%). Only 2% stated arts and
culture opportunities were not important or not at
all important.
However, there is a gap between what the community
deems important and what they believe they are receiving. According to survey results, the community indicated
there is room for growth in the "variety and amount" of Fayetteville's arts offerings and activities and that the
quality of arts and culture activities could be improved.
65% of survey respondents somewhat agreed or
definitely agreed that "There are enough
opportunities for me to participate in arts and
cultural activities in Fayetteville." That means 45%
disagree and want more activities.
The community shared that there are missing arts and
culture activities in Fayetteville that they would like to
attend or see more. These include:
• Live Music Events/Festivals/Outdoor Concert
• Cultural and Art Festivals/Events
"We need to improve the quality of arts and
cultural activities in Fayetteville."
81% Somewhat or Strongly Agree
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 1
• Museums
• Art Classes and Workshops
• Art Galleries and Exhibitions
• Public Art
• Film and Cinema Events
This aligns with research that Fayetteville is missing some core arts and culture events, spaces, experiences and
participation opportunities.
Gaps
The following pages of this document outline a number of gaps and needs identified for the arts and culture
ecosystem in Fayetteville. They are organized into five categories as listed below but not they are not in a prioritized
order.
1. Funding and Resources
2. Placemaking and Public Art
3. Spaces to Create
4. Artist and Creative Sector Support
5. Advocacy and Visibility
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 2
1. Funding & Resources
Understanding that Fayetteville's Arts and Culture Division was only established in 2022, the City's direct funding for
arts and culture has been limited. However, the arts and culture sector has achieved remarkable success on its own.
The following section is an assessment of the gaps and opportunities in the areas of funding and resources needed
to better support and bolster the arts and culture community.
Need: Sustained and Protected Fu
Arts and Culture Funding: Fayetteville will require sustainable
support for the arts and culture industry. This can come in
many different forms, such as a dedicated tax, City general
fund support, public/private collaborations, grants through the
City, etc. This funding will need to be diversified, and not overly
reliant on just a few sources. The City could also make better
use of financial tools such as percent -for -art ordinances, special
tax districts, tax increment financing and/or planning policies
and economic incentives that either require and/or encourage
investments in creative spaces, art in development and more.
Need: Financial Resources for the Arts and Culture Industry
The community survey revealed that the
majority of people surveyed think the City should
spend more on arts and culture in Fayetteville.
64% stated that the City should spend more or
much more
27% spend "about the same"
3% stated that the City should "spend less or
much less."
Grants for the Arts: At this time, Fayetteville does not offer grants for arts organizations; Support for these types of
projects have been considered ad hoc.
Incentives: Currently there are no incentives to encourage arts/culture/creative leasing, nor are there developer
incentives to encourage placemaking or public art. Communities working to bolster the creative sector have found
success interweaving requirements via zoning or zoning overlays with economic incentives to achieve economic
activity driven by the creative community. The cultural plan should look at opportunities to support housing,
creative spaces in development, utilization of artists in the design and aesthetics of development, support for
creative uses and more.
Film Incentives and Advocacy: Currently, all advocacy for the film industry is happening at the State level.
There isn't a local or regional incentive driving filmmakers to Fayetteville or Northwest Arkansas, which
could have great economic potential for the entire region. There is no "film office" in Fayetteville to provide
assistance for filming requests, permitting or promoting the regional locations or talent.
Philanthropy & Donors: As in many cities, donors and philanthropists are becoming older and younger generations
are not in the habit of giving. In NWA, there are a few large foundations that have been significant funders of arts
and culture. In the absence of a strong city or community strategy for arts and culture, these donors have often
directed cultural priorities through their funding. Diversifying funding sources through partnerships with a variety of
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 3
donors, businesses and sustainable funding sources mentioned above is needed along with a clear strategy for that
support.
Collector Culture: There is not a robust "art market" in Fayetteville. A "collector culture" is usually supported by
galleries, arts fairs, a public art program, art buyers/collectors and art consultants. All of these are gaps in
Fayetteville.
2. Placemaking and Public Art
The City of Fayetteville has invested in several distinctive cultural assets, most recently, the Ramble and mural
projects. This forward -thinking placemaking and investment in creative spaces, memorable gathering areas and
publicly available arts is necessary for growing the creative community.
Need: Public Spaces Activated by Arts and Culture
Public Art: Fayetteville didn't have a formal public art program until 2022. The program was predominantly mural -
based, created almost entirely by local artists, and funded ad -hoc. Since that time, several sculpture commissions
within City parks and mural projects have been completed and resonated with the public. Public art and murals were
consistently noted as a need through surveys and outreach and community excitement for a more formal,
broadened public art program is gaining momentum. The program needs well -developed policies, sustainable
funding such as a percent -for -art -ordinance, staff assistance and a liaison between City departments so art
opportunities aren't missed. A strong public art program can offer a diverse group of artists work opportunities
through commissioned projects, city -sponsored exhibitions, and/or artist registries that promote local artists. As the
recent Nelson -Hackett mural demonstrates, public art programs can also be an important means of celebrating and
honoring diverse communities and neighborhoods within the city.
Mural Program: The existing public art collection centers around utility box murals which are currently deteriorating
and in need of re -painting. The community would like to see more of this type of artwork in the public realm.
Revamping the utility box program or reprising "Sprayetteville" might be popular and inexpensive ways to fill this
gap.
Placemaking: Designating key nodes and locations that are of special interest through placemaking or place -keeping
(public art, design, preservation, correct mix of businesses and public spaces) is needed. This was proven effective in
the development and design of the Cultural Corridor/Ramble, and the community is eager to see the completion of
that project.
There are other locations that could be formed into placemaking nodes that would benefit from this type of
consensus building and advocacy led by City leadership and department staff —for example, the Square. A new
downtown plan is in the works; elements like an art market, public art, pedestrian zones, and prioritization of
creative businesses can help energize/catalyze the downtown square. Other major projects like redeveloping
Highway 71 could be a huge opportunity for public art but also arts and culture venues or gathering spaces, too.
Cultural Arts District: At this time there is a border delineating a cultural district, but there isn't any funding,
strategy or promotion for that district. The designated cultural district can help promote and fund (depending on the
funding tool chosen) artists, creative businesses, public art, events, programming and more in that area and these
areas tend to attract more businesses and economic activity as a result. The vibrant nightlife of Dickson Street is
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 4
included in the district but doesn't feel accessible for the non -college student community in Fayetteville. Spaces are
underutilized in the daytime/early evening and could be leveraged to create a more 24/7 economy and
entertainment zone for all ages. Also in the District is the Cultural Corridor/Ramble, which needs to be programmed
as a key component and connector of this area.
Historic Neighborhoods and Culture keeping: There are many important cultural sites, traditions, and historic
neighborhoods that are important to Fayetteville's history and local culture. These places need to be identified,
protected, advocated for and celebrated.
Mt. Sequoyah: This property is a one -of -a -kind landmark, resource and historic property. However, the area
is in great need of repairs and maintenance. The area is already supporting the artist community with 50+
studio spaces and a gallery, but it is critical to support planning efforts to help develop a means for the
property to become a sustainable, integrated and useful destination for Fayetteville. An updated master
plan would help to not only determine how best to continue to activate Mt. Sequoyah, but how to
financially sustain this historic and important site for the long term.
Arts Outside of Downtown: Arts and culture opportunities are concentrated in downtown. The west, east and south
sides of town need expanded art opportunities. The City can look for pockets of arts- and culture -ready areas and
venues in other neighborhoods (Gulley Park, Centennial Park, South and Western Fayetteville).
3. Spaces to Create
Although Fayetteville has a number of wonderful cultural facilities, there are critical spaces missing that support
artists, musicians, and creatives in growing within their discipline, developing their careers, and making a living.
Affordable spaces like the former quonset but that housed grassroots music spaces and art studios are disappearing.
These losses have significantly impacted the cohesion of the arts community and nothing has yet replaced it. The
artist community needs informal spaces to become hubs of multidisciplinary collisions that spur innovation and
connectivity. The community also needs spaces where they can experience and participate in arts and culture.
Need: Affordable Artist Spaces
Affordable Studio Spaces: Studio space was the most frequently mentioned need for artists and creatives to build
their practice. Studio space could take many forms, including shared, multidisciplinary, and/or collaborative. Closely
linked to studio space are makerspaces for all arts, including wood, metal, and large project space, which could also
house an art tool library.
Affordable Performance Spaces: In addition to studios and makerspaces, Fayetteville also needs rehearsal space for
musicians and performers, spaces for classes and workshops (all disciplines) that artists host, and a space with a
sprung floor for dance.
Need: Spaces to Share and Participate
Mid -Size and Outdoor Music Venues: There are missing music venues in the inventory of Fayetteville that are mid-
sized to support a robust music scene, for both musicians and music consumers. Absent also is a large outdoor
venue for festivals and concerts beyond Gulley Park. The community wants to attend more music, festivals, film and
performances outdoors and in small music and/or performance spaces.
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 5
Exhibition and Gallery Space: Both artists and the
community would like to see more exhibitions in Fayetteville.
Artists need the opportunity to show and sell their work, and
without these types of spaces, building a collector or client
base is difficult. The community enjoys seeing and
experiencing art. With the museums and galleries in
Bentonville being so close, the community is very aware of
the absence of these experiences in Fayetteville.
"What types of arts and culture activities do you
participate in or attend?"
a whopping 80% of the people surveyed said they
enjoy attending the Farmers markets in Fayetteville.
Second was art exhibitions 68% & galleries and tied
for third was live music (65%) and culinary
experiences (65%).
Art Market: Fayetteville has a Farmers Marketbut doesn't have a consistent artist market that brings together the
arts and culture community in a comprehensive and visible way. Where it makes sense for a farmers market to be
seasonal during the growing season, an arts market can be a year-round draw with an indoor location. Fayetteville
needs this type of activity to support its arts identity and also to provide opportunities for artists and creatives to
engage with the community and sell.
Community Arts Center: Although the Community Creative Center is an existing important and well -used resource,
demand is far exceeding its capacity. This and the loss of grassroots art spaces is compounding the lack of spaces
available to artists, creatives, young people and the community to create. A community art center could bring
together a number of needed, affordable spaces to support art -making, workshops and classes, dance and small
performances, etc.
Transportation and Parking: Current bus routes do not link residents to all of the arts and culture venues and
activities available to them, creating barriers and limiting access. There is also a perception that parking is a barrier
to participating in the arts.
4. Artist and Creative Sector Support
Fayetteville is home to working artists and creatives who add to the unique character of Fayetteville. They are an
important workforce for the city. Similar to other economic sectors, attention needs to be paid to retaining,
resourcing and growing the arts and culture ecosystem.
Need: Affordable Housi
Affordable Housing: Affordable housing was repeatedly top of mind for many artists and creatives living in
Fayetteville. As Fayetteville continues to grow and develop, housing costs are increasing, and local residents are
feeling the crunch. There is a general concern that artists and creatives will be (or have already been) priced out of
Fayetteville and greatly hurt the local creativity industry. Housing targeted to artists that create live/work
opportunities are missing.
Need: Artist Resources
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 6
Artist Resources: Artists need resources to support their careers such as mentorships, residencies, apprenticeships,
networking events, training, and artist opportunities. Resources that are available also need to be visible or in a
centralized location that is well known and easily accessed.
Artist Liaison: The arts and culture community is seeking someone who is their liaison, focused on their industry and
looking for ways to build and grow their ecosystem. The new Arts and Culture Director is poised to serve this
function in their role or through their office with additional staff in the future.
Networking and Convening: A thriving arts and culture ecosystem consists of artists, creatives, galleries,
organizations, event producers, creative entrepreneurs, venues, etc. who are well connected to one another.
Inclusive networking opportunities are needed to build collaboration, promote innovation and cross pollination, and
stimulate creativity and growth.
Fayetteville Public Library: The Library is a terrific resource for arts and culture with its dance space, performance
space, Innovation Lab, recording studios, beautiful white walls for artwork and a public art plan. But artists are
unaware of how to strategically make use of these resources and there is little funding available to support
activation.
The top five recommended destinations in Fayetteville were outdoors and Restaurants/Breweries, The
FAPL and Museums.
1 Hiking, biking and outdoor recreation 76.1%
2 Restaurants and breweries 73.2%
3 Drive through beautiful Ozarks 57.3%
4 Library 56.5%
5 Museums 54.6%
Need: Artist Retention
Retaining Talent: Aside from the housing costs, many artists and creatives are finding they need to move away from
Fayetteville to further their careers and find sustainable work. Some return, but this loss of talent is a concern for
building the arts and culture industry and starting new entrepreneurial ventures in Fayetteville. This is probably due
to a combination of factors:
Missing Middle: Many emerging and mid -career artists and creatives, including graduates of UofA, are not
well -supported for that "next step" in their career in Fayetteville. Some feel like there are not as many
opportunities for artists to work and artists aren't a respected and acknowledged workforce. There are
missing elements that you would expect to find in a healthy ecosystem, such as training and sector support,
right -sized venues that build a career scaffold, and creative/work spaces and hubs.
Entrepreneurship Support: Although the City does support entrepreneurs (through StartUp Junkie), artists
and creatives seem unaware that these resources are available to them. The arts and culture community
needs to feel included and invited to participate in these opportunities which aren't traditionally a part of
their ecosystem.
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 7
Sector Recognition: Arts and culture needs to be recognized as an economic sector within the local
economy, acknowledging that artists and creatives are workers to be paid a living wage who work in
businesses that deserve support.
Training & Business Acumen: Like every other industry, the arts and culture industry needs training and
workforce development, not necessarily in their artistic disciplines but in running, managing and growing
their business and career. This includes tax, legal, financial and branding/marketing assistance as well as
incubating, mentoring and connecting the creative sector with the broader business community.
5. ADVOCACY & VISIBILITY
The City has created an Arts and Culture division and hired a Director to begin the important work for creative sector
advocacy. The advocacy and visibility of arts and culture will be essential to the growth of the entire sector. The new
Downtown Fayetteville Coalition, Experience Fayetteville and other key community agencies and organizations can
be key partners in activating and promoting arts and culture.
Need: Create an Identitv and Build Excitement
Identity and Promotion: Go Create Fay! With a strong artist and creative presence, Fayetteville needs to lean into
and build common ground for everyone to rally around. Co -branding and marketing through key partnerships are
needed. Special events are also needed. The City's arts and culture website needs to be more robust and up-to-date.
Marketing: There are several different entities promoting
and marketing arts and culture in the region, but
Fayetteville needs a system for marketing its local arts
scene and events that is easy to find, easy to maintain
and continues to build a local identity.
When asked "What are some of the obstacles that
may have prevented you from engaging in arts and
cultural programs and events?"
65% "Too short notice/Didn't hear about" 54%
"Cost/too expensive"
The Ramble/Cultural Arts Corridor: Many are aware of
the Ramble development, and anxiously await its completion. But a vision/plan is needed to explain how this space
will benefit arts and culture in Fayetteville. This location needs to be carefully activated and programmed to become
a draw for residents and visitors and known for its unique offerings. It is also an opportunity to co -mingle local and
touring musicians, bring diverse partners together to build programming, and offer unique, engaging identity -
creating events.
Festivals and Events: Fayetteville needs a signature, iconic event "Arts and cultural activities are important
(or two) which will likely require city support. This could be a aspects of life in Fayetteville."
reprisal of the Roots Festival or another event that connects and
celebrates the community. Events that embrace and celebrate 92% Somewhat or Definitely Agree
the diverse cultural heritage of Fayetteville's residents are also
needed. Also, the few galleries lining the Town Square for First Thursdays are no longer there, so Fayetteville lacks
large events that coalesce arts and culture.
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 8
Pop-up art/event spaces: There isn't a program for pop -ups in vacant storefronts or in public spaces, that would
support new businesses and art ventures.
Need: Advocacy
Advocacy: Fayetteville needs to advocate for its arts and culture sector at the local, regional and state level. Building
cultural coalitions will be imperative to success in lobbying for important issues and initiatives that will help the
creative economy. While CACHE is the Northwest Arkansas arts agency, they have not had steady or effective
leadership in this regard.
Code Analysis: The City can supply additional support to the creative industry by examining current code that isn't
conducive to creativity (sign code, noise ordinances, live/work/sales spaces, etc.)
Special Events "Office": Fayetteville permits special events, filming and events in parks, and although this has been
streamlined somewhat between the City and Parks, there isn't a specialized office or staff team dedicated to guiding
producers through the city process and serve as a resource in coordinating special events across the community.
Partnerships: With the new Arts and Culture Division and a point person in the Director, there are new
opportunities to advocate for and develop partnerships within the arts and culture industry and also between the
industry and the broader community. For example, the University of Arkansas is a major producer of arts and culture
in Fayetteville, but few artists and creatives outside the University walls have connection or understanding of the
University role beyond their student population. Work needs to be done to break down barriers and create inroads
and partnerships throughout Fayetteville to achieve greater collaboration and connectivity.
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 9
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Public Art Policies & Procedures: Sample Draft
2024
OVERVIEW:
This document establishes Policies and Procedures to guide the City of Fayetteville's Public Art Program
and implement any future Public Art Plans.
SECTION I: PUBLIC ART PROGRAM DEFINITIONS
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this document, shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Accession means the steps taken to officially acquire and designate an artwork as a part of the City of
Fayetteville's Public Art collection.
Acquisition means the inclusion of an artwork in the permanent collection of the City, according to the
City's Public Art Policies, whether by commission, purchase, donation, or other means. Acquisitions are
owned by the City.
Art in Public Places (see Public Art, below)
Art on Loan refers to any artwork that is not owned by the City but is on public display on City property
in the City according to the terms of a loan agreement with the owner.
Artist refers to a person who creates art (such as painting, sculpture, music, or writing) using conscious
skill and creative imagination.
Artwork (or Work of Art) means but is not limited to, unique, one -of -a -kind artwork by an artist. This
includes the following media and methods:
• Sculpture: in the round, bas relief, mobile, fountain, kinetic, and electronic, in any approved
material or combination of materials.
• Two-dimensional artwork: painting in all media, mixed media, collage, including portable and
permanently affixed works including mosaic and murals.
• Printmaking and photography, original graphics.
• Environmental art: earthworks, land art, environmental and natural elements, installation -based
artwork.
• Interactive art: art that engages a spectator or audience, (e.g. fountains, climbable elements,
play elements, sound -based art, participatory art, etc.).
• Playground artwork: playable structures or kinetic elements created by an artist.
• Time -based media, film/video, digital art, web -based art, projections.
• Light -based art installations.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 1
• Temporary art/Semi-permanent art that is available for a limited time.
• Performance -based art: dance, movement, theater, live music, puppetry, storytelling, acrobatic
displays, fire breathers, stand-up comedy, opera, etc.
• Conceptual art and social practice events.
• Text -based artwork, including literary works, spoken word, and live poetry performances.
• Crafts: includes fiber arts, textiles, stained glass, metalwork, ceramic arts, and other crafts.
• Functional art and streetscape elements: benches, shade structures, bike racks, lighting, artist -
designed landscape elements, retaining walls, etc. as designed by an artist.
• Architectural art: artist -designs incorporated into the building design, facade or structure (i.e.
glass, terrazzo), or is attached to the exterior of a building, bridge, or other physical structure.
• Memorial art: art, sculpture, structure or artist -designed space created to preserve the memory
of a significant person, entity, or event that occurred or existed in the past.
For the purposes of this policy, the following are not considered Artwork:
• Donor bricks, plaques, trees, or standard mass-produced benches not designed and created by
an artist.
• Educational plaques unless an integral part of a work of art designed by an artist.
• Directional elements, signage, and way -finding elements, unless designed by an artist as an
integral part of the work of art.
• Artwork murals and/or signage that serves as an advertisement for a product, service, or
business.
• Objects that are mass-produced in a standard design, such as playground equipment, park
furniture, or fountains.
• Holiday and other decor unless designed by an artist.
• Non -original reproductions/copies of original works of art, except in cases of film, video,
photography, printmaking, and sculpture editions.
• Public improvements for safety, such as area or path lighting, protective railings, etc., unless
designed by an artist.
• Landscape design or gardens when used for decoration, unless designed by/with an artist, and
are integral to the artwork.
• Decorative, ornamental, or functional architectural elements unless designed by an artist.
• Any other work or elements not designed by or in collaboration with an artist.
Collection: Artwork that has been acquired and approved through the City's acquisition process and is
owned by the City. It refers to artwork that is placed in a public setting and accessible to the community,
in storage, or undergoing repairs. Unless the artwork is a loaned work of art on display on a temporary
basis, to remove a work of art from the City's collection, a deaccession process is required. It is the
responsibility of the City to maintain, restore, and repair the art collection according to its Public Art
Policies.
Commission refers to artwork created at the request of the City and/or its Public Art Committee in
which the funds to design and produce the artwork are provided by the City (in part or entirely) and
acquired through a process as outlined in the City's Public Art Policy.
Conservation means preservation, repair, and prevention of deterioration of public artworks and
artifacts.
Deaccession is the process by which a work of art can be removed from the City's public art collection in
accordance with the City's Public Art Policies.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 2
Donation means artwork that has been given to and accepted by the Public Art Committee on behalf of
the City, and approved by the City Council for inclusion in its art collection.
Maintenance is an ongoing approach to regular cleaning, treating, or repairing artwork that has been
adversely affected by negligence, damage, or decay caused by the effects of time and human use on the
materials of which they are made.
Public Art (or Art in Public Places) refers to any artwork acquired (in whole or in part) by public City
funding and sited within a publicly accessible City -owned or leased area, on the exterior of any City -
owned or leased facility, inside of any City -owned or leased facility, or on property that is not owned or
leased by the City if financed whether wholly or in part with City funds or by grants procured by the City.
Public art is artwork that has been donated or loaned to the City's Public Art program, as well as
privately sponsored artwork that is sited on publicly owned land or a public work sited on private
property and maintained by the City according to a legal agreement between the owner and the City of
Fayetteville.
Public Art Policy means all policies and procedures, as approved by the City Council, for the selection,
placement, and presentation of artwork; the maintenance, repair, care, or removal of artwork and the
commissioning, decommissioning, and payment for artwork.
Public Art Plan refers to a document that guides and defines the goals of the public art program and the
use of public art funds.
Public Art Reserve Account refers to a special Public Art Reserve Fund account established for capital
expenditures, large repairs, and other approved expenditures related to public art for the City's
collection. This account can roll over from year to year.
Temporary Public Art means works of art installed in public places for which it is the intention to display
and maintain the artwork for a shortened period of time agreed upon between the artist and the City of
Fayetteville.
SECTION II: GROUPS INVOLVED WITH GOVERNANCE/ ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC ART
The following section defines the groups and responsibilities of those involved in administering the
Public Art Program.
Citv of Favetteville Arts and Culture Division
The City of Fayetteville's Arts and Culture Division, within the Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural
Affairs Department shall oversee and administer the Public Art Program in accordance with the
provisions of these policies. The Arts and Culture Division's duties shall include oversight and
coordination of the Public Art Program, administration of the program's budget, designation and hiring
of staff to administer the Public Art Program, including guidance and oversight of the selection,
acquisition, purchase, commissioning, placement, installation, maintenance, and deaccessioning of all
artwork acquired by the City of Fayetteville that is defined as Public Art in Section I.
Designated staff in the Arts and Culture Division shall serve as staff liaison for the Fayetteville Arts
Council (see below) and as the source of public information regarding the Public Art Program as
required. They will also serve as a liaison for the community, private developers and other external
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 3
partners (BIDS, neighborhood organizations, special districts, etc.) who are considering procurement of
public art on City -owned property or through City incentive programs.
City Arts and Culture Division Staff may adjust or augment these Policies and Procedures as needed or
requested for clarification or to ensure utilization of current best practices within the Public Art
Program.
Fayetteville Arts Council (FAC)
The Fayetteville Arts Council was created by Resolution 60-07 on April 3, 2007 and amended by
Ordinance 5332 on July 6, 2010, Ordinance 6177 on April 16, 2019 and Ordinance 6196 on July 2, 2019.
The purpose of the Arts Council shall be to promote and encourage the appreciation and enhancement
of the arts and culture resources of Fayetteville. The Fayetteville Arts Council advises and makes
recommendations to City staff (or City Council?) regarding public art projects, the acceptance of offers
to donate art to be placed in public areas, and policy, guidelines and budgetary matters pertaining to the
City's Public Art Program. The Arts Council also selects review panels and ensures transparent and open
selection processes.
Or "assists Fayetteville's organizations that are active in the arts and provide leadership on arts related
matters. The Fayetteville arts council shall also oversee the activities and approve expenditures of the
City's public art program".
Terms: Staggered three-year terms.
Members: The Fayetteville Arts Council shall have nine members, appointed by the city's boards and
commissions process as defined by the City Council and managed by the City Clerk's office. . The
members of the Fayetteville Arts Council shall be arts professionals or residents of diverse backgrounds
with strong links to the Fayetteville arts and cultural community. At least four members shall be artists
working professionally in their field. One member shall be a City Council member appointed by the
Mayor at the beginning of each calendar year.
Attendance Requirements: FAC members shall follow attendance requirements in accordance with the
City's board, commission and committee standards as set forth in Ord. No. 5446, 10-4-11.
Public Art Selection Panels
The FAC, in coordination with City staff, may establish separate Public Art Selection Panels for each new
public art commission it undertakes. Public Art Selection Panels enable the City to engage volunteer
community members (outside of the FAC) who may possess specific knowledge or expertise and/or
interest in a particular project or commission. The FAC, along with Arts and Culture Division staff, shall
determine the composition and selection criteria for each selection panel at a FAC meeting.
Selection Panels shall ideally be made up of at least five people. The recommended selection panel
makeup is the following:
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 4
• At least one professional artist or arts professional which may include an artist, art historian,
museum, curator, or arts administrator or coordinator;
• At least one community member interested in the project or someone who either lives or works
near the proposed site for the artwork (that may or may not be involved with the arts);
• At least one FAC member;
• City of Fayetteville department staff or leadership as needed for their knowledge of the project
area, neighborhood, etc.; and
• Additional panelists may be chosen for the selection panel as deemed appropriate including
members of the community in which the art will be sited, subject matter experts, designers or
architects for the project, or other site representatives.
• Non -voting advisors and consultants may be added as needed.
• City representatives and Arts and Culture Division staff shall be considered non -voting members
of all selection panels.
Each Public Art Selection Panel will be specific to a particular site or project for the Public Art Program.
The group is charged with discussion and determination of the public art parameters, consideration of
appropriate public art locations and public art opportunities for the site. The group shall establish
consensus to determine artist criteria, selection methods and other information needed for the
solicitation of artists for the commission (see Section xxx). Other activities of the Selection Panel shall
include, but are not limited, to the review of artist applications and proposals, conducting interviews,
and other activities needed for the selection of artists for each commission. A record of the selection
process will be recorded by staff or a member of the panel for future reference.
City Council
Any purchases or commissions for artwork shall adhere to City Purchasing policies. City Council shall
review and approve FAC contracts and donations more than $35,000.
Conflict of Interest
It is expected that members of the FAC, Arts and Cultural Staff and Liaisons, Selection Panels, members
of subcommittees, or any other ad hoc groups or individuals working with the Public Art Program may
be aware of the work of some artists and arts organizations who submit their work for consideration for
public art projects. Such awareness alone does not constitute a conflict of interest, nor does owning a
piece of work by a submitting artist. A conflict of interest is deemed to exist if a member/panelist is
related to an artist, either through family, marriage, or domestic partnership, or any other relationship
of economic interdependence, a business relationship such as representing the work of an artist as a
gallery owner, or if a member stands to gain direct benefit, whether financial or otherwise, from the
selection of an artist. If a member is affiliated with an artist under consideration in any of the ways
mentioned above, they shall state that they have a conflict of interest, and the committee will vote on
whether a conflict exists and whether that member shall recuse themself from voting or further
discussion on the project in question.
SECTION III: FUNDING AND CONTRACTING FOR PUBLIC ART
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 5
Public Art Funding
All public art funding shall be determined and set aside for use by the Public Art Program in accordance
with Ordinance xxx.
Identification of Qualified CIP Projects:
CIP department staff, project managers, designated representatives from the Department of
Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs, the Division of Arts and Culture Division, and the
Chief of Staff or Mayor (or their designee) will annually review the updated CIP projects list to
identify qualifying projects for funding the public art program.
Questions to be answered: What are the qualifying projects? When is public art triggered? They
may change between departments and funding sources. There might need to be a cheat sheet
or flow chart eventually for this section
• Types of projects that qualify: roads, facilities, renovations, parks
• Types of projects that don't qualify: routine maintenance, sewer and drainage
• Departments who have qualifying projects are:
• Types of funding that is qualified
Identification of Public Art Budget
Once it is decided which projects qualify, this will be a description of when and how the funding
is set aside, and where it goes.
• Triggered at the design phase and set budget? Triggered at the budgeting phase?
• Set aside at Phase I of a multiphase project?
• Set aside in the project budget or moved to a public art budget (or both?)
• If going into a public art fund, can it roll over? Can the funds be used for just capital
expenditures or maintenance and staffing as well?
This will need to be determined by staff etc.
Designated Account for Public Art Funds
Dedicated public art funds shall be pooled and placed in the Public Art Fund account that can
roll over from year to year, as many projects can be multi -year projects or phased.
• This is what we recommend so that the artwork can be distributed around the city and
not have to be attached or adjacent to the project that generated the funds. There may
be cases where integrated art is desirable, but best practice is to always maintain the
capability and flexibility to move the funding for a project elsewhere or use part of it at
the site and the rest somewhere else.
Mixed Funding
The Public Art Program may combine any of the funding sources from the Public Art Account
with donated or granted funds from various outside sources for the acquisition, fabrication, or
installation of artwork. The combined donated funds shall be used according to donor or grantor
designation or, if undesignated, at the discretion of the City.
Limited Use of Funds
The Public Art Fund account shall be used to commission (including contingency funding),
acquire, prepare and develop sites, engineer, install, and maintain/repair any of the types of
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 6
"public art" as defined above as well as structural elements related to the artwork, events and
promotion related to the artwork or the program, and shall not be used for any of the items
listed in "not considered art" above.
Contracts & License Agreements
Following the final selection of an artwork or artist, regardless of funding source or acquisition method,
a written contract or license agreement shall be prepared and authorized by the appropriate City staff
and reviewed by the Fayetteville City Attorney or designee. Each contract will be drafted on a case -by -
case basis, but usually outlines the following items:
• Project scope and deliverables;
• Description of artwork to be acquired;
• Insurance requirements for all parties;
• Contract amount and payment schedule;
• Project milestones;
• Artists' rights, including copyright;
• City of Fayetteville's rights vis-a-vis the artwork;
• Warranties and maintenance/restoration agreements;
• Provisions for making changes to the contract or contract amount;
• Provisions for cancellation of the contract by any party; and
• Other legal requirements as requested by the City's Attorney.
Collection Insurance
The City's Arts and Culture Division will maintain a Master Public Art Inventory database. Once a new
piece of art has been acquired, it will be added to the Master Public Art Inventory database. Information
to be added includes the Title, Artist's Name, Medium, Location (including GIS coordinates), Acquisition
Date, Acquisition Price, and Replacement Cost. This information will then be forwarded regularly to the
City's Risk Management team, to add the artwork to the City's insurance coverage (if not already
covered by the City's umbrella policy).
SECTION IV: PUBLIC ART SITE SELECTION
Location and Site Prioritization
The FAC and Arts and Culture Division staff, in accordance with the City's Arts and Culture Plan and any
future Public Art Plans, shall identify potential sites for public art installation and integration. Input
should also be sought from appropriate City Departments and Divisions and other community advisors.
Arts and Culture Division staff shall create and periodically update a list of prioritized sites within the city
of Fayetteville for consideration for the public art program. This prioritized list of sites will serve as a
guide for installation of art for a specific term or budget amount. Other criteria and guidelines to
consider for the priority site list includes:
• Upcoming capital improvement projects
• Areas that are under development or redevelopment
• areas being impacted by transportation or other infrastructure projects (including grant -funded
projects)
• Areas in Fayetteville that are lacking in public art
• Priority areas for economic development or placemaking
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 7
• Priority projects as determined by other criteria
Site Criteria
To ensure public art is safe, accessible, and properly sited, the Public Art Program shall also evaluate
sites according to, but not limited to, the criteria below to guide the placement of art projects. City Staff
from related Departments will provide support, professional expertise, and advice as needed.
Criteria shall include:
• Overall budget and staff capacity;
• Levels of complexity involved and interdepartmental cooperation needed;
• External constituents and partnerships required;
• Equitable distribution of public art throughout the community;
• Compatibility of the design, scale and location with the character of the site;
• Relationship of proposed artwork to existing artworks in the vicinity;
• Accessibility to the general public, with particular attention paid to Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA);
• Visibility and free access for the public at least during normal building or park operating hours,
where relevant;
• Vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian access, visibility and traffic patterns, including ingress/egress;
• Public safety;
• Environmental impacts;
• Impacts on adjacent property owners;
• Sightline obstruction and traffic impacts/distractions;
• Maintenance requirements created by the installation, such as landscaping, lighting,
underground utilities and accessibility for maintenance;
• Ease of site access for public art maintenance
• Future development of the site; and
• Any other criteria deemed by the Arts and Culture Division Staff, FAC or the City to be
important.
SECTION V: ART ACQUISITION METHODS AND GUIDELINES FOR PERMANENT COMMISSIONS.
Acquisition Policies
All public art shall be commissioned through a fair and transparent process. The Public Art Program may
revise or adopt new policies and procedures at any time to guide the process.
Public Art Planning and Acauisition Criteria
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 8
The City of Fayetteville seeks to build a robust permanent public art collection to help fulfill its vision of
making Fayetteville a memorable and vibrant cultural destination. As the permanent artwork selected
for the public art collection will be appreciated by the community now and for generations to come, the
City may develop periodic Public Art Plans to guide acquisitions, collection maintenance and other
program elements. These plans can be done yearly, every five years, and/or produced as longer -range
plans with a longer planning window.
Generally, the following criteria shall be used when selecting artwork for the public art collection. The
FAC may revise or increase the criteria for specific projects or update these criteria in the future as
needed.
Artwork selected for the Fayetteville Public Art Collection shall:
• Demonstrate the highest quality.
• Contribute to Fayetteville's distinct identity and reputation as a cultural hub.
• Reflect Fayetteville's unique character, diversity, heritage, culture, and natural
environment.
• Be a unique and original work of art and not a duplicate of themes or styles already
represented in the collection or collections in nearby communities, unless it is done
purposefully and with intention.
• Diversify the collection in terms of artists, perspectives, materials/media, scale, and
sites.
• Be selected through a fair and transparent process.
• Be complete, in good physical condition, of excellent workmanship, and able to
withstand the environment in which it is to be placed (unless considered temporary
work). The collection should not require excessive, expensive, or continual maintenance
or repairs.
• Be of a size, scale, and theme that is compatible with an available, suitable public site in
Fayetteville.
• Not present a danger or safety concerns to the public or those working with the
artwork.
• Be accessible to the general public.
Art Selection Methods
Solicitations will occur through a fair and transparent process, as determined by the FAC and Public Art
Selection Panels.
Artwork may be acquired by a variety of methods:
• Open Competition via Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
The FAC Selection Panel may use an "Open -Call" or "Request for Qualifications" open to all
artists. A RFQ is sent to artist lists, media lists, and art organizations to publicize the
competition/project, requirements, schedule, and budget. All interested and qualified artists
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 9
may submit their qualifications (usually images of past work, biography, artist statement, etc.)
for consideration. Artists may be selected for a commission based on qualifications only. One
artist may be selected based on their qualifications, or one or more artists may be selected to
move on to a proposal or interview phase. Artists are paid an honorarium to cover the cost of a
proposal and/or travel to the site. Artists may be selected for commission based on their
proposal or interview. If no proposal or artist is deemed suitable, the project can be suspended
or re -called using any selection method. Records of the selection process are filed in a meeting
of the FAC.
• Limited Competition via Request for Qualifications or Invitational
The FAC or Selection Panel may decide that a certain set of criteria is needed for a call to artists
(e.g. Fayetteville or Arkansas artists only, muralists, etc.). A select number of artists are either
directly invited to submit qualifications or an RFQ is issued with the stated selection criteria.
Only artists invited or artists that fit the established criteria shall be considered eligible for the
competition. One artist may be selected based on their qualifications, or one or more artists
may be selected to move on to a proposal phase or interview phase. Artists are paid an
honorarium to cover the cost of their proposal and/or travel to the site. Artists may be selected
for commission based on their proposal or interview. If no proposal or artist is deemed suitable,
the project can be suspended or re -called using any selection method. Records of the selection
process are reviewed and certified in a public meeting of the FAC.
• Direct Purchase (with or without competition)
Direct purchases are feasible but subject to the standard policies and procedures established by
the City's Procurement Services department.
• Request for Proposals
Although best practices dictate that artists should be paid to develop an artwork proposal for
consideration, there may be special circumstances when the FAC issues a Request for Proposals
(RFP) or a Request for Information (ROI) without paying a fee.
• Unsolicited Acquisition via Donation (solicited or unsolicited)
Donations of artwork to the City of Fayetteville are feasible but subject to the policies and
procedures established below (see Permanent Donation Policies and Procedures.
• Artists Roster
The Public Art Program may develop an artist roster (and other arts professionals) to help
facilitate art projects that may be small in scale or budget, are on private property, require
specific skills or materials, or have a tight timeline that makes an open call not feasible. This
would be a standing roster of local, national, or international candidates that are pre -qualified
through an open Request for Qualifications. The roster can be renewed on an on -going basis,
generally biennially, through an open Request for Qualifications.
SECTION VI: Policies and Procedures for Donated or Temoorary Artwork
Permanent Donation Policies and Procedures
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 10
The City of Fayetteville seeks to acquire works of art that will further the objectives of the Public Art
Program. Many gifts are offered to the City for inclusion in the public art collection; however, not all
gifts offered can be accepted.
All proposed donations of artwork, memorials, and other unsolicited art items to be sited on City
property must be first approved by the Fayetteville Arts Council and Fayetteville City Council. Following
the donation procedures below does not guarantee that a piece will be accepted. Any donated artwork
accepted by the City becomes part of the permanent collection and is subject to our standard
deaccession policy (see xxx). Donation requests may be reviewed annually or at another regular interval,
as determined by the FAC.
Proposals to donate works of art to the City of Fayetteville must be submitted to the FAC through a
Donation Application. A Donation Application may contain the following:
• A cover letter explaining what the artwork is and that it is offered to the City as a gift and the donor
has the authority to transfer ownership to the City, and a short explanation as to why the work
should be added to the City's collection.
• Program Alignment: A statement indicating how the donation contributes to Fayetteville's Arts and
Culture or Public Art Program goals, selection criteria, mission, and vision.
• For memorial donations: Memorial proposals honoring individuals or events will be considered if
they are of broad community interest or marks an event that has affected the community. The
memorial must have timeless qualities and should represent the values of the community and
future generations.
• Artwork and Artist Information: A statement describing the physical attributes of the
artwork/proposed artwork and biographical information on the artist. The donor may be required
to submit a report from a conservator or the artist confirming the good condition of the artwork. If
available, maquettes, models, images, or the actual work will be reviewed to show the condition
and proper scale of the work.
• Provenance: If the artwork is pre-existing, provide proof of the artwork's ownership history,
conservation history, exhibition history, a letter of authenticity, and documentation of donor's
ownership and/or authority to transfer of ownership;
• Value: A current estimate of value (provided by the donor or outside appraiser).
• Maintenance Recommendations: All pending donations shall be required to include maintenance
recommendations and associated costs; most donations will require a financial donation for the
future maintenance of the piece. Complex or large memorials that require significant and costly
maintenance may require insurance, a bond or an endowment fund, and a maintenance schedule
by the donor to ensure the project's condition is satisfactory to the City, as well as the donor. The
posted insurance or bond should cover costs of installation and/or removal.
• Site: All proposed donations of public art, monuments or memorials must include three (3)
feasible sites for their project along with an explanation of the significance and relationship to
each site. Providing site suggestions in no way obligates the City to locate a donation on that site.
The FAC will follow the site criteria in Section IV of this policy in finalizing a site.
• Community Feedback: The Donor may be asked to gather and submit community feedback about
the proposed donation and site. If a site is proposed, the community feedback must represent the
views of residents adjacent to the site or other stakeholders affiliated with the site. Depending on
the nature of the project, further public engagement may be required according to the specific
requirements for a permit application or development review.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 11
Budget and Funding Strategy: All associated costs of the project including, but not limited to, cost
of design, fabrication, plaques, transportation, installation, site preparation work, foundation,
lighting, electrical, insurance and permits must be financed by the requesting party. Please provide
a plan for funding these elements as well as cover future maintenance of the work.
Additional information as requested.
Once all materials have been submitted, Arts and Culture division staff (and other department
representatives as needed) will schedule an internal feasibility review and a consultation with the
applicant. Proposed donations that are substantial or significant in size or scope may be referred directly
to the Fayetteville Arts Council for their approval of the project's initial concepts before embarking on
further costly planning and study. Applicants may be required to modify their proposal and provide
additional information at any time during the approval process.
The FAC will review donations and will recommend approval, approval with modification, or rejection of
the project. Fayetteville Arts Council's recommendation to reject the proposal is final unless the City
Council requests a review.
The Fayetteville Arts Council and the Fayetteville City Council will reject display works of art that are
obscene (as defined by A.C.A.§ 5-68-302 et seq.) or violate other local, state or federal laws. Once
approved by the FAC, the City Council must approve any donations of art.
Once approved, the donor will enter a contract with the City of Fayetteville according to contracting
policies. (See Contracts & License Agreements above)
Temoorary Loan Policies and Procedures
To increase the variety and artistic quality of public art for the community, the City of Fayetteville will
occasionally display art loaned to the City by artists, institutions, or organizations. This allows for
rotating exhibitions of artwork and assures that the art displayed within the City remains fresh. To
ensure the quality of the works displayed, the City designates the FAC as the entity to review such loans.
The FAC shall use the following guidelines to decide whether a proposed loan is appropriate, the
duration of the loan, and where it should be located.
• Solicitation of Loaned Artwork: The FAC may solicit artwork (using selection methods similar to Art
Acquisition Methods in Section V above) for loans or engage in temporary loan programs
• Unsolicited Loans of Artwork: individuals or entities interested in loaning artwork follow the steps in
the Permanent Donation section above. In addition to the items listed on the Donation Application,
the lender must indicate that the loan is offered on a temporary basis, the duration of the loan, and
any other terms for the loan. Other items may be requested including:
• Precise terms of loan offer (terms, cost, siting, duration, etc.);
• Details on installation and de -installation;
• Terms for any required maintenance during the term of the loan;
• Terms of repair agreement if the artwork is damaged during the loan term; and
• Insurance requirements.
• No permanent loans will be accepted.
Special Temporary Artwork, Exhibitions & Murals
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 12
"Special Temporary artwork" is defined separately from temporary loaned artwork above. Temporary
artwork is proposed for a site as a semi -permanent work that will be destroyed, weathered away, or
removed after a period of time. Examples of temporary artwork include environmental works of art,
installations, event -based artwork, or murals.
• Temporary Art Acquisition: Acquiring Temporary Art shall follow the appropriate acquisition
method outlined in Section V.
• FAC and Staff Approval: All temporary works of art will be reviewed by the FAC in consultation
with appropriate City departments. Their recommendations will be considered before approval
by the FAC.
• Temporary Art Agreements: A Temporary Art Agreement outlining the terms of the temporary
exhibition, installation, or mural shall be created. Information that must be included:
o Expected short-term maintenance costs and procedures;
o Expected term or lifespan of art installation;
o Value of artwork (for insurance purposes);
o Proposed site;
o Proposed disposal of the artwork (if applicable) or deaccession procedure and
disposition; and
o Insurance & Maintenance: The City of Fayetteville shall maintain appropriate insurance
for the work of art for the duration of the temporary display period. The City shall
maintain and conserve the loaned artwork during its term of installation or according to
the Temporary Art Agreement.
SECTION VII: SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE
Public Art Safety Considerations
Maintaining a safe, welcoming environment for the city and its visitors is key when considering public
art. All art accepted into the City's public art collection is evaluated regularly to ensure it is not damaged
or does not become a safety hazard. The City of Fayetteville through the Arts and Culture Division and
FAC should endeavor to follow safety precautions provided by the City's Risk Management department
when considering acquiring art and its placement. When an artist is commissioned to create artwork for
inclusion in the collection, the artist may be requested to have all elements of the finished artwork
reviewed and approved by a structural engineer licensed to work in Arkansas. All artwork on display in
the collection should be constructed with consideration given to public safety and the durability of the
artwork.
• FAC and Staff Review
Arts and Culture Division Staff, City staff (as needed), and FAC members shall be responsible for
reviewing and evaluating the safety and stability of each art piece before it is acquired for the
collection. The FAC shall recommend approval of the acquisition only if the installation does not
pose any foreseeable physical hazards, is not easily damaged, and has been reviewed and
approved by a licensed engineer.
The FAC and Arts and Culture Division Staff in conjunction with City Staff shall also consider the
placement of the artwork for safety and assurance that placement near paths does not obstruct
traffic lines of sight, risk being struck by traffic, or block City services.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 13
Removal & Repair of Damaged or Unsafe Art
Once art is on display, it will be reviewed regularly by Arts and Culture Division Staff or their
designee for damage or deterioration. If a piece is damaged and/or declared a safety hazard, it
will be repaired or removed immediately by City Staff.
Public Art Maintenance and Re
The works of art in the collection are assets of the City of Fayetteville. As such, it is the responsibility of
the City to maintain the collection of publicly -owned artwork to ensure the long-term value of these
assets and that the collection can be enjoyed for generations to come. The following section outlines the
documentation, preservation, and maintenance processes that will support this goal. The Public Art
Program will not maintain artwork outside of its collection without prior legal agreement between the
City and the owner of the artwork.
• Documentation of Collection
Moving forward, each work of art in the collection shall be properly and regularly documented
with the following:
• Artwork information —title, artist, year of commission, materials, location of artwork
(including GIS location coordinates);
• Photo of artwork in its current location;
• Periodic condition reports;
• Records and photos of actual maintenance performed and an assessment of those efforts;
• Artist's maintenance recommendations, methods and materials information, potential
problems with the work, finishes information (e.g., painter's name; when, where, what, and
how the piece was finished), quality of materials used, installation information, warranties,
professional and/or other knowledgeable opinions regarding preservation and maintenance;
• Artist's resume, artwork history, estimated value, purchase amount/replacement cost,
where the work has been exhibited, and any transcriptions or recordings of personal
interviews with the artist;
• Each artwork will be accounted for on the Public Art Master Inventory list;
• Risk Management will be notified of new public art acquisitions so it can be added to the
City's insurance policy.
• Artist Involvement
Installation, maintenance, alteration, refinishing, and moving of artwork shall be done in consultation
with the artist whenever feasible. So far as practical, if repair of any artwork is required, the City shall
give the artist the opportunity to perform such repair work for a reasonable fee. If the artist refuses to
make the repair for such a fee, the City may proceed to solicit bids in accordance with the City's
competitive bidding procedures.
• Emergency Maintenance or Repairs
When emergency repairs are necessary to prevent the loss of or further damage to the artwork or
assure public safety, such repairs may be approved by the Arts and Cultural Director. Every effort shall
be made to contact the artist for emergency repairs. Repairs shall not be deemed to constitute an
artistic alteration. If a work of art has been deemed unsafe to the public, it shall be removed from its site
and stored until repairs can be made or considered for deaccession.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 14
• Inspection and Condition Reports
The Arts and Culture Division Staff will conduct regular condition reports and periodic
conservation/preservation assessments of the public art collection. This reporting will be used in
creating maintenance plans and appropriating funding. Paid professional condition
appraisers/conservators and/or knowledgeable volunteers, art professionals, or industry experts may
perform the inspection for each piece. An inspection and/or condition report for each piece will become
part of the permanent documentation of the specific piece and will reside with the Public Art Program.
• Maintenance Plan
Based on the inspection and condition reports, conservator recommendations, and/or the artist
maintenance recommendations, a maintenance plan will be developed and updated periodically to
schedule, budget, and perform cleaning, repair, and other required maintenance to preserve each
piece in the public collection. This plan is initiated and coordinated by the Arts and Culture Division
Staff.
A maintenance plan can include the following elements:
• Materials, fabrication methods, and other recommendations needed to maintain or repair
the artwork;
• Installation specifications and engineering documentation;
• Method and frequency of required maintenance; and
• Additional contacts or information for maintenance issues, as needed.
• Funding for Maintenance
Costs for repair and maintenance of artwork in the City's collection shall be funded from the Cultural
Fund's Public Art account or the Public Art Reserve account, depending on the total cost.
Emergency Relocation and Removal of Art
No public art shall be permanently removed, altered, or changed without the review and approval of the
FAC except that review and approval of the FAC shall not be required for temporary removal of public
art by City personnel as approved by the Arts and Culture Director for maintenance or repair, or for
temporary or permanent removal of public art that, in the sole discretion of the Arts and Culture
Director, poses a public health or safety hazard.
SECTION Vill: DEACCESSION and RELOCATION POLICIES
Occasionally, public art needs to be refreshed, moved, and/or removed from the collection.
Deaccessioning is a procedure for withdrawing a work of art from the City of Fayetteville's permanent
public art collection. Deaccession requests can come from anyone in the community. All artwork in the
collection will be considered permanent parts of the collection unless these artworks were created as
temporary, semi -permanent art or the art is on loan. Works of art may be considered for removal from
the collection with a majority vote of the FAC. No public artwork shall be removed, re -sited, or altered
by any other City department, public or private entity, or individual without the prior review and
approval of the Arts and Culture Director, with inputs from the FAC.
Criteria for Deaccession
The FAC may consider deaccession of artwork for any one or more of the following reasons:
o The art has been damaged or deteriorated beyond the point where repair is practical or
feasible.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 15
o The artwork requires excessive maintenance or has faults of design, material, or
workmanship, and repair or remedy is impractical or unfeasible.
o Significant changes in the use, character, or design of the site have occurred, which affect
the integrity of the work.
o The artwork endangers public safety, whether structurally or in its current
condition/location; and an alternate site is not currently suitable or available, and/or it is
cost -prohibitive to properly restore or relocate the artwork.
o The condition and security of the artwork cannot be reasonably guaranteed.
o The piece was stolen from its location and cannot be retrieved.
o The artist legally exercises the right of disassociation granted by VARA, preventing the use of
his/her/their name as the creator of the public art.
o The artist requests the removal from the collection.
o The artwork is incompatible with the rest of the collection or is not aligned with the current
Public Art Policies or Goals.
o The artwork is a memorial or monument that is out-of-date or has lost significance to the
community.
o The artwork is fraudulent or not authentic.
o The City or FAC wishes to replace the artwork with a piece of more significance.
o The artwork is an environmental hazard or is causing damage to the site or location.
o The artwork is a maquette/scale model or other item for which there is no longer storage.
o An emergency necessitates deaccessioning the artwork.
o The artwork has caused significant adverse public reactions towards artwork and has
continued unabated over an extended period of time (five years).
o For any other significant reason articulated by the FAC, at its discretion. Under these
circumstances, the recommendation to deaccession a piece should be reviewed by the FAC
and/or City Council or Mayor.
Artist Involvement
The FAC and Public Art Staff will make reasonable effort to involve the artist (or artist's estate) in the
decision to deaccession a work of art and in some cases, the FAC may require formal permission of the
artist before considering removal from the collection. Before deaccessioning any artwork, the City shall
comply with all terms and conditions relating to deaccession which are found in the acquisition contract
or any other agreement which may exist between the artist and the City of Fayetteville.
Deaccession Request
A deaccessioning process must take place during a regular FAC meeting. During this meeting, a
deaccession request will be considered. The deaccession request shall contain the following
information:
o The reason for deaccession.
o The estimated current value of the artwork.
o The acquisition method and cost, including a summary of any terms of the gift agreement,
will, contract, or other relevant document(s) relating to the deaccessioning.
o Details of the artist's (or artist's estate) involvement and/or approval.
o For artwork acquired as a gift/donation, a statement that the donor has been notified or an
explanation of why that was not possible.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 16
o If needed, a written evaluation from disinterested and qualified professionals, such as an
engineer, conservator, architect, safety expert, or art historian may be considered.
o Photographs that depict the current condition of the artwork.
o Artist's contract or any other relevant agreement concerning the artist's rights.
o When deemed necessary, written recommendations of other concerned parties, including
Fayetteville community members, the artist, or an outside party.
o Estimated timeframe and cost to deinstalling the artwork and identification of the funding
source for deaccessioning.
o Review by the City attorney outlining any legal issues related to the request (as needed).
o Means of disposal or disposition of the artwork.
o If artwork is to be sold or auctioned, any proceeds should be deposited in the Public Art
Account.
Public Input and Deaccession
The Arts and Culture Division Staff shall also submit the deaccession report to City departments so that
they may provide any feedback on the deaccession. This deaccession report will be made public as part
of the FAC agenda materials posted prior to the official meeting where a deaccession vote will occur.
• The public shall be encouraged to attend and comment on the deaccession. Written
correspondence concerning the artwork can also be submitted for consideration by the FAC.
• Discussion of the recommendation with the artist if he/she/they can be notified by reasonable
means.
After public input, the FAC, by a majority vote of its members will have the final decision on the
deaccession of the artwork and removal from the collection. If a decision is controversial or appealed,
the decision to relocate or decommission public art may be deferred to the Mayor. The Mayor may
decide to: a) accept the recommendations; b) reject the recommendations; or c) delay the decision and
request more information.
Disposition/Removal from the Collection
Upon approval of the deaccession, the artwork will be removed and relocated to its final disposition.
Any contractual agreements between the artist and the City regarding removal or resale will be
honored. To the extent removal is not addressed by a contract, the City may choose to use any of the
following methods to remove public art that was deaccessioned, in accordance with City policy:
o Return of the artwork to the artist, including all ownership of the material and copyright of
the artwork. This method is preferred, and the artist shall have the first right to refuse this
offer. Other methods of removal from the collection, as described below, will be considered
after notice of refusal by the artist is received or it has been determined the artist is unable
to do so.
o Return to the donor.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 17
o Gift the artwork to another cultural, scientific, educational or government institution or a
non-profit organization wherein the artwork may serve the purpose for which it was
originally acquired by the City.
o Trade or exchange the artwork through an artist, gallery, museum, or other institutions for
one or more other public artwork(s) of comparable value.
o Offer the artwork for sale through a public auction or public sale that will best protect the
interest, objectives, and legal status of the City. Proceeds from such sales will be designated
for the exclusive purpose of acquisition or preservation and conservation of the City's public
art collection.
o Artwork will not be given or sold privately to present or former City of Fayetteville
employees, FAC members, committee members, volunteers or current elected officials or to
their representatives or immediate family members.
o Destruction or recycling of materials that the public art was constructed with should only be
used as a last resort after considering all other possible methods, or if the artwork has been
damaged or deteriorated to the point of not being useful for disposition in any of the above
methods. Artwork that has been deemed harmful and presents a clear danger to human
contact will be destroyed according to local laws.
o Any other option deemed appropriate by the FAC and City Staff.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 18
Public Art Ordinance Worksheet
Fayetteville CIP Totals $213,479,000 Total CIP 2025-28
2025 $ 56,428,000
2026 $ 57,206,000
2027 $ 63,764,000
2028 $ 36,081,000
1 % for art = $2,134,790 ; 2% for art = $4,269,580 (if just off the top of all CIP listings; which is unusual*)
*Golden, CO: Construction project means the construction, substantial renovation or addition to any public
building, facility, park or other public improvement by the city or its agents, including, without limitation, all
landscaping, parking areas and similar areas and facilities associated with such improvement, with an
estimated total construction cost of $50,000.00 or more.
*Denver, CO: CIP include new construction or improvements to a public space, such as a park, road, or
pedestrian mall over $1 M (routine maintenance and non-public spaces are excluded; land acquisition is
included)
*Fort Collins: "construction, rehabilitation, renovation, remodeling or improvement of any building,
structure, street, sidewalk, park, utility or other public improvement by or for the City, including all
associated landscaping, parking, design, engineering, equipment or furnishings for such improvement, and
all other costs, but excluding the cost of real property acquisition, vehicles, equipment not affixed to public
property and any improvements made by any special improvement district." Over $250,000.
*Boise: Exclusions: "Major repair, renovation, and maintenance projects that would not be capitalized under
the City's Capital Asset Management and Accounting Regulation", "Capital Improvement Project or cost
components for which Cultural Asset funding is prohibited by federal or state statute, law, or regulation"
and "Capital Improvement Project or cost component excluded explicitly by the City Council."
Lawrence:
The Lawrence, Kansas, City Commission may annually set aside through bond or other normal budgetary
procedures an amount not to exceed 2% of the cost of all capital improvements constructed/acquired or
contracted for construction/acquisition during the previous fiscal year for the acquisition, purchase, and
installation of art in public places.
*Capital Improvements: City buildings, (including renovation), parking facilities, (including parking lots),
park improvements, park land, and recreational facilities, all of which will require city funds in excess
of $10,000 and are listed in the annual capital improvements plan.
Cost = estimated amount of the city's contribution for public buildings construction or renovation,
including land acquisition in the case of park land and parking facilities.
DescTotal
CIP per
division
Columnl
Parks and
$ 2,330,000
$ 2,632,000
$ 3,367,000
$ 3,395,000
$11,724,000.00
Rec
Trails
$1,550,000
$1,600,000
$1,750,000
$1,900,000
$6,800,000.00
Facility
Improvements
$ 846,000
$ 827,000
$ 945,000
$ 671,000
$3,289,000.00
Library
$ 935,000
$ 968,000
$ 851,000
$ 949,000
$3,703,000.00
Other
$1,087,000
$ 668,000
$ 509,000
$ 520,000
$2,784,000.00
Appendix - Public Art Ordinance Worksheet - 1
Public Art Ordinance Worksheet
Bridge &
$ 400,000
$ 420,000
$ 440,000
$ 460,000
$1,720,000.00
Drainage
Parking
$ 90,000
$ 90,000
$ 90,000
$ 90,000
$360,000.00
Paving and
restripin
Street
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$400,000.00
Rotomill/
Pave?
total
$7,338,000.
$7,305,000.
$8,052,000.
$8,085,000.
$30,780,000.00
"qualifying"
CIP
$73,380.
$73,050.
$80,520.
$80,850.
$307,800.00
1% for art
$146,760.
$146,100.
$161,040.
$161,700
$615,600.00
2%for art
total public art funds by year
4year total
$61,560.00
Mainten-
ance Set -
aside 10%
Recommendation
Cost: 1.2-1.5% of qualified Capital Improvement Projects
Qualified Capital Improvement Projects: construction, rehabilitation, renovation, remodeling or
improvement of any building, structure, street, sidewalk, park, utility, parking facility, parking lots or other
public improvement by or for the City, including all associated landscaping, parking, design, engineering,
equipment or furnishings for such improvement, and all other costs, including cost of real property
acquisition. Disqualified Projects: are routine maintenance and construction of facilities that are not
considered "public places" (in this case: Water & Sewer, Vehicles & Equipment, Transportation, Public
Safety, Recycling/Trash, Information Technology, Media Services)
Qualified Expenditures: Public Art; public art programming, public art maintenance and conservation,
public art program management?
Pool Funds: No adjacency; an annual Public Art Plan will guide your expenditures
Appendix - Public Art Ordinance Worksheet - 2
Fayetteville Potential Funding Mechanisms for Arts and Culture
2024
Funding
How It Works
Possible Applications
Mechanism
Central
—Enabled by Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) Title 14, Subtitle
—Establish a CBID utilizing
Business
11, Chapter 184
the same boundary as the
Improvement
CBIDs are special district assessment tools that are created
current Fayetteville Cultural
District (CBID)
by stakeholders in a defined area to deliver special services
Arts Corridor
in that area, as defined by Code
—Funding can be utilized for
—CBIDs are formed when a petition signed by property
a variety of investments, to
owners constituting two-thirds (2/3) of the assessed value
infrastructure,
of a district is submitted to City Council, and an ordinance is
programming, services and
established forming the district
cultural and creative
—CBIDs are governed by those who represent the area
investments
overlaid by the district
—CBIDs have the authority
to issue bonds/debt to fund
larger projects up front and
pay for them overtime
Community
—Enabled by 2019 Arkansas Code Title 14, Subtitle 10,
—CRDs are utilized to
Redevelopmen
Chapter 168
support development
t District (CRD)
—CRDs utilize the power of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to
and/or redevelopment in
fund improvements to areas that are focused in
blighted or
reinvestment and redevelopment of blighted or
underperforming areas, or
underutilized areas
areas at risk of becoming so
—TIF is not a new tax, but rather a ringfencing of future
—The CRD could be a useful
incremental increases in tax revenue which must be
tool in developing specific
reinvested within the boundaries of the CRD
spaces and facilities for
—City Council may create these districts by ordinance; a
creative uses and/or to
petition process is not required
create a program to
upgrade older spaces or
those in need of
rehabilitation for use by
artists and creatives
—CRDs have the authority to
issue bonds/debt to fund
larger projects up front and
pay for them overtime
Special Sales
—Many states have enabling legislation to allow for the
—A localized sales tax could
Tax Districts
formation of special sales tax districts to fund specific
be created utilizing the
improvements or investments in that same area.
same boundary as the
—In Colorado, for example, such districts are known as a
current Fayetteville Cultural
Public Improvement Fee (or PIF) district.
Arts Corridor
—A PIF is a fee that is added to the cost of a sale, usually as a
—The funding could be
percentage of the total. It is not a sales tax, and is collected
targeted towards arts -based
Appendix - Potential Funding Mechanisms - 1
by the business on behalf of the property owner or
developer.
—PIFs are used to pay for public improvements like
sidewalks, street lights, parking lots, and roads. They can
also be used to repay bonds.
—It is not clear if Arkansas has enabling legislation for a
similar tool but such tools are helpful in spurring localized
reinvestment efforts.
programming and cultural
facilities
Federal and
—The federal Historic Tax Credit was created in 1976 and is
—These tax credit programs
State of
for income -producing properties, including apartment
could be leveraged to
Arkansas
complexes, office buildings, commercial properties,
provide necessary funding
Historic Tax
institutional buildings, and industrial sites. Historic Tax
to invest in historically
Credits
Credits can be taken on 20% of the approved expenditures
designated properties for
for renovations and restorations that are listed in the
renovation, restoration or
National Register of Historic Places.
upgrading for use as
—The Arkansas Historic Tax Credit program, created in 2009
cultural or creative spaces
was increased in 2023 with a tiered program to give greater
anywhere in Fayetteville.
incentive, especially in smaller towns. Projects in
—Properties listed on the
incorporated communities of more than 50,000 — including
Arkansas Register of
Fayetteville receive a 30% credit on the rehabilitation of
Historic Places can apply for
historic properties. This program is meant to supplement
the Arkansas Historic Tax
the federal program. The cap per project on the amount
Credit program only.
that can be claimed is $400,000 on income -producing
Properties list on both the
properties. The Arkansas Major Historic Rehabilitation Tax
state and federal register
Credit is for projects with at least $1.5 million in qualified
can tap into both tax credit
expenses.
programs, possibly covering
50% on the approved
expenditures for historic
renovations and
restorations.
Low -Income
—Created by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Low -Income
—LIHTC programs can be
Housing Tax
Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program gives state and local
utilized to develop
Credits (LIHTC)
LIHTC-allocating agencies authority to issue tax credits for
affordable housing
the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of rental
developments and those
housing targeted to lower -income households. This program
featuring live/work space
provides incentives for non-profit and profit motivated
for artists
organizations and businesses to develop housing for low-
—Artspace —the national
income persons and families.
non-profit housing
—Arkansas receives an allocation of approximately $8.5
developer who exclusively
million in Low -Income Housing Tax Credit per year.
does housing projects for
—Tax Credits may be provided to owners of residential rental
artists — utilizes LIHTC, in
developments providing low-income housing units. The
part, to fund their projects
credits are taken annually for a term of ten years beginning
with the tax year in which the development is placed in
service or the following year.
—The maximum allowable annual credits are computed so
that the annual credits equals approximately 9% of the total
development costs, minus the land cost. Developments
Appendix - Potential Funding Mechanisms - 2
must be conventionally financed and reserved for low-
income residents of newly constructed or substantially
rehabilitated developments.
—Tax credits equal to approximately 4% of the total project
cost, minus land cost, are available for new construction or
substantial rehabilitation developments financed with tax-
exempt bond financing and or other federal funds. Acquired
developments must be rehabilitated in an amount
exceeding $25,000 per unit, and acquisition of an existing
development must meet several requirements to be eligible
for tax credits such as not having changed ownership in the
past ten years.
—All developments receiving tax credits must comply with
income and rent limitations for a minimum of 30 years.
% for the Arts
—A "percent for the arts" program requires that a specific
—% for Arts programs
— Public Sector
percentage (usually 1-2%) of the total cost of a taxpayer-
ensure that public art is a
funded construction project be set aside for public art. This
part of every significant
art can be in the form of sculptures, murals, or photo
public sector investment
images.
made in the community
—While % for the Arts programs have become standard
—A program like this for
practice in many cities, Fayetteville has not yet established
Fayetteville would continue
such a program.
to support public art
investments and ensure
that for generations to
come all taxpayer funded
programs would include an
artistic and creative
component.
% for the Arts
—A private sector percent -for -art program is a policy that
—Private sector % for arts
— Private
allows a jurisdiction to secure public art funding from
programs can be a great
Sector
developers in exchange for benefits.
way to encourage the
—These programs are often city ordinances that require a
private sector to tailor their
percentage of the cost of a development project to be set
investments to support
aside for public art. The percentage is typically around 1% of
artists and the local creative
the total budget
economy
—The requirements of participation vary from location to
—A private sector % for arts
location, with some programs mandating the creation of
program could be city-wide
new artworks, some offering incentives in return for
or could be applied just tot
participation (like greater floor -area -ratios or increased
the Fayetteville Cultural
building height limits), and others accepting an alternative
Arts Corridor to ensure
contribution to a general fund used and administered by the
projects developed within
local public art program. In most cases, percent for art laws
supported the larger
include some combination of these factors and are tailored
cultural scene emerging in
to the needs of the community.
the district.
Opportunity
—An Opportunity Zone (OZ) is an economically -distressed
—An OZ can be powerful
Zone (OZ)
community where new investments, under certain
tool to spur investment and
conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatments. —
development in
Locations qualify as an OZ after being nominated by the
Appendix - Potential Funding Mechanisms - 3
state, and the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury has certified
economically -distressed
the nomination through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
communities
OZs are designated based on low-income census tracts.
—An OZ project in
—Fayetteville has a significant OZ area that can be explored
Fayetteville could include
further here.
facilities to support
—Congress created Opportunity Zones in the Tax Cuts and
workforce training, film
Jobs Act of 2017 as economic development and job creation
production and other
tools for distressed communities.
workforce -related uses
—OZs spur economic development by providing tax benefits
to investors in Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs). A QOF is
an investment vehicle organized as a corporation or
partnership with the specific purpose of investing in
opportunity zone assets. The private sector is responsible
for establishing QOFs.
—Investors can defer tax on any prior gains invested in a
QOF until the earlier of the date on which the investment in
a QOF is sold or exchanged, or December 31, 2026. If the
QOF investments is held for longer than five years, there is a
10% exclusion of the deferred gain. If held for more than
seven years, 10% becomes 15%.
HOME Funds
—HOME funds are awarded annually to the City of
—HOME funds could be used
Fayetteville as formula grants from the US Department of
to support affordable
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City is required
housing (including as part of
to match HOME funds with non federal resources.
an Artspace project) or
—The City must commit and spend their allocated funds
support to artists and
within certain time -frames or they lose the funds. They
creatives in obtaining
must also set aside a minimum of 15% of their HOME funds
affordable living or
for housing to be developed by community housing
live/work space
development organizations (CHDOs).
—The City determines how to spend their HOME funds
through a consolidated planning process that requires
public participation. Full consolidated plans are generally
due to HUD every five years.
—The city can use HOME funds for a variety of housing -
related activities, including:
Construction - New construction, rehabilitation, or
acquisition of housing for rent or ownership
Rental assistance - Tenant -based rental assistance
contracts of up to two years, or other forms of
rental assistance
Financing - Home purchase or rehabilitation
financing assistance to eligible homeowners and
new homebuyers
Other expenses - Relocation expenses, demolition
of dilapidated housing, site acquisition or
improvement, and other reasonable and necessary
expenses
Appendix - Potential Funding Mechanisms - 4
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Inventory
2024
Arts Education
Community Music School (UA*)
Fayetteville Public Library
Folk School of Fayetteville
Lotus Indoor Percussion
Potter's House 98
Sculpture Studio (UA)
Startup Junkie
Suzuki Music School (UA)
University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of
Architecture and Design
University of Arkansas Fine Arts Center
University of Arkansas Library (UA)
University of Arkansas Music
University of Arkansas Theatre
University of Arkansas Windgate Studio and
Design Center in the School of Art
Willow Neighborhood School
Yvonne Richardson Community Center
Creative Businesses
Art Emporium
Block Street Records
Bottoms Up
Buzz Event Planning and Design
Cowboy Cabaret
Crisis Brewing
Dickson Street Bookshop
Dombek Studio & Gallery
Her Set Her Sound
Houndstooth Clothing Co
Huntsville Road Studio
Jammin' Java
KUAF
Marlon Blackwell Architects
Modus Studio
My-T-By-Design
Onyx Coffee Lab
Pearl's Books
Peppermint Hippo
Pink Fern
Pink House Alchemy
Presley Paige
Riffraff
Rockhill Studios
Shindig Paperie
Sleet City Creative
Studio Leilani
Terra Studios
The Tiny "Amp" House
World Treasures
Gallery/Exhibition Spaces
Anne Kittrell Art Gallery (UA)
Bank of Fayetteville - Gallery
Faulkner Museum Gallery (UA)
Fenix Arts
Fine Arts Center Gallery (UA)
Joy Pratt Markham Gallery at WAC
Local Color Studio Gallery
McCoy Gallery at Community Creative Center
Sterling Bank "Dahaus"
Studio 404 (UA)
The Art Gallery at Northwest Arkansas Mall
Theatre Lounge (UA)
Velesero
Museums/Heritage
Arkansas Air & Military Museum
Arkansas Journalism Hall of Fame
Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks
Clinton House Museum
Evergreen Cemetery
Fayetteville National Cemetery
Headquarters House Museum
Appendix - Fayetteville Arts and Culture Inventory - 1
Historic Confederate Cemetery
Mount Nord Neighborhood
Mount Sequoyah Neighborhood
Oaks Cemetery
Pryor Center for Oral and Visual History
University Heights Neighborhood
Walker Stone House
Washington/Willow Neighborhood
Arts and Culture Organizations
American Institute of Graphic Arts
American Society of Landscape
Arkansas Archaeological Society
Arkansas Classical Theatre
Arkansas Historical Association Inc
Arkansas Preservation Foundation inc
Arkansas Winds Inc
Art Amiss, Inc
Art Experience Inc
Art Feeds
Art Libraries Society of North America (Central
Plains)
Art Ventures NW Arkansas
Artists of Northwest Arkansas
Arts and Entertainment Council
Arts Live Theatre
Baum Charitable Foundation Trust
Black Action Collective
Boys & Girls club
Bradberry Family Foundation
Chandler and Paisley Skies
Chinese Association of Northwest Arkansas
City of Fayetteville Arts & Culture Division
Cocoon Collective
Creative Action Network for Youth (YouthCAN)
Experience Fayetteville
Fayetteville Band Boosters Inc
Fayetteville Farmers Market
Fayetteville Film Fest
Fayetteville Gallery Coalition
Fayetteville High School Choir Boosters Inc
Fayetteville Public Access Television (FPTV)
Fayetteville Public Library Foundation
Fayetteville Underground
Folk School Backline Rental Program
Genesis Economic Development (The Art
Exchange)
John Harris Opera Foundation Inc
Kentucky Old Time Music Incorporated
Mashburn Scholarship Foundation
Mount Sequoyah Center Inc
Musicians Inspiring Children Inc
National Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution
Native Expeditions Corp
North Arkansas Symphony Guild
Northwest Arkansas Creative Arts Network
NWA Black Heritage
Open Mouth Reading Series
Opera Fayetteville Inc
Ozark Military Museum Association, Inc.
Ozark Traditional Arts Inc
Photographic Society of Northwest Arkansas
Pilot Arts
Prison Story Project
Society for Preservation & Encouragement of
Barbershop Quarter Singing American
Soldier Songs and Voices Northwest Arkansas
Southwest Performing Arts Presenters
Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SONA)
The Art Experience Inc
Theatre Collective of NWA
Transformation Station
Trendsetters Foundation
Visionairi Foundation
Visual and Performing Arts Center at Fenix
Walton Art Center Council Inc.
Washington County Arkansas Genealogical
Society
Washington County Cemetery Preservation
Group
Washington County Historical Society
Washington County Historical Society Inc
Appendix - Fayetteville Arts and Culture Inventory - 2
Public Parks
Bryce Davis Park
Centennial Park at Millsap Mountain
Greggory Park
Gulley Park
Kessler Mountain Regional Park
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Sequoyah
Lake Wilson
Underwood Park
Walker Park
Wilson Park
AR Events Center
Barnhill Arena (UA)
Chi Omega Greek Theatre (UA)
Community Creative Center
Fayetteville Town Center
George's Majestic Lounge
Global Campus Theatre (UA)
Heartbreak House
The Hopout
JJs Live Music
Jim & Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center
(UA)
Lower Ramble
Malco Razorback Cinema Grill & Imax
Mount Sequoyah Creative Spaces NWA
Prairie Street Live!
Razorback Stadium
Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall @ University of
Arkansas
The Piano Bar
TheatreSquared
Tin Roof
Union Theatre (UA)
University Theater (UA)
Verizon Ballroom (UA)
Walton Art Center
West & Watson
Additional Venues that host Arts and Culture:
Baum -Walker Stadium
Bud Walton Arena (UA)
Bugsy's
Columbus House Brewery
Crown Club
Dickson Street
Fayetteville Beer Works
Fayetteville High School
Flyworks Brewery
Fossil Cove Brewery
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
International Connections Lounge (UA)
Kingfish
Maxine's Tap Room
Mojo's Pints and Pies
Morano's
Nomad's Trail Side
Ozark Natural Foods (ONF)
Pesto's by Lance
Senior Center
Six Twelve Coffee & Bar
Smoke & Barrel
St James Church
St. John's Lutheran Church
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
The Square and Gardens
TheatreSquared Artist Housing
Union Mall (UA)
Wilson Springs Preserve (rivers converge)
*University of Arkansas
Appendix - Fayetteville Arts and Culture Inventory - 3
Photo Credits
All photos are courtesy of the City of Fayetteville or Experience Fayetteville, unless otherwise noted.
Cover: (clockwise) Violinists; Fayetteville is my Favoriteville (2020) by Olivia Trimble; TheatreSquared performance;
Remembrance (2024) by Joelle Storet, Nelson Hackett Boulevard; Dancers; Point Seven (aka Wilson Park Castle)
(1981) by Frank Williams
Page 2: Fayetteville Landscape
Pages 4-5: Fayetteville Roots Festival
Page 6: Point Seven (aka Wilson Park Castle) (1981) by Frank Williams
Page 9: Photo of Na'Tosha De'von, courtesy of the artist
Page 10: Pottery Wheel
Page 11: Art Court (2022) by Love and Rockets, Ecological Design Group, Graham Edwards Art, CDI Contractors
Page 12: The Lower Ramble
Page 13: TheatreSquared
Page 14: George's Majestic; Centennial Celebration; Graduate Student Exhibition at U of A; NWA Pride Festival,
courtesy of NWA Equality; Roller Skating on the Lower Ramble; Fresh Air (2017) by Jason Jones; Fayetteville Public
Library
Page 19: Creative Cartography outreach
Page 24: Outreach at YRCC
Page 25: Outreach at YRCC
Page 26: Creative Convergence outreach
Page 27: Fayetteville Farmers Market
Page 30: Holding On and Letting Go: The Struggles and Strength of the Tsa La Gi (2017) by Stacy Bates
Page 31: Fayetteville Bike path with mist
Page 32: Mount Sequoyah
Page 34: Flowers in The Square
Page 37: Owl and Moon (2017) by Alexis Diaz
Page 40: Film Crew, courtesy of Rockhill Studios
Page 41: Porter Building
Page 43: Studio at Mount Sequoyah; Gulley Park Concert
Page 45: RedBall Art Project (2024) by Kurt Perschke
Page 48: Lead Guitar
Page SO: NWA Pride Parade, courtesy of Todd Gill
Page 51: Wilson Park Scene (2023) by Timothy Smith
Page 52: Fayetteville Farmers Market
Page 53: Jam session, courtesy of the Folk School of Fayetteville
Page 56: The Entity (2022) by Nat
GOORmEEP
THE PLA
E T
�L
2025
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
ido
►i
CITY OF
FAYETTEVILLE
ARKANSAS
Received From Joanna Bell on 01/16/25 @ 2:50 PM
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Mayor and City Council
Lioneld Jordan, Mayor
Robert "Bob" Stafford, Ward 7
D'Andre Jones, Ward 7
Sarah Moore, Ward 2
Mike Wiederkehr, Ward 2
Scott Berna, Ward 3
Sarah Bunch, Ward 3
Teresa Turk, Ward 4
Holly Hertzberg, Ward 4
Project Advisory Group
Britin Bostik, City of Fayetteville
Lakisha Harper Bradley, MY-T-BY-DESIGN
Therapeutic Art Studios
Brian Crowne, Walton Arts Center/
Walmart AMP
Jessica DeBari, Fayetteville Arts Council
Sarah Downing, Parks, Natural Resources,
and Cultural Affairs Advisory Board
Bob Ford, TheatreSquared
Hope Haynes, Specialized Real Estate
Group
Devin Howland, City of Fayetteville
David Johnson, Fayetteville Public
Library
Sarah King, Experience Fayetteville
Kelly Rich, Downtown Fayetteville
Coalition
Lia Uribe, University of Arkansas
Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences
Julie Williams, Fayetteville Public Schools
Fayetteville Arts Council
Robert "Bob" Stafford, City Council
Representative
Chloe Bell, Chair
Emily Miller, Vice -Chair
Jessica DeBari
Lara Hightower
Abigail Hill
Mary Sue Price
Amanda Reyer
Ellen Woodson
City of Fayetteville
Joanna Bell, Arts and Culture Director
Alison Jumper, Parks, Natural Resources,
and Cultural Affairs Director
Susan Norton, Chief of Staff
Thanks to Participants who engaged
in interviews, focus groups, listening
sessions and plan reviews:
Carris Adams
Claudia Aguilar
David Atchison
Bryce Brisco
Geoffrey Brock
Chris Brown
Rachel Burkevich
Kesey Carolina
Dwight Chalmers
Brittany Cooper
Jonathan Curth
Carlye Dennis
Jenn Nesbitt Eck
Sandy Edwards
Blake Elder
Kerri Elder
Lee Farmer
Shelby Fleming
Jordan Garner
Richard Gathright
Emily Gentry
Ben Glodowski
Alan Gosman
Ben Harris
Bernice Hembree
Bryan Hembree
Gaby Hernandez
Morgan Hicks
Erica Holthus
Kelsey Howard
Cynthia Post Hunt
Robert Huston
Ted Jack
Donna Smith Jones
Jason Jones
Robyn Jordan
Tomoko Kashiwagi
Kris Katrosh
Pat Ryan Key
Sharon Killian
Claire Kolberg
Laura Kraus -Mere
Peter Lane
Leilani Law
Meli Lussier
Laurie Marshall
Steven Charles Marzolf
Chuck Mere
Rachel Mills
Melissa Milton
Shelley Mouber
Amber Perrodin
Joseph Porter
Nikola Radan
Joe Randel
Molly Pawn
Aaron Rhames
Dan Robinson
Juliette Robinson
Jack Settje
Marlee Stark
Timothy Smith
Monica Thomas
Quin Thompson
Lord Toff
Olivia Trimble
Padma Viswanathan
Orsen Weems
Summer Wilke
Emma Willis
And thanks to Creative Convergence Attendees
A special thanks to the more than 500 community members who
participated in surveys, plus several hundred who engaged with our team
at community events.
Consultant Team
Jill Stilwell, Stilwell Cultural Consulting
Kendall Peterson, ThereSquared
Jamie Giellis, Centro Inc.
Kristin Lathrop, LOAH Design
Additional Thanks:
Mark De La Torre, Graphic Facilitator
With assistance from Hannah Jeremiah, Ava Obert and Alondra Cruz
JB Hogan, Historian
2 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
CONTENTS
SECTION 1: PREFACE
4-9
Letter from the Mayor
4
Letter from the Arts and Culture Director
5
Executive Summary
6-8
Poem by Na'Tosha Da'Von
9
SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION
Arts and Culture in Fayetteville
A Historic Look
10-25
10-13
14-15
Fayetteville Community Snapshot
16-17
The Community Values Arts and Culture
18-19
Economic Impact of Arts and Culture
20-21
Planning for Arts and Culture
22
Plan Alignment
23
Planning Methodology
24
Community Engagement
25
SECTION 3: KEY FINDINGS 26-29
SECTION 4: VISION 30-31
SECTION 5: COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
Cultivate
32-50
34-36
Sustain
37-40
Creative Spaces
Placemaking
41-44
45-47
Lead
48-50
SECTION 6: IMPLEMENTATION 51
The City of Fayetteville's Role 52
Capacity Building 53
Funding Considerations 56
Evaluation Framework 57
Implementation Chart 58
SECTION 7: APPENDIX 66
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 3
LETTER FROM
THE MAYOR
Dear Fayetteville Community,
It is with immense pride and optimism that I present to you
Fayetteville's first -ever Arts and Culture Plan. This milestone
embodies our shared commitment to fostering creativity and
celebrating the cultural richness that defines our city. For
generations, creativity has been the wellspring of Fayetteville's
identity —fueling innovation, connecting our community, and
making our city a beacon of cultural vibrancy.
This plan is more than a roadmap; it is a testament to our belief
that the arts will continue to shape our future just as they
have shaped our past. Developed through an inclusive process
that engaged over 1,250 community members, it reflects our
dedication to investing in creative spaces, supporting artists,
and amplifying the voices that make Fayetteville extraordinary.
Together, we will ensure that this wellspring of creativity
continues to inspire, enrich, and unite us for generations to
come.
Let this plan be an invitation to all —residents,
organizations, and businesses —to embrace this vision
and play an active role in advancing Fayetteville as a
renowned hub of arts and culture in the heart of our
region.
Sincerely,
��Wl "I Me
Lioneld Jordan
Mayor of Fayetteville
4
LETTER FROM THE
ARTS & CULTURE
DIRECTOR
Dear Residents and Stakeholders,
The creation of Fayetteville's first Arts and Culture Plan marks an
extraordinary step forward for our city that has been decades in
the making. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the artists,
community members, and partners who contributed their voices
and visions to this endeavor. Your insights have created a plan
that not only reflects our collective aspirations but also provides
actionable strategies to realize them.
I extend heartfelt thanks to Mayor Lioneld Jordan for his
unwavering leadership and steadfast support of the arts. His
vision, and the support of the entire administration, has been
instrumental in bringing this plan forward. Additionally, I am
thankful to the entire Parks, Natural Resources, and Cultural
Affairs Department for wholeheartedly embracing this new
direction for our department's work. I also wish to express my
appreciation to the Fayetteville Arts Council, both present
past members, for their advocacy and dedication to
ing a vibrant arts scene in our city.
plan is grounded in the values of inclusivity, innovation,
d a forward -looking vision for Fayetteville's creative
iture. It recognizes the vital role that arts and culture has
and will play in enhancing our quality of life, strengthening
our economy, and building a vibrant, thriving community
for generations to come. This plan is a community plan
that expresses that we all have a stake in the future
of art in our city —it is something we can all share in
and should all invest in. By embracing the vision of
this plan, we will create opportunities for creative
expression, amplify the voices of all our communities,
and establish Fayetteville as a leader in arts and
culture on a regional and national stage.
I look forward to collaborating with all of you
to bring this vision to life, ensuring that the arts
continue to inspire and connect us, shaping an
even brighter future for Fayetteville.
Artfully yours,
Joanna Sheehan Bell
Arts and Culture Director
City of Fayetteville
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fayetteville is Arts and Culture
Situated in the natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains, Fayetteville is home to a renowned
University, an energetic downtown and a lush, active park system. Fayetteville also boasts a strong,
authentic, grassroots arts and culture scene that has flourished organically for decades. Arts and
culture are woven into the fabric of the city, with a large ecosystem of artists and creatives, venues,
galleries, creative organizations, events and entrepreneurs. In recent years, the city has made a
concerted effort toward designating key neighborhood centers and spaces for culture, building
consensus around the importance of these places, and calling them out as priorities for the
community. In 2022, the City acknowledged the importance of this critical sector of the community
by creating an Arts and Culture Division.
Why Plan for Arts and Culture?
Arts and culture are essential to Fayetteville's economic and community well-being. We know that
the arts sector contributes over $3.5 billion to the Arkansas economy, and over $1.1 trillion to the
national economy. A strong creative sector helps to attract new businesses and visitors to the area,
and spurs innovation. Arts and culture often face market failure when left unsupported, as their
benefits often extend beyond individual enjoyment to enrich community cohesion, well-being,
and quality of life. In Fayetteville, arts and culture are a public good, creating a shared sense of
place, belonging and identity across the community. However, for arts and culture to thrive, they
require dedicated planning and investment. Without intentional support, the arts risk underfunding
and under -provision, diminishing their ability to elevate Fayetteville's cultural landscape and fully
contribute to the city's economic and social vitality. Investment in and planning for arts and culture
is essential not only for retaining and growing Fayetteville's creative sector, but also for enhancing
the overall health and vibrancy of the community.
6 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
Introducing Fayetteville's First Arts and Culture Plan
Fayetteville is pleased to announce its first ever Arts and Culture Plan to serve as a guiding
document to advance arts and culture for the entire community over the next decade. This plan is
the result of research, analysis and community engagement with the guidance of the Fayetteville
Arts Council, a Project Advisory Group and City staff. The process directly engaged over 1,250
members of the Fayetteville community through a series of engagement activities, from surveys
to listening sessions to popup events. A community survey found that 90% of Fayettevillians
believe "arts and culture opportunities are important in Fayetteville," and 88% strongly agreed that
"everyone deserves equal access to the arts." The key to Fayetteville's bright future is to continue
to foster and cultivate its essential arts and culture community and the economic, social and
cultural benefits it brings.
-44
0
How to Use This Plan
This plan is intended to be a guide for the
Fayetteville community, not just the city
government. Although the City has an
important and critical role in forwarding this
plan, the hope is for the entire arts and
culture community to rally behind a shared
vision and common goals, and through
dialogue and partnerships, to find strategic
opportunities within the plan for their own
advancement, thus impacting the arts and
culture sector. This plan is not intended to
prescribe or supplant the visionary
and planning efforts of individual
organizations, creative businesses or artists,
but to augment these efforts with the
ultimate goal of supporting, sustaining and
moving the arts and culture industry forward.
Gaps and Needs in Fayetteville's Arts and Culture Ecosystem
While Fayetteville's community values arts and culture, it also shared concerns about
affordability and housing impacts on the creative sector. The need for consistent funding,
spaces to create and collaborate and opportunities for community participation in arts
and culture were identified as important areas for growth. Like other economic sectors,
Fayetteville's arts and culture ecosystem will benefit from additional nurturing, targeted
investment and overall support, which will help meet the community's desire for more
opportunities to participate in and engage with arts and culture.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 7
Community Priorities
To support and strengthen Fayetteville's arts and culture ecosystem, the Fayetteville Arts and
Culture Plan establishes a community -wide, aspirational vision and outlines five Community
Priority areas, goals and strategies to foster Fayetteville's collective creative growth.
Community Priority: Cultivate.
Goal 1: Acknowledge, amplify and cultivate an
inclusive Fayetteville art and culture ecosystem
to support working artists, creatives and arts
organizations, helping them thrive and connect
with the broader community.
Vision:
Community Priority: Sustain.
Fayetteville is a
Goal 2: Develop sustainable funding, economic
renowned hub of tools and philanthropic strategies to support
arts and culture in and expand Arts and Culture in Fayetteville.
the heart of Mid -
America - a vibrant Community Priority: Creative Spaces.
wellspring of creativity Goal 3: Identify, prioritize and provide targeted
and innovation, an investment in arts and culture facilities, venues,
workspaces and spaces to create that will fill
inclusive center of community needs.
thriving artists
and creatives, inspiring ED
Community Priority: Placemakin
y y�g•
and accessible to and
Goal 4: Enhance the vibrancy, activation and
for all. security of Fayetteville through public
art and creative placemaking strategies.
Community Priority: Lead.
Goal 5: Firmly establish Fayetteville as an arts
and culture destination and as a strong leader
for the advancement of arts and culture within
the region, the state and beyond.
Looking Forward
This Arts and Culture Plan builds on Fayetteville's rich creative heritage, outlining a roadmap to
advance the city's cultural landscape over the next decade. The plan includes an implementation
chart that assigns timelines to specific goals and strategies, ensuring steady progress and an
evaluation framework for accountability. This approach clarifies where the City of Fayetteville may
take the lead and where community organizations and partners might drive initiatives forward,
fostering a collaborative effort to enrich the arts ecosystem. By engaging the entire community
in this shared vision and encouraging leadership in the sector, Fayetteville is poised to become
a renowned center for arts and culture, bolstering economic growth, inclusivity and community
pride.
♦1i
The Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan is available at
0 h ttps://www. fayetteville-ar gov/4232/Arts-and-Culture
8
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
We create on sacred lands
where the Osage, Quapaw, and Caddo tribes
first married feet to soil
Where the creatives craft murals on the street of Dickson and Spring
Where girl gangs gather on a mission to not just
travel but venture full speed into the art of people and poetry
Here each new Day brings a new Vision
We journey through with brush in hand each stroke embedding
that we are MY-T-BY-Design
We quiet our voices to the echoes of bodies moving to the joys
of Her Set and Her Sound
Vowing to Love the records More than our predecessors
The Rhythm rolling life reels into Rock Hill where movie set settle
here to show the world just how beautiful our backyard can be
How when you are Made in Arkansas
The market sweet honey of haikus and similes
Bee balm blossom bloom all year round breaking the traditional norms
of what a local artist can become
So we surround ourselves with author, actors, and activist
We do it For the Culture
watch the sculptor transform brick into life
Lives worth living we place on the ground floor of theater stages
Where the art is live and Theatresquared
Squaring our purpose times two
A versatile tapestry of optics and artistry
We lend a second hand for a second chance
To the Visionairi who lost their way in corrupt construct and the
need to survive the day to day grime
In hours of hope we build a Theater collective to collectively welcome them home
A Light House full of solutions
For there are Good Days in the NWA and Equality amongst different crews
And as we breathe in this gentle space
We look to our left to find the vocalist who sits next to the screenwriter
Behind the graphic designer across from the entrepreneur who feels out
of place but we welcome them just the same
Because if you meet someone in Fayetteville
their is a strong chance that their career is not their passion
The art just needed funding for the Gallery of Fenix to arise
That in this life or the past
Or maybe even the next
They would have
Could have, should have become the next big thing
But saying you're from Fayetteville
doesn't sound like New York
Being local is not second to Chicago or LA
So we pour our heart and art into the universe
and hold our breath for the..... One day
UNTITLED POEM BY NXTOSHA DEWON
© of the artist
Na'Tosha De'Von is a multidisciplinary artist and activist
based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This original poem was
inspired by the arts and culture community in Fayetteville.
Introduction
Situated in the natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains,
the city of Fayetteville is home to a renowned University,
an energetic and active downtown and a lush and
active park system. Arts and culture are embedded in
city, with a large ecosystem of artists
roues, galleries, creative organizations,
-epreneurs. In recent decades, the city
icerted effort toward designating key
s for culture, building consensus about
>f these places, and calling them out as
)rities for the community.
ARTS AND CULTURE IN FAYETTEVI LLE
ayetteville boasts a strong, authentic,
grassroots arts and culture scene that
has grown organically for decades. For
the eighth year in a row, Fayetteville earned
recognition as one of U.S. News & World
Report's top 10 Best Places to Live in the U.S.
Access to the arts certainly contributes to the
unique aspects of Fayetteville that bring such
accolades.
The arts are essential, vital and deeply -
rooted in Fayetteville. The inspirational
environment of our city, together with the
University of Arkansas, has drawn creatives
to live, work and grow in an authentic
and highly active community of artists for
generations. A collaborative spirit is part
of the arts community's strength as is the
varied mix of artistic expression. From visual
arts to performing arts to music and film,
there is a broad spectrum of styles, mediums
and creative endeavors here. This richness
contributes to the "funky" and eclectic
atmosphere of Fayetteville that is beloved and
embraced by the community.
The key to Fayetteville's bright future is to
continue to foster and cultivate its essential
arts and culture community and the economic,
social and cultural benefits it brings. The city
must also continue to be forward -thinking,
prioritizing support and investment in places
where arts and culture flourish, as well as
provide better support where it does not.
Promotion of arts and culture is necessary
for growing the creative sector and helps the
overall health and vibrancy of the community.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 11
Unique Character and Culture
Fayetteville is home to many thriving creative spaces. The Walton Arts Center, TheaterSquared and
George's Majestic Lounge are renowned for their cultural contributions and draw local, regional
and national audiences. From the Folk School of Fayetteville and Dickson Street, to coffee houses
and breweries, Fayetteville is devoted to live music of all genres. The beautiful outdoors welcome a
number of arts events, like the Gulley Park Free Summer Concert Series, Weekend Starts Concerts
in the Lower Ramble, First Thursdays, NWA Pride Parade and Festival, Falltoberfest, Springtime of
Youth Music Fest, Strawberry Fest and Artosphere, among others. Mt Sequoyah, once a Methodist
retreat on a mountain overlooking Fayetteville, now offers affordable studios for over fifty artists,
exhibition spaces and performance venues.
The top arts and culture activities the community participates in or attends include:
80 % 68
The Farmers/
Art exhibitions/
Makers Markets in
Fayetteville galleries
6 7/
Culinary
experiences
61%
Botanic
gardens
6*5
Experiencing
live music
60
Community
Festivals
Arts & Culture Survey, 2024
The Ramble is a dynamic
50-acre outdoor public space
made possible through a ElTHE
Walton Family Foundation
Design Excellence grant RAMBLE
with the cost of construction
allocated by a vote of the
people as a 2019 bond
project. The Ramble links key cultural institutions (from
the Walton Arts Center on the North to the University of
Arkansas's Art and Design District on the south) that will
showcase and celebrate local arts and culture.
12
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
Creative expression, experimentation and
exploration is encouraged throughout
Fayetteville. Public art is increasingly visible
and promotes the city's identity, with room
for more to be developed. The Nadine Baum
Community Creative Center is a well -used
resource for art -making classes and demand
exceeds capacity. The Botanic Gardens is a
destination for unique natural experiences. The
award -winning Fayetteville Public Library's
Center for Innovation hosts artistic, technical
and job skill -building opportunities, a Maker
to Market and Culinary Arts training. Plus
dozens of organizations from the Symphony
of Northwest Arkansas and the award -winning
My-T-By-Design Therapeutic Art Studio
provide outstanding cultural experiences and
services to the community and region.
Commitment to the Arts
Certainly, the investment that the University
of Arkansas continues to make adds
significantly to Fayetteville's arts and culture.
The University boasts the award -winning Fay
Jones School of Architecture and Design, the
extraordinary new Windgate Art and Design
District with the Studio + Design Center at its
core and the soon to be renovated Fine Arts
Center, all of which make this area a national
draw and a place for creative dialogue, arts
education and exploration.
Experience Fayetteville is another supporter
of arts and culture as a consistent funder
of community events like First Thursdays,
Sprayetteville public art murals, Lights of
the Ozarks and more. The new Downtown
Fayetteville Coalition promises to celebrate
and promote Downtown Fayetteville as an
"epicenter of culture, cuisine, entertainment,
and the arts."
In 2022, the City of Fayetteville deepened its
support for the arts by creating its first Arts
and Culture Division and hiring a director to
begin the important work for creative sector
advocacy. This has been an important catalyst
for greater visibility and support of arts and
culture in Fayetteville and will be essential to
the growth of the entire sector.
The arts and culture sector encompasses a
wide range of creative, artistic and cultural
activities and entities that contribute to
the social, economic and cultural fabric of
a society. It includes both for -profit and
non-profit enterprises, creative businesses
and spans across various disciplines. In this
document, this sector is interchangeably
referred to as the arts and culture
community, arts and culture ecosystem,
arts and culture industry and creative
industry. Generally, these terms include,
but are not limited to, the people, jobs,
organizations and businesses associated
with visual arts, museums, galleries and
libraries, architecture, landscape and interior
design, performing arts, theatre, music,
music production, literature and poetry,
advertising, marketing, crafts, culinary arts,
design (product, graphic and fashion),
film, television and digital design, video
and podcasting, radio and photography,
publishing. This sector can also include
trades that support the arts, such as
welding, carpentry, printing and fabrication
services. See the appendix for a full list
of Standard Occupational Classifications
(SOC) identified as contributing to the arts
and culture sector.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 13
A HISTORIC
LOOK
Fayetteville's history is dotted with
milestones that have helped establish the
city as an arts capital for the Northwest
Arkansas region and beyond. In the last
few decades, Fayetteville's cultural sector
has gained in importance and impact —
and this cultural plan is the next step in
prioritizing the arts for the Fayetteville
community.
"Few sectors are as deeply rooted in
Fayetteville's history as the creative
economy and the arts." Fayetteville
Economic Vitality Master Plan 2024 P. 104.
Plan Acknowledgment
This plan respectfully acknowledges that
Fayetteville occupies the traditional, ancestral
lands of the Osage Nation. This acknowledgment
also recognizes the Cherokee Nation who were
forced from their homes and passed through
Fayetteville on the Trail of Tears. Moreover, this land
has a 200-year history of systemic enslavement
of and discrimination toward African people and
their descendants. This statement recognizes this
history, colonization and erasure of Indigenous and
Black people's stories in Fayetteville, Washington
County, and Arkansas. This plan aims to foster
equity, recognize and preserve diverse histories,
celebrate the vibrant communities in our city's
cultural landscapes and be inclusive of the many
diverse people who are part of our arts and culture
community.
- Adapted from the Fayetteville Heritage and
Historic Preservation Plan, 2023
Pre1820s
The land that would be
known as Fayetteville
was inhabited by the
Osage Nation
1820s
First permanent settlers at
the base of Mt. Sequoyah
1828-29
Fayetteville founded
1852
Arkansas College first
degree -granting college
1871 I
Fayetteville School District
Founded
1872
Arkansas Industrial
University (AIU) held its
first classes as a land •
grant university
1874
First art courses offered
at AIU
1899
AIU renamed the University
of Arkansas (UA)
r�
J
1903
1927
UA opens
George's Majestic
Conservancy of
founded, begins
Music and Arts
hosting social
events, dances, and
music
14 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
1952
Master of Fine Arts graduate degree offered
at University of Arkansas, one
of the first in the country
1950
University of Arkansas Fine
Arts Center, designed by
Edward Durell Stone of
Fayetteville, opens with the
premier of Acres of Sky
(1931), a dramatic musical I
based on work by
Fayetteville native Charles
Morrow Wilson.
1946-7
Fay Jones School of
Architecture and Design
founded
1945-6
Wilson Park purchased
by the City of Fayetteville
1929
Bachelor of Arts degree
offered at University of
Arkansas
1928
Fayetteville hosts
centennial celebration
2008
Community Creative
Center established as a
501.c.3
1954
Symphony of Northwest
Arkansas established
4,
1965
Parks Department founded
1973
Fayetteville Farmers
Market begins
1976
University of Arkansas
Billingsley Music
Building completed
1981
Installation of Point Seven
(aka Wilson Park Castle)
1982
Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree instituted at
University of Arkansas
1992
Walton Arts Center
founded
1993
First Lights of theOzarks
light display
1996
First Gulley Park
Concert series
2007
Botanical Garden of
the Ozarks opens to
the public
2005
TheatreSquared theatre
company founded at
Nadine Baum Studios
2004
New Fayetteville public
library opens
First Pride Parade on
Dickson Street
2002
World Prayer Peace
Fountain by Hank
Kaminsky installed
2024
The Ramble opens
to the public
2023
University of Arkansas
Studio and Design Center
building opens
Community Art Wall
begins
2022
2010
City Arts and Culture
M
Division founded
First Roots Festival
hosted in
Fayetteville
M
2020
First Artosphere Festival
Sprayetteville Street Art Festival
established by the
Walton Arts Center
First Annual Juneteenth
Celebration by Let's Talk NWA
2012
Fayetteville Public Library
Opera Fayetteville
expansion open
established
`- 2013
Fayetteville Film Festival
established
First Utility Box Art
Program established by
the Keep Fayetteville
Beautiful Comittee
2015
Razurback Regional
Greenway dedicated
2016
Mt Sequoyah becomes a secular non-profit
to provide a "nurturing environment for
artistic expression, personal growth, and
connection to nature"
2019
TheatreSquared opens
new venue
2017
Green Candy Art Action Festival
fs.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
15
FAYETTEVILLE COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT
ayetteville is the second largest city
in Arkansas and the county seat of
Washington County. It is situated within
Northwest Arkansas, a two -county region
well-known for arts and culture that is quickly
becoming a cultural tourist destination. For the
last three decades, Fayetteville's population
has grown at a faster pace than its regional
neighbors and Little Rock, the state's capital.
By 2040, Fayetteville is projected to reach
a population of 142,496 and the region to
824,228 (Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning
Commission). As astounding as this projected
39.9% increase in population is, Fayetteville has
already surpassed 2025 estimates two years
ahead of schedule.
PEOPLE I The population is increasing overall,
but the percentages of each group within the
population has not changed significantly.
i.2%
or more Races
7.6 %
Hispanic
5.4%
Black
10158*58
RESIDENTS
(2023 Census estimate)
+ 7.8%
Fayetteville's population
growth from 2020-23
AGE I Adolescents and young adults (ages 15 to 24
years old) and prime -age workers (ages 25 to 54 years
old) consistently represent the two largest segments of
Fayetteville's population, accounting for approximately
two-thirds of the overall population.
E 0-14�
15-24 MW
Male
25-54
' Female
2.9 %
\ Asian
`- 0.8%
American/Indian
0.2%
Native Hawaiian
AFFORDABILITY I The cost of
housing in Fayetteville continues to
increase year over year. The percentage
increase from 2015 to 2022 was more
than 100%. The rate of home ownership
is approximately 40%, meaning a
majority (60%) of residents rent.
55-74
75+
15,000 10,000 5,000 0 5,000 10,000 15,000
MEDIAN HOME COST IN FAYETTEVILLE
$159,975 $236,646 $323,500
2015
2019 2022
(U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 American Community Survey)
16 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
ARTISTS & CREATIVES
6%
Z
2
2s248
W
0 4,
working artists and
W 2%
a
creatives in Fayetteville
as of 2022
0 `
LL
0
4 -2%
333243
arts employment in Arkansas, 20223
CREATIVE OCCUPATION GROWTH (2011 - PRESENT)
I
I� 2015
IC
-
1 2016
2017
1
2018
1
1201912020
-
•
2022
I
-The cumulative rate of growth in creative occupations
from 2015 to 2022 increased by more than 20%.
Entertainers
Architects
Dancers, Choreographers
Photographers
A.rs
Writers, Authors
Musicians
Arts Direct ,Fine Arti s, Animators
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS I The University of Arkansas's enrollment
is increasing at nearly 6.5% annually or 1,900 students per year.
165449
25s341
325140
Total Enrollment
Total Enrollment
Total Enrollment
Fall 2003
Fall 2013
Fall 2023
+49% FROM 2003-2023
Hovers around 30 ,, _.
Fayetteville's population.
RETENTION I Approximately 44% of graduates from the Class of 2023 who
entered the workforce remained in Northwest Arkansas while approximately
45% left the state altogether. Of graduates from the Fullbright College of Arts
and Sciences (home to most art -related degree programs), retention rate in
NWA drops to 11.06%.
1 Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA), U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
2 Creative Vitality Suite 2022, Creative West
3 NEA Arts Data Profile, American Community Survey 2015-2079, US Census Bureau
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 17
THE COMMUNITY VALUES
ARTS AND CULTURE
ayetteville's arts and culture sector has achieved remarkable success and is embedded
in the community's DNA. And the community wants to see more, experience more and
participate more. To better understand this, a community survey was deployed. Here
are the results:
Survey respondents feel strongly that Fayetteville is a creative place.
%1.0 92% that arts and cultural activities are
Ls,� AGREE important aspects of life in Fayetteville.
Nationally, the Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 study (AEP6) showed that 86% of Americans
believe arts and culture are "important to their community's quality of life and livability."
According to the Fayetteville community, the most important benefits of arts and culture are:
Creating
a sense of
place and
community
Making
Fayetteville a
fun and lively
place to live
For personal
happiness and
wellbeing
Increasing
quality of life
and livability
To support
local artists
The top reasons
why Fayettevillians
participate in arts To feel
and culture is: connected to
my community
18 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
The Fayetteville community survey results echo national surveys that highlight the crucial role
of arts and culture in strengthening communities. Arts and culture not only creates a sense of
place and belonging but also fosters social connections, enriches quality of life and celebrates the
diversity of our communities. Through these shared cultural experiences, individuals and groups
can find meaning, understanding and a deeper sense of identity, contributing to the overall well-
being and cohesion of the community.
78
the arts are a
positive experience
in a troubled world
72
arts and culture
provide shared
experiences with
people of different
races, ethnicities,
ages, beliefs,
identities, etc.
63%
arts and culture
helps me understand
other cultures better
culture activities
or venues are a
source of pride for
neighborhoods and
communities
important that
future generations
also be able to
have that cultural
experience
National Statistics, Arts & Economic Prosperity Study 6 (2022)
ROOM TO GROW I According to the Community Survey, it seems
that there is room for growth in the variety and amount of Fayetteville's arts
offerings/activities.
50%
Somewhat or Very Dissatisfied
There are enough opportunities for me to participate
in arts and cultural activities in Fayetteville.
Somewhat or Strongly Agree
We need to improve the quality of arts
and cultural activities in Fayetteville.
Respondents to the Community Survey identified the most frequently
enjoyed arts and culture activity as "viewing murals and public art."
Another survey for Fayetteville's Economic Recovery and Vitality
Plan found that 64% of respondents think "it is very or somewhat
important to incorporate and include public art projects within all
applicable City construction projects.*
In fact, the same survey found that 57% support creating a funding
stream, such as "percent for the arts," in the City of Fayetteville.
*Economic Recovery and Vitality Plan Survey:
Survey Report for 08 August 2018 to 26 June 2022
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
19
ECONOMIC
IMPACT OF
ARTS AND
CULTURE
Support for strong arts and culture not only enhances vibrancy and
wellbeing, but it makes good economic sense. The arts and culture
sector, or creative economy, is an ecosystem made up of for -profit
businesses, nonprofit organizations, artists and arts workforce,
educators, entrepreneurs, venues, vendors, policy makers, funders
and other stakeholders that work together to produce and distribute
creative -based and arts and culture -based goods and services.
STATE OF ARKANSAS
IN ARTS AND CULTURE
PRODUCTION AND
EMPLOYMENT
Arts and Culture Sector contributes
$1.1 trillion
to the national economy
- an all-time high in 2022 and a larger share of GDP
than sectors such as Transportation, Construction,
Education and Agriculture
U.S. Nonprofit arts and culture industry alone generates
$151.7 billion
in economic activity (2022)
Arts and Culture Sector contributes
$3.5 billion
to Arkansas's state economy (2021)
In 2022, Arkansas ranked
35th among all states in arts
and culture production value,
indicating room for growth in
this sector.
With a ranking of 34th among
states in 2022, there is potential
for Arkansas to expand arts and
culture employment.
20
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
ARTS AND CULTURE BRINGS MORE BUSINESS I Arts Audiences that are local spend an
average of $29.77 per person, per event beyond this cost of admission on items such as meals,
parking and lodging - vital income for local businesses. Non locals spend $60.57.
Creativity is among the top five applied skills
$29.77 perperson (local) sought by business leaders —per the Conference
Board's Ready to Innovate report —with 72%
per person (non -local) $60.57 saying creativity is of "high importance" when
hiring. Creativity tops the list as the #1 soft skill
needed in business.
The arts attract workforce talent. 49% of people with a college degree —including Millennials
(52%) and Gen X (54%)—say they would strongly consider whether a community is rich in the
arts when deciding to relocate for a job.
ARTS AND CULTURE DRIVES TOURISM I Cultural travelers spend more money, stay at
their destination longer and seek authentic arts and culture experiences.
53
Americans say,
"When planning a
vacation, I consider the
destination's arts and
culture experiences
when deciding where to
visit."
49%
Of cultural travelers will
pay more for lodging
that has a distinctive
cultural or heritage
component (historic
building, local art or
decor, architecture, etc.)
One-third of arts and
culture attendees travel
from outside the county
in which the activity
takes place.
40
Cultural tourism is one
of the fastest -growing
segments of the tourism
industry, accounting for
an estimated 40% of all
tourism worldwide.
-Sources include Unesco, Americans for the Arts, Arts and Economic Prosperity Study 6,
Linkedln, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Endowment for the Arts
STATE OF ARKANSAS
RATE OF GROWTH
Although ranked in the bottom third of
states for arts and culture production and
employment, Arkansas is growing at a higher
percentage rate in these areas.
Since 2021, this sector's
production value grew by 13.1
percent in Arkansas, compared
to a 7.8 percent increase across
the United States.
Since 2021, arts and culture
employment in Arkansas has
grown by 6.9 percent,
compared to a 6.4 percent
increase nationally.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
21
PLANNING FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
12 its and culture have many benefits for
a community, but few will be realized
without intentional planning and effort
to achieve desired results. We know arts and
culture activities are an important aspect of
life in Fayetteville - 92% of survey respondents
agreed. In addition to economic benefits
derived from creative business, cultural tourism
and jobs, arts and culture also creates a sense
of place and community, contributes to health
and well-being and increases quality of life and
livability. By planning for arts and culture, the
community can unite around a shared vision
and common goals, and move toward the
future together.
Why Plan Now?
The entire Northwest Arkansas (NWA)
region is becoming a magnet for cultural
tourism. The Creative Arkansas Community
Hub and Exchange (CACHE), a regional arts
service organization, convened municipal
arts leaders in 2022/2023 to study and
prioritize best practices for arts and culture
in the region. However, this regional effort
also punctuated the need for individual
communities to identify their own strengths,
differentiate themselves and address how to
invest and plan for arts and culture locally.
This push and pull between collaboration
and competition can be harnessed to help
each community and the entire region
flourish, diversify offerings and attract
tourism.
With its new Arts and Culture Division
and Director, the City has the resources to
pursue planning now, and a comprehensive
arts and culture plan will help guide the
Division in best serving the community.
The balance between affordability and
Fayetteville as an attractive place for artists
and creatives to live is reaching a tipping
point. Putting in place key strategies now
can help retain, sustain and grow the arts
and culture sector.
The City of Fayetteville has identified and
called out arts and culture as a key element
in its planning since at least 2006 (see
below), and new and updated planning
efforts are on the horizon. This plan will help
future decision -making and coordination
with other city plans.
Arkansas is underrepresented in the arts
yet is experiencing growth in both number
of artists and creatives and arts and culture
production. There are 2.4 million artists in
America, and only 12,000 live in Arkansas, a
lag of 40% representation by population in
comparison to the U.S. at large. This means
there is significant growth potential in the
state.'
Post -pandemic, the arts can help accelerate
economic recovery across all sectors and
promote healing and re -engagement
after the disruption, isolation and social
reckoning from the pandemic years. 2
How to Use This Plan
This plan is intended to be a guide for the
Fayetteville community, not just the City
government. Although the City has an
important and critical role in forwarding this
plan, the hope is for the entire arts and culture
community to rally behind a shared vision and
common goals, and through dialogue and
partnerships, to find strategic opportunities
within the plan for their own advancement,
thus impacting the arts and culture sector. This
plan is not intended to prescribe or supplant
the visionary and planning efforts of individual
organizations, creative businesses or artists, but
to augment these efforts with the ultimate goal
of supporting, sustaining and moving the arts
and culture industry forward.
1 NEA, Arts Data Profile, American Community Survey
2015-2019, US Census Bureau"
2 Noonan, Douglas. The Arts and Culture Sector's
Contributions to Economic Recovery and Resiliency in the United
States: Key Findings. National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.
2021.
22 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
PLAN ALIGNMENT
This Arts and Culture Plan —like all the plans
that helped forge Fayetteville's growth and
priorities —is based on research, analysis and
community input. This first plan for Arts and
Culture does not stand alone. Nearly two
dozen local and regional plans were reviewed
and consulted to ensure this plan aligns with
and forwards overall city and community goals.
In this plan, where there is specific alignment
with another plan, an acronym is included
to show that relationship. The following is
a highlight of a few key plans that relate to
arts and culture. For a complete list of plans
consulted and full analysis, see the appendix.
The idea that Fayetteville is a premier regional
hub for arts and culture has been promoted
and prioritized in City of Fayetteville's planning
for decades. For example:
Fayetteville Downtown Master Plan of 2006,
Basic Principle #6
"..Fayetteville must recognize in all its actions
that this part of the City has an experience -
based economy, and thus continue to expand
the focus on arts, culture and entertainment
experiences as Downtown's drawing card.
(DMP, ESummary)"
THE CITY PLAN 2040 of 2020 Vision
Statement states. -
"In 2040, Fayetteville will be a resource -
efficient community, in which citizens and
stakeholders can live, work, learn, and grow.
Fayetteville will have adopted policies to
achieve sustainability, to provide economic
growth, to preserve and protect our natural
and cultural resources, and to enhance the
quality of life for all residents. Residents will
have equitable access to neighborhoods that
are healthy, walkable, and distinct." CP40 p.
27
The Economic Vitality Plan of 2024,
considers nine "Master Plan Target
Industries," The third target industry is the
Creative Economy
"The creative economy consists of economic
activity that depends on individuals and
organizations using their creativity to drive
jobs, revenue, community resources, and
cultural engagement. Few sectors are as
deeply rooted in Fayetteville's history as the
creative economy and the arts. Whether it's
world class theatre production along West
Avenue, a range of local performances at
the iconic George's Majestic Lounge, or film
production at Rock Hill Studios, the arts
sector not only provides hundreds of jobs
throughout Fayetteville but also defines
our sense of place and community culture."
EVMP p. 704
The Park and Recreation System Master Plan
of 2023 lists five "Guiding Principles." The
fourth guiding principle is "Gathering and
Placemaking,"
"Our parks are designed to provide gathering
spaces and amenities for our community
while celebrating our unique culture, the arts
and music, the people, and the beauty of
the region." Goal 3 suggests: partnerships
"to support programming and events in the
parks system, such as theater, music, races,
games, food access, and markets." and Goal
4 affirms: `Seek opportunities to integrate art
into public spaces." PRSMP, p.47
A review of these many mentions of arts and
culture in local and regional plans reveals that
arts and culture are embedded in Fayetteville's
identity, and likewise, the identity of the region.
Planning for the future success of arts and
culture is critical, for this and all sectors across
the city.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 23
PLANNING METHODOLOGY
his Arts and Culture Plan encompassed four phases (described below) and engaged more
than 1,2S0 community members and stakeholders over 10 months. The process was guided
by a Project Advisory Group made up of arts and culture sector representatives and
community leaders, and was driven by community input. In addition to crafting a comprehensive
Arts and Culture Plan, the process itself was designed to connect community, define a shared
vision and common goals and generate inspiration and momentum for implementing the plan.
Research and
Discovery
Project Advisory
Group
Inventory and
Data Collection
Research
Existing
Conditions
Needs
Assessment
Peer Cities
Research
Cultural Mapping
Economics
Workshop
Public Art
Assessment
Community
and
Stakeholder
Engagement
Interviews
Focus Groups
Listening
Sessions
Community Event
Popups
Creative
Convergence
Community
Conversation
Community
Surveys
Targeted Surveys
Online Interactions
Synthesizing
Key Findings
Community
Priorities
Vision
Development
Recommendations
as Goals Strategies
Action Steps
132*50+
community members
contributed to this plan
De
Im
Cc
Puk
24 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
J
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
To ensure the community's voice directly influenced the plan, the process included robust
community engagement including the following (see appendix for full Engagement Summary).
Interactive Project Website via Speak Up
Fayetteville
Stakeholder Interviews and Focus Groups
Listening Sessions with Artists and Creatives
Creative Sector Economic Development
discussion
Community Surveys
Targeted Surveys
Creative Convergence Community
Conversation (July 2024)
Community Event Popups:
Yvonne Richardson Community
Center Egg Hunt (March 2024)
Ozark Regional Transportation
Route 20 (April 2024)
Phantasma Silent Dance
Party (April 2024)
Cultural Cartography at
TheatreSquared (April 2024)
17th Annual Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG)
community picnic (July 2024)
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 25
Key Findings
?,VK
I
26
t is clear Fayetteville has remarkable arts and culture attributes and that the
community cares deeply about protecting Fayetteville's unique and authentic creative
identity. The arts and culture sector is primed to grow and continue to be a defining feature of
Fayetteville. However, there is a simultaneous fear of losing what makes Fayetteville special -from
the pressures of the rising cost of living, new development and the fast pace of growth.
A key task in developing the Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan was to identify gaps and needs
within the existing Fayetteville arts and culture ecosystem. The identified needs also offer insights
into opportunities to support and advance arts and culture, and differentiate Fayetteville vis-a-vis
Northwest Arkansas. Through a variety of community engagement methods, additional research
and peer cities benchmarking, the following key findings acknowledge the needs and areas of
potential growth for Fayetteville.
What we heard:
Fayetteville's Arts and Culture Sector Needs Nurturing.
The artist and creative community expressed some challenges about living and working in
Fayetteville. The city is home to working, creating, making artists and creatives, but there is a fear
that artists will be forced to move away as property values increase beyond affordability. A decline
in the number of galleries downtown and some missing key venues and creative spaces impacts
steady creative development, production and visibility. There is also strong sentiment that artists
are underpaid and undervalued, with limited access to resources, funding and promotion. Like any
other economic sector, the creative sector needs inclusion in the city's workforce retention and
development efforts, and artists and creatives can benefit from more connectivity to one another
and more opportunities for collaboration.
Top five barriers to artists and
creatives making a living from their
art or creative work in Fayetteville
• Not enough venues
• Not enough places to exhibit or
sell
• Not connecting with audiences/
patrons/col lectors/customers
• Not enough paying gigs
• Not enough marketing
Top three concerns of Fayetteville
artists and creatives:
• Artists/creatives not earning a
living wage
• Lack of affordable venues to work/
create/practice
• Housing affordability/artists and
creatives getting priced out
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 27
Arts and Culture Needs Sustainable
Funding and Support.
Although there has been significant targeted
public investment for arts and culture, from
funding new facilities to murals and free
summer concerts, these funds have not been
strategically or uniformly deployed across the
sector. Ongoing direct and consistent funding
for arts and culture has been limited. A major
source for arts and culture funding has been
from several large regional foundations,
but philanthropy overall tends to to be less
diversified. There are a number of economic
tools available to the city to help incentivize
and promote arts and culture sector
development, which will require coordination
and consensus to deploy.
The community survey revealed that the
majority of people surveyed think the City
should spend more on arts and culture in
Fayetteville.
62% stated that the City should spend more or
much more
27% spend "about the same"
4% stated that the City should "spend less or
much less."
The Need for More Creative Spaces
in Fayetteville.
Despite Fayetteville's superb arts and culture
facilities and nearby spaces like the Medium
in Springdale, critical spaces are missing
that could better support artists, musicians,
and creatives. These missing spaces hinder
growth, career development and the
community's engagement with the arts.
The artist community needs more informal
hubs for multidisciplinary collaboration to
drive innovation and connectivity. Youth
Gaps in the arts ecosystem include studios
and workspaces, mid -sized music venues,
rehearsal and performances spaces, galleries
and affordable commercial spaces for arts -
adjacent small businesses, including retail
stores that sell locally -made goods and wares
and host workshops, events and/or pop-up
markets.
The community wants more
opportunities to participate and
engage in arts and culture.
The community expressed the importance it
places on arts and culture and emphasized
the need for community involvement, cultural
diversity and integrating art into daily life
that is accessible and affordable, for youth
and adults, for residents and visitors. The
community wants more variety and higher
quality arts and culture activities and
experiences. Specifically they mentioned
wanting more live music, outdoor concerts,
festivals, art exhibits, museums and films -
without having to leave Fayetteville. They
would like to see more public art throughout
Fayetteville and spaces to participate in art -
making of all types.
Over 90% of people surveyed said arts
and culture opportunities in Fayetteville
are "Important (16%) or Very Important
(74%) "
"There are enough opportunities for
me to participate in arts and cultural
activities in Fayetteville": 65% Somewhat
or Definitely Agree.
"We need to improve the quality of arts
and cultural activities in Fayetteville":
81% Somewhat or Strongly Agree.
under 21 also need creative spaces to When asked "Do you attend arts and
express themselves and as a talent retention cultural events in nearby communities?"
thread. The loss of such spaces has affected 82% responded that they did, and only
the cohesion of Fayetteville's arts scene. 18% did not.
28 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
Fayetteville Needs to Activate and Preserve its Unique Spaces and Places.
Fayetteville has invested in cultural spaces like the Upper and Lower Ramble, showcasing a
commitment to placemaking through memorable gathering areas, murals and publicly available
art. With careful planning and programming, these accessible spaces can enhance the city's
vibrancy and liveability and support the creative community. On -going efforts should focus on
activating unique gathering spaces throughout the city with public art and community -focused
activities, while preserving, highlighting and celebrating historic and culturally significant areas.
Collaborative placemaking will be key to protecting and enhancing Fayetteville's special places.
Fayetteville Needs to Retain and Build its Authentic Arts and Culture Identity.
Fayetteville is poised to advance arts and culture not only within the community, but also in
the region, the state and beyond. Currently, the city lacks a strong arts and culture brand that
differentiates it from its neighbors. Advocacy for the sector has been, until recently, uncoordinated
and signature defining arts events have been lost, reducing cultural attractions. While Fayetteville
tends to focus hyper -locally, it could benefit from more cross-cultural engagement with creatives
and advocates outside the city. Bringing in outside artists creates valuable opportunities for local
artists to exchange ideas, learn new techniques, and expand their networks, enriching the creative
landscape and connecting them with wider audiences and new opportunities."
PEER CITIES I This chart compares key elements of arts and culture in peer cities to Fayetteville.
Asheville,
North Carolina
Boise,
Idaho
Boulder,
Colorado
Fort Collins,
Colorado
Lawrence,
Kansas
Little Rock,
Arkansas
Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma
Fayetteville,
Arkansas
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CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 29
502
05-M
SECTION 4
ords have meaning. Throughout the engagement process for this plan, the
community was asked to share words and phrases that they hoped would
describe the future, aspirational state of arts and culture in Fayetteville.
These words and the sentiments expressed with them, were consolidated, studied,
thoughtfully considered and crafted into a Vision Statement that reflects this future
desired state. The term "Mid -America" was debated and finally selected to indicate
that Fayetteville is part of Northwestern Arkansas and the Ozarks, but that it's creative
impact can and does reach beyond these borders into a larger, multi -state geographic
region. This vision statement is intended to provide inspiration and guide this Arts and
Culture Plan as well as serve as a bellwether for the arts and culture community moving
forward.
Vision
Fayetteville is a renowned hub of arts and culture in the heart of Mid -America
- a vibrant well -spring of creativity and innovation, an inclusive center of thriving
artists and creatives, inspiring and accessible to and for all.
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I, "+ki„a 77,rAlr nl�Liltj t?tR� �,1 �'.�2 /��I�, ``\n 1\Ilt1(7nt'�a`�``op ..:
rO.C(xi g l 11 �^ �� e• Is \ 41h o �o
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CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 31
Community Priorities,
Goals and Strategies
■ ■
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
The following overarching priorities have been identified through extensive research and
community engagement to serve as the foundation for advancing arts and culture in Fayetteville.
These five Community Priorities are aspirational themes that will guide the development and
implementation of strategies to achieve the Arts and Culture Plan Vision. These priorities also
provide the framework for organizing this plan's goals, strategies and action steps.
CULTIVATE.
Fayetteville is home to a long-established and growing community of working
artists and creatives. Artists are essential to the character and history of Fayetteville.
Cultivating and nurturing this important workforce will help Fayetteville thrive.
SUSTAIN.
The arts and culture sector plays a critical role in driving economic and financial
growth in Fayetteville. Investing in this sector will boost economic vitality, create a
stronger sense of place, foster deeper community connections and improve overall
community health and well-being.
CREATIVE SPACES.
Plentiful places and spaces to create, gather and experience arts and culture will
expand and diversify the well -spring of Fayetteville's creativity, innovation and self-
expression.
D0o0o PLACEMAKING.
0 o Fayettevillians take great pride in their city. Public art and creative placemaking
transform spaces into memorable landmarks, celebrate cultural heritage and diversity
and enhance the city's vibrancy.
LEAD.
10 Fayetteville is a renowned creative hub with unique cultural assets and a strong
creative community. The city has been and will continue to be an arts and culture
destination for the region and beyond.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 33
7
COMMUNITY PRIORITY:
CULTIVATE
Acknowledge, amplify and cultivate an inclusive Fayetteville
arts and culture ecosystem to support working artists, creatives
and arts organizations, helping them thrive and connect with
the broader community.
Goal 1 Strategies:
1.1 Recognize and advocate for arts and culture as an economic sector within the local
economy.
a. Develop the creative workforce citywide and advocate for artists and creative workers to be paid a living
wage and receive business sector support.
b. Coordinate with the Economic Vitality department to integrate the creative sector into future planning
and programs. [EVMP, Action Item 1.3.31, 1.8.63; CP40 3.71
c. Assure that the creative sector is accounted for in future housing planning at the City level. [CP40, 3.7]
1.2 Provide access to arts and culture workforce development and training for running,
managing and growing their businesses and careers.
a. Continue to provide entrepreneurial training and resources and ensure it is tailored
and directly marketed to the creative sector (ie. StartUp Junkie, FPL Maker to
Market Program and Nonprofit and Small Business Resource Center).
b. Ensure equitable access to workforce development offerings, such as creative
talent pipeline development, Level Up Skills Development for creative trades, etc.
Be intentional in inviting and connecting people to training and resources, striving
to lower barriers to participation and meet people where they are.
c. Expand film and video programs and training at the college and university level as
well as high school career programs.
d. Develop music industry specific training in areas like licensing, sync, publishing
and scoring.
CASE IN POINT:
[1.2.a] Mountain
Bizworks in Asheville,
NC hosts a series
of workshops
titled "Craft Your
Commerce" designed
for and targeted to
creatives specifically
to expand their
entrepreneurial skills.
34 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
1.3 Provide easy access to resources for artists and creatives.
Build and publish an accessible, online directory of
resources for artists, creatives and organizations,
including local, regional, state and national
resources, funding opportunities, grants, BIPOC
resources, apprenticeships, residencies, databases
and training opportunities.
b. Sponsor the creation of a searchable database (or
promote use of existing searchable databases) for
creative businesses to add their available studio
and rental spaces.
c. Host an online creative job/gig board for local
artists and creatives to connect with work
opportunities.
CASE IN POINT:
[1.3.a] Communities often have websites with helpful
links to local, regional and national websites, resources
and opportunities. Both the City of Boulder and the
Downtown Fort Collins Creative District have these types
of online resources.
CASE IN POINT:
[1.3.b] PeerSpace.com promotes rentals of all types.
Owners of non-traditional spaces such as co -working,
studios, churches, warehouses etc. could also benefit.
d. Develop a matching program to connect artists and creatives to jobs at employers with creative sector
needs, building a pipeline of creative workers.
e. Sponsor business development programming and
education, including tutorials, lectures, or Q & A
sessions for tax, legal, finance, business planning
and branding/marketing assistance. [EVMP, Action
Item 1.3.28]
f. Investigate creating programs to connect artists
with professionals who can provide low-cost or
pro-bono bookkeeping, grant -writing, accounting,
legal, and other professional services.
g. Sponsor ongoing education, apprenticeships,
mentorships, leadership training and residencies.
CASE IN POINT:
[1.3.f] The Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
connects volunteer attorneys with artists to help with
contracts, guidance on copyright and intellectual
property law, and other legal advice.
CASE IN POINT:
[1.3.g] The City of Boise offers a yearly Public Art
Academy and Learning Series for artists wanting to learn
how to break into public art and secure commissions.
1.4 Establish Fayetteville as a creative trades workforce development hub for the region, to
supply creative trades that are currently being imported.
a. Bring recognition to the many trades directly related to the creative economy, such as welding/
metalwork, sewing/costuming/fashion design, culinary, carpentry, electrical, engineering and others and
training opportunities.
b. Expand the City's definition of the Creative Economy to include skilled creative trades as called out in the
Economic Vitality Master Plan 2024. [EVMP, Action Item 2.1.2]
c. Conduct a study for the City and Region that provides analysis of where there are gaps in creative trades
(what's needed) vs. what's being provided. Target training for specific needs and gaps. Seek potential
funding from the US Economic Development Administration (EDA).
d. Seek out partnerships with University of Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Northwest
Technical Institute and others to increase creative trades workforce training opportunities and to connect
people currently working in or studying trades with the creative sector.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 35
e. Investigate opportunities at the high school level to connect and assist creation of expanded curriculum
and workforce education for youth who are interested in exploring these careers.
f. Seek out opportunities for sharing facilities for training through agreements between City and University
or other colleges or Fayetteville Public Schools.
1.5 Facilitate connection and networking within the creative community.
Regularly convene the arts and culture sector to facilitate collaboration, connection and networking.
Convenings could take the form of workshops, training, happy hours, or brown bag lunches with panel
discussions, guest lectures, or even informal pitch sessions for collaborative ideas and partnerships, etc.
b. Intentionally invite historically disadvantaged artists and creatives to attend networking events and to
suggest meaningful meeting topics, especially BIPOC groups, emerging artists and youth.
1.6 Advocate, encourage and incentivize affordable housing and live/work opportunities
specifically for artists and creatives.
Reprise earlier 2018 discussions with ArtSpace, a national not -for -profit affordable housing developer, to
update past information and begin the next level of research for a larger
live/work project in Fayetteville. [1.61TWO BENEFITS
UNDER ONE ROOF:
b. Support and collaborate with City and community entities involved in
affordable housing development. Package funding tools to support the
development of affordable housing and help developers make the project
feasible. This includes supporting property owners and developers in
the utilization of Low -Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), CDBG funds,
HOME Funds, and other affordable housing funds that may be available
now and in the future through the State of Arkansas and the City of
Fayetteville, the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA), the
Arkansas Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) and other sources.
c. Establish new targeted incentives to encourage developers to provide
affordable housing for creatives utilizing some of the city's funding (i.e.
carving out a portion as a set -aside for artist housing). While Low Income
Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funding can be challenging to utilize for small
scale affordable projects, HOME and CDBG funds can be deployed to
incentivize some affordable artist live/work units in a larger project.
d. Partner with planning to create a density bonus to encourage more
affordable housing and/or affordable creative space (galleries, etc.) by
allowing for increased building height or building area in exchange for
increased affordability requirements.
e. Encourage and support the development of Accessory Dwelling Units
(ADUs) as affordable live/work spaces for artists and creatives.
f. Create a design guidebook with ideas and inspiration on how artist
housing can be incorporated into development and redevelopment
projects (e.g. providing floor plan concepts that demonstrate how live/
work space might look).
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING
TAILORED TO
CREATIVE SECTOR
Affordable housing
is a citywide need in
Fayetteville, impacting all
economic sectors. Artist
housing presents unique
opportunities as new
units can be designed
to meet both living and
studio space needs in
one, allowing creatives to
use their space as both
a home and a place of
business. By developing
housing that includes
spaces for artists to live,
rehearse, create, and sell
their work, we address this
need while also supporting
workforce and small
business development in
the creative sector.
36 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
COMMUNITY PRIORITY:
SUSTAIN
Develop sustainable funding, economic tools and
philanthropic strategies to support and expand Arts and
Culture in Fayetteville.
Goal 2 Strategies:
a
101
2.1 Develop an arts and culture investment strategy for the City of Fayetteville in alignment
with the recommendations of this plan.
2.2 Seek diversified, sustainable and dedicated funding sources for arts and culture.
Adopt a percent -for -art ordinance with a
recommended set -aside of 1.2% to 1.5% of
the total cost of City of Fayetteville capital
improvement projects (CIP) to be pooled
into a public art fund to support art projects
and collection management throughout the
community (See appendix). [EVMP Action Item
3.1.6, 7111l
Enact a funding mechanism to support the
development of arts and culture and creative
business within the boundary of the Cultural Arts
District (see also Creative Spaces), such as a
Business Improvement District (BID), Community
Reinvestment District (CRD) or other available
mechanisms.
c. Support the Downtown Fayetteville Coalition
in efforts to increase funding for arts and
culture infused events, programmed series and
activations.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.2.a] The City of Lawrence, Kansas' Public Art
Program -part of its "Lawrence Unforgettable Identity-"
is funded through an annual set aside of 2% of the cost
of all qualifying City capital improvement projects during
the previous fiscal year for the purpose of acquiring,
purchasing, and installing art in public places in the city.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.2.d] Inspire Olympia is a voter -approved 0.1% sales tax
supporting local nonprofit organizations offering arts,
sciences, heritage, and cultural programs/experiences for
the public in Olympia, Washington. Through a competitive
application process, Inspire Olympia distributed $2.6
million to 60 organizations in 2024, through contracts -
for -services with the city. Contracts are awarded to
organizations that expand access to quality arts and
culture experiences, especially for youth and traditionally
underserved populations, and benefit the people and
communities in Olympia.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 37
d. Explore a voter -approved sales tax to support arts and culture in Fayetteville, potentially in conjunction
with parks, enduring green land acquisition and operations/maintenance (Arts & Parks) or with climate
action efforts.
e. Explore, long-term, a possible NWA regional tax benefiting arts and culture.
2.3 Develop a City -funded arts and culture support fund program to ensure equitable access to
funding opportunities, increase reliable funding for arts and culture and forward City priorities
and initiatives.
Enact a strategic support funding program to
provide financial support to arts and culture
organizations, institutions and initiatives.
Programs like this can be a tool for targeting
areas of community need, supporting the work
of organizations and for incubating and seeding
new projects within the city.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.3.a] Peer cities provide granting programs for local arts
and culture organizations and artists as a way to invest
directly in the sector and provide equitable access to
funding that targets key priorities and needs. For example,
Boulder's Cultural Grant program developed "hiring artists
incentives" to amplify artist opportunities and a "venue
affordability fund" to subsidize rental costs at cultural
b. Ensure equitable access to support funding venues for local artists and arts organizations.
by valuing social impact and the priorities and
initiatives for and by historically disadvantaged groups including Black, Indigenous and People of Color
(BIPOC).
Survey and adjust support funding over time as community, artist and organizational needs change.
Initial areas of need may include artist and musician work opportunities, arts education, neighborhood
vitality through public art, capital investment, arts and culture experiences and programs, technical/
training support.
2.4 Expand the use of economic incentives to encourage investment in temporary and
permanent spaces for creative activity and encourage the integration of art in development to
bolster the creative economy.
Explore the creation of incentives for developers to
invest in/develop/carve out room for arts and culture
spaces, studio spaces for working artists and creative
business.
— Consider application of a bonus for including
accessible artist studio spaces in developments
in neighborhood centers. [EVMP, Action Item 3.1.4]
— Explore the creation of an Enhanced
Development Menu, a points -based system for
sustainable development options that include
CASE IN POINT:
[2.4.a - density bonus] Lowell, MA, has
successfully created an Artist Overlay District in
their downtown, which offers a density bonus
developer incentive for the provision of artist live/
work space. The overlay was established for the
purpose of "encouraging artists, to both live and
work in the downtown area and... encouraging
further concentration of art, cultural and
entertainment attractions in the downtown area."
public art, public gathering spaces, community galleries, or other public amenities.
38 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
107
Explore incentives for property owners to establish
more spaces for creatives to work and maintain
affordability.
— Consider creating a program to incentivize
property owners who have vacant or
underutilized space to lease that space -
ideally with short and/or flexible terms - for
creative, arts or cultural uses, be it studio space,
performance/rehearsal space, gallery space,
artist coops or other uses. This could include a
number of different approaches:
- Offer a tax abatement (or refund) on the
value of any physical improvements to the
property the owner makes which lead to
tenanting by arts and culture -based uses.
Develop a residency program that pairs
property owners of underutilized or vacant
spaces with artists or creatives who can use
the space for creative purposes.
c. Examine development and building code regulations
to identify interim solutions that don't require full and
expensive renovations to properties to host pop-up
installations, performances or galleries, in order to
encourage temporary uses in vacant spaces either
for a short or longer -term period, thus allowing the
buildings to be affordably activated while awaiting
new tenants.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.4.b - tax abatement] The Crossroads Arts District
in Kansas City, Missouri , or the Crossroads Arts
PIEA (Planned Industrial Expansion Authority),
encourages owners with long-time vacant spaces
to provide those spaces to artists for active creative
uses to help retain artists and arts -based uses in the
Arts District. The PIEA is a tax abatement program
specifically designed to encourage property
owners to provide space to arts and cultural uses
by offering a ten-year property tax abatement
on the value of any physical improvements to the
building or space which lead to tenanting by arts -
based uses. Arts uses for the property must occupy
at least 51% of the square footage in order to be
eligible for the program.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.4.b - residency program] Case in point: The Heart
of the Arts residency program in Atlanta, GA invites
property owners with underutilized spaces that
with a small amount of work could be transformed
into space for artists to create, giving the artist a
physical location to build their creative practice and
create opportunities for the community to directly
interact with artists.
d. Explore studio space stipends for artists and members of the creative economy. [Ill Action Item 3.1.5]
2.5 Advocate for and expand incentives for the Film and Television industry in Fayetteville.
Film and TV in Fay
While the State of Arkansas does offer state film incentives, the Northwest Arkansas region is poised to become a
filming hub of its own, with Fayetteville as its home base. Coalescing and coordinating the growing film industry for
the Northwest Arkansas region and beyond would be an area where Fayetteville can assume a leadership role. The City
can coordinate participation from Fayetteville's film and TV community in the recently commissioned movie industry
study. Read More
Continue to advocate for expanding and making
permanent the state -level film tax rebate through
the Arkansas Film Commission. [Ill Action
Item 1.8.64]
b. Seek to develop a local, municipal -level tax
rebate to support local productions and drive
outside filmmakers to Fayetteville and utilize
local resources. [EVMP, Action Item 1.8.66]
CASE IN POINT:
[2.5.b] Case in Point: Eureka Springs, AR offers Film, TV,
Music & Digital Media incentives in the form of a 2% tax
rebate on any individual project or production filmed in
the city limits of Eureka Springs that can be added to
the Arkansas state incentive. They also provide a list of
preferred local vendors who offer additional discounts
on productions.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 39
2.6 Diversify and bolster philanthropic engagement and investment in arts and culture.
a. Consider establishing a Mayor's Art Award to honor
both artists/creatives and major philanthropists and
donors. Host an awards event that brings donors and
artists together, providing public recognition and
encouragement for future philanthropy.
b. Consider developing a local or NWA regional "Business
for the Arts" association to connect the creative and
business communities, and encourage businesses to
support and partner with the arts and culture sector.
c. Create a private fund at the Fayetteville Area
Community Foundation to accept donations to the Arts
and Culture Division of the City.
CASE IN POINT:
[2.6.b] Colorado Business Committee for
the Arts (CBCA) is a nonprofit membership
organization that forges partnerships
between business and the arts through year-
round advocacy, research, training and arts
engagement efforts. CBCA advances Denver
(and Colorado) as a cultural hub and validates
the arts as an integral part of the regional
economy. CBCA also makes the case that art
is smart for business, providing the business
community with access, exposure and visibility
for their investments in the arts.
d. Spur Fayetteville arts nonprofits to increase their
participation and collectively promote the NWA Gives Day of Giving event to engage the community in
giving.
e. Develop a larger arts market/special event as a high profile opportunity for artists, artisans and creatives
to sell and collectors to buy.
f h�
40 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
COMMUNITY PRIORITY:
CREATIVE SPACES
GOAL Identify, prioritize and provide targeted investment in arts and
culture facilities, venues, creative workspaces that address
3 community needs.
Goal 3 Strategies:
3.1 Conduct a citywide Cultural Facilities Study to identify creative space needs and determine
the right mix of cultural facilities to support arts and culture in Fayetteville.
a. Confirm and prioritize Key Facility Needs from this plan as well as consider other potential opportunities.
b. Recommend the appropriate type, size (capacity), scale, usage and market viability for high -priority new
facilities.
c. Identify existing arts and culture facilities that may be underutilized.
d. Estimate capital costs, operational costs, revenue potential and pricing structure for high -priority
facilities.
e. Collaborate with the community to identify potential owners, operators, partnerships and funding
sources for highest priority facilities. Identify facilities the City may be best positioned to support and/or
own/operate..
f. Establish site criteria for potential locations according to future use, such as community access,
neighborhood impact, noise, access to multi -model transportation, parking and support needed for
daytime and/or nighttime economies.
g. Ensure access to existing and any new arts and culture spaces through public transportation, including
reducing barriers and expanding operating hours (evenings, weekend, and school breaks). Explore
multimodal transportation options and improve connections between venues and parking.
h. Identify potential sites for highest priority facilities, considering existing, underutilized or vacant spaces
as well as new, available sites.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 41
Spaces identified through this plan to be confirmed through additional study include (but may not be limited
to):
Work Spaces: Develop artist work spaces to support, retain and
attract the working artist and creative in Fayetteville (see Sustain). CASE IN POINT:
Outdoor Venue(s): Develop additional, larger outdoor venue(s) for hosting The Lawrence Art
larger concerts, performances and festivals that combine Fayetteville's Center (Lawrence,
love of nature and arts and culture. Include requirements like the ability KS) built a new
to ticket events, a fixed/covered stage (protection from rain and heat), facility in 2002. The
loading access, power, sound equipment, green room, concessions,
community raised
bathrooms, noise ordinances, access to transportation, parking, etc.
$3.5 million, matched
Community Arts Center: Explore the development of a multi -purpose
by the City. The
community arts center (in addition to the existing Community
facility is owned by
the City and operated
Creative Center) to house all types of creativity and artmaking
by a nonprofit. The
for the broader community, such as open studios, makerspaces,
LAC includes five
small performance space, exhibition/gallery space, classrooms/
gallery spaces, a
workshops, etc. Explore the possibility of a combined art +
300-seat theatre, a
recreation center or an adaptive reuse of an existing building(s).
black box theater,
Additional Indoor Mid -sized Music Venues: Confirm the
and fully equipped
appropriate capacity, locations and operators for mid-
studios for drawing,
sized music venues through a cultural facilities study.
painting, ceramics,jewelry, photography
Additional Galleries and Exhibition spaces: Develop exhibit spaces
and printmaking.
throughout the community. Identify existing spaces that could host
LAC focuses on "art
exhibits (like the Library, City buildings, County buildings, private
is for everyone" and
business) and include exhibit space in any new arts and culture venues.
provides financial
aid and an artist -in -
Rehearsal and Small Performance Space for Dance: Develop a
residence program.
space with a sprung floor to accommodate dance and double
as a performance, rehearsal, and experimental space.
3.2 Prioritize advancement of creative spaces within Fayetteville's designated Cultural Arts
District to promote, locate and potentially fund artist studios, live/work spaces, venues,
creative businesses, galleries, headquarters of arts organizations, etc.
Cultural Arts District: Evaluate the current Cultural Arts
District boundary and potentially expand/reconfigure it to fully
incorporate arts and culture opportunities in the downtown.
Develop incentives and a funding mechanism to sustain arts
and culture within the boundary (see Sustain).
b. The Ramble: Identify and prioritize key sites along The
Ramble for arts and culture uses and activation. Develop a
programming philosophy, policies, and diverse partnerships
to activate The Upper Ramble as a key feature and connector
in the downtown area. This approach will make the space feel
safer and more inviting, attracting residents and visitors with its
unique environment and offerings.
c. Downtown and Dickson Street: Strive to develop a culture of
24-hour activity Downtown and on Dickson Street. Activate
spaces underutilized in the daytime/early evening to create a
more 24/7 economy and entertainment zone for all ages, while
CASE IN POINT:
[3.2] Designated cultural districts
are proven to attract more
businesses and economic activity.
The Mass Cultural Council has been
designating and supporting cultural
districts statewide since 2011 and
has accumulated data to prove that
Cultural Districts "drive economic
growth, strengthen our distinctive
local character, and improve the
quality of life of families across
Massachusetts." Cultural Districts
"attract tourists and entrepreneurs,
which in turn help communities
foster their cultural sector and
expand their tax base. And that
benefits everyone."
42 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
also encouraging a nightlife that is welcoming to the entire community, not just college students.
d. The Square and Gardens: Firmly establish The Square as an arts and culture destination within the
Cultural Arts District. The City's Arts and Culture Division should continue to advise on the use and
activation of this space; elements like an art market, public art, pedestrian zones, outdoor seating and
prioritization of creative businesses can help energize/catalyze the downtown Square. Design guidelines/
overlays and incentives could help make the entire area more pedestrian friendly, vibrant and a day and
night cultural destination.
e. Fayetteville Public Library South Lot: This vacant lot could be well -suited for an arts and culture live/
work project.
3.3 Amplify existing arts and culture spaces beyond the Cultural Arts District and downtown to
expand and support the creative community throughout the City.
Identify key existing arts and culture spaces
through the cultural facilities study that
could be amplified to meet needs and
growing demand and what investment
might be required.
— Introduce key existing and potential
arts and culture spaces as another
component for analysis within the
context of the of Neighborhood
Center Advancement Plan (NCAP).
[EVMP, pp. 60-67]
b. Engage in a collaborative planning effort
for Mount Sequoyah with key stakeholders,
including the City, Mount Sequoyah
Board and neighbors, to strategize future
development, activation and use of this
iconic site and how to financially maintain,
sustain and grow this unique and historic
place.
Improve the stage area at Gulley Park to
improve the quality of the popular free
summer concerts, including a raised and
covered stage, small support area and power/
sound position.
Mount Sequoyah
This historic property is a one -of -a -kind landmark with 32
acres, over 50 buildings from the 192O's to 8O's overlooking
Fayetteville from a hilltop. Mount Sequoyah Creative Spaces
NWA provides 50+ studio spaces to area artists and Fenix
Arts Gallery is located on the grounds. This non-profit
organization has opportunities to expand its service to
artists, preserve and renovate its historic buildings and
create a plan to sustain its on -going operations.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
43
3.4 Maintain and track locations for potential new arts and culture uses and investment.
Possible locations that were identified for high potential arts and culture uses and investment through
this plan include (but may not be limited to):
Centennial Park or Kessler Park - These City -owned parks are large enough to accommodate the
infrastructure needed for larger outdoor concerts, festivals, art markets or other special events.
Drake Field - City -owned parcels in this area could be developed into larger workspaces for artists
and creatives, oversized studios, soundstages and studios for film and television, etc. This area could
become a regional film and television hub. Consider a needs assessment and study of properties in
the Drake Field area, which is also within a state -designated Opportunity Zone.
71B Corridor City -Owned Parcels - As the 71B Corridor Master Plan is preparing for implementation
with re -zoning and enabling work, identify appropriate publicly -owned or privately -owned key parcels
for potential arts and culture uses.
Woolsey Homestead: Consider adapting this newly renovated structure as a museum and/or a living
agricultural heritage site, that tells the histories of this early 1840s time period including Native Tribes
with ties to this land and the adjacent Trail of Tears.
Actively and consistently participate in Economic Vitality's ongoing process to inventory and prioritize
existing, vacant and underutilized spaces and parcels, including those owned by the City, to further
identify spaces for potential arts and culture uses. [EVMP, Action Item 3.2.17]
b. Advocate for strategically acquiring parcels and structures in key neighborhood centers outside of
downtown for proactive arts and culture development projects. [EVMP, Action Items 3.2.18, 3.2.19]
Seek to better distribute art and culture spaces, also identified as "high quality places" in the Economic
Vitality Master Plan 2024, across Fayetteville to ensure access to all. [EVMP, p. 66]
3.5 Establish partnerships and shared -use agreements with existing cultural spaces, such as
those at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Public Schools, and Fayetteville Public Library,
to increase community access to their art and performance spaces.
Strengthen the connection and resource sharing between the University and the community, facilitating
greater community use of existing University theaters, galleries and other arts and culture spaces.
b. Promote the University's School of Art's community programming for use of the Art + Design Center's
resources (includes non -degree registrations/scholarships and the tuition free Senior Razorback
program).
c. Explore additional community uses of University and Fayetteville Public School art studio spaces,
equipment and theatre spaces, perhaps through summer residency programs, mentorship or
collaborative programs.
d. Promote and make widely -available spaces at the Fayetteville Public Library to increase usage of their
Center for Innovation, Event Center for performances, and exhibition opportunities.
44 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
COMMUNITY PRIORITY:
PEACEMAKING
Enhance the vibrancy, activation and security of Fayetteville
through public art and creative placemaking strategies.
What is Placemaking?
Placemaking refers to the use of planning practices to help create or preserve "high -quality"
and memorable places in the public realm. Placemaking is the act of fostering public
spaces that are attractive, unique, vibrant and activated, where people gather and feel safe,
comfortable and included. Creative placemaking tends to favor creation of visually interesting
places through green spaces and landscaping, public artwork and thoughtful design, with
spaces energized by creative activities, gatherings and performance. This idea of placemaking
is echoed in the 2024 Economic Vitality Master Plan which calls for community -centric
development in neighborhood centers and creation of "high -quality places across Fayetteville,
not just in its urban hubs. [EVMP, P. 601
According to "Place Matters: The Role of Placemaking in Economic Development,
International Economic Development Council, 2017," elements of high -quality places include:
mixed uses, quality public spaces, broadband -enabled, multiple transportation options,
multiple housing options, preservation of historic structures, community heritage, arts, culture
and creativity, recreation and green spaces.
Goal 4 Strategies:
4.1 Increase and diversify publicly -accessible art to beautify and enhance the overall
vibrancy of the city, while offering opportunities.
a. Formalize a City Public Art Program, expanding on current public art efforts.
b. Establish sustainable funding for public art (see Sustain).
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 45
c. Develop policies and procedures based on best
practices and community needs to administer
the program. Benefits of Public Art:
d. Consider enacting a "voluntary" public art Encourages walking and gathering
contribution on select City projects ahead of Enhances public
appreciation of the arts
sustained funding. Creates places
with meaning and memory
• Celebrates our
cultural heritage and diversity
e. Prioritize hiring a City staff position to manage Humanizes and
scales public spaces
the public art program, oversee maintenance
of the existing collection and serve as a liaison Strengthens community
identity and pride
with City departments, ensuring public art Stimulates economic growth
opportunities aren't missed. Attracts businesses,
residents and visitors
f. Prioritize engaging and inviting diverse
and underrepresented artists for public art
work opportunities such as commissioned projects, city -sponsored
exhibitions, and/or artist registries that promote local artists.
CASE IN POINT:
[4.1.a] The City of Boise,
g. Seek to spread public art throughout the city of Fayetteville and its
Idaho has a robust public art
Neighborhood Centers, especially areas lacking in publicly accessible
program that contributes
artwork.
1.2% of capital projects
towards public artwork. The
h. Continue to encourage public art as a means of celebrating,
public art collection consists
remembering and honoring diverse communities and neighborhoods
of hundreds of permanent
within the city.
works, traffic box murals,
an interior collection of 2-
i. Pursue a Public Art Master Plan to review and refine guidelines and
and 3- dimensional works
policies, prioritize projects, locations and define new initiatives.
of art, and portable works.
The program also manages
j. Consider developing a more robust mural program, including
projects for other public and
developing a formal festival (like 2017's Green Candy Art Action festival
private entities who engage
or 2020's Sprayettville) and revamping existing utility box murals and a
in original public art projects.
wall + muralist match program.
Public art in Boise "adds
meaning, stories, beauty and
k. Identify key opportunities for public art and placemaking based on
identity to our public space."
upcoming Capital Improvement Projects and priority development
nodes. Upcoming projects include (but are not limited to):
— 71B Corridor reconstruction [71BCMP, "Placemaking and Public
Art"].
Best Practices
As the public art program
— Walker Park
expands, seek to move
beyond a locally -focused
— Parks and Recreation Improvements
program and engage regional,
— Lake Fayetteville Memorial and Improvement Projects
national or international artists
through collaborations, artist
— Woolsey Homestead
exchanges and residencies.
This inclusive approach can
— Apple (Porter House) Warehouse Stabilization
inspire fresh perspectives,
expand skills and help grow
I. Collaborate with the newly formed Downtown Fayetteville Coalition
the visibility of local artists
to identify opportunities for visual arts to enhance the downtown
outside of Fayetteville, leading
experience, such as alley improvements, dumpster blinds, lighting,
to greater opportunities in the
temporary art programs, etc. that could incentivize public art and add
future.
to creative placemaking.
46 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
4.2 Leverage the Cultural Arts District as a hub of creative placemaking.
a. Consider establishing design guidelines and/or a design overlay within the revised Cultural Arts District
boundary. This would encourage development to support a creative aesthetic, incorporate art, enhance
public/gathering spaces that also support events and programming, improve the pedestrian experience,
encourage outdoor/patio seating and ultimately promote arts and culture through strong design.
— Consider design overlay/zoning requirements that would mandate more careful design of certain
elements in developments such as street -level activation, public -facing outdoor spaces, treatments
of parking, incorporation of art, and other elements to be determined.
A design overlay may also expand signage, temporary banners and murals in the area as well as
hours of operation. [DMP, 2006].
Consider creating a design guidebook that goes above and beyond requirements of zoning and
code, to provide inspiration to developers and property owners to invest in good design, public art
and encourage the creation of leasable spaces that serve the creative community.
Incentive overlays that could be used to encourage more affordable housing units in the district and
other benefits to the community (see Cultivate).
— Review zoning codes and ordinances to interweave economic incentives for economic activity
driven by the creative community and enable permitting and rules around busking, pop-up/street
vendors etc.
— Incentivize a return of galleries to the Cultural Arts District, rebuilding these small businesses and
impacting artist sales and collector culture. (see Sustain 2.4.b).
— Leverage, promote, and protect existing arts and culture assets within the District, specifically
music and performing arts, as key attractions.
4.3 Prioritize placekeeping for cultural and historical sites and neighborhoods.
a. Identify and prioritize cultural and historic places of significance for cultural groups and diverse
communities, with the intent to recognize, preserve, remember and celebrate the heritage, culture and
character of historic spaces throughout Fayetteville.
— For example, a Black Historic District, the Tsa La Gi trail and other identified important cultural sites
should be protected, advocated for and celebrated.
b. Activate public spaces and culturally important neighborhoods through the arts, such as public art,
murals, events, festivals, signage, etc., to celebrate a sense of place and identity for the community.
c. Support the Historic District Commission's efforts to identify significant historic structures and cultural
landmarks and the creation of a local historic district designation program.
d. Encourage the designation of structures and physical locations with historic relevance on the Arkansas
Register of Historic Places and/or the National Register of Historic Places, making them eligible for
both state and federal grants, and state and federal Historic Tax Credits to help fund restoration and
preservation of these properties.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 47
y
COMMUNITY PRIORITY:
4 =KAW1 91
Firmly establish Fayetteville as an arts and culture destination
and as a strong leader for the advancement of arts and culture
within the region, the state and beyond.
Goal 5 Strategies:
5.1 Advocate for a strong focus on arts and culture in the upcoming Downtown Plan.
5.2 Develop Fayetteville's identity as an arts and culture destination and build excitement
through marketing.
a. Create a common brand for the arts and culture sector to
increase exposure and instill pride for the entire community.
CASE IN POINT:
[5.2.b] Colorado Springs developed
b. Collaborate with Experience Fayetteville and other key partners
Peak Radar as a comprehensive arts,
to develop strategic marketing and promotion of Faytteville's
culture and entertainment website
arts and culture and the Cultural Art District, to increase cultural
featuring an online events calendar for
tourism, bolster the local creative economy and increase
Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak
participation. [EVMP, Action Item 1.8.671
Region. Peak Rader is the go -to place
to find things to do throughout the
- In cooperation with Economic Vitality, "explore developing
two -county region, including gallery
an external live -work -play marketing campaign through
exhibitions, sporting events, festivals,
Experience Fayetteville to promote the creative economy
performances, concerts, workshops and
and the recreation economy as key contributing factors
more. In 2023, Peak Radar had 568,818
to Fayetteville's quality of life and community character."
views of 2,892 local events, 15,939
clicks on "buy tickets" links, and 77% of
[EVMP, Action Item 1.8.68]
visitors found an event or group they
- Promote existing historic sites, museums and attractions
hadn't known about before.
in Fayetteville as part of the overall arts and culture
marketing strategy.
- Promote Fayetteville's cultural events and performances in local, regional, state and national
media.
- Expand, invest in and promote Experience Fayetteville's online calendar to highlight and provide
access to Fayetteville's arts and culture.
48 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
5.3 Establish community -based larger -scale signature events for Fayetteville residents and to
attract cultural tourism.
a. Work with local arts and culture organizations,
producers and entities to create and sustain beloved
community events that build on modeled past
successes.
b. Create new, large-scale signature events that
celebrate Fayetteville's unique strengths and local
identity.
Create experiences for local artists to co -mingle with
regional, national or international artists to inspire
growth and development of the local arts sector.
CASE IN POINT:
[5.3.b] The Blink Festival in Cincinnati, OH is an
event that occurs every two years featuring awe-
inspiring murals with projection and lighting,
light and art installations, musical performances,
drone light shows, and a parade. In October 2022,
the BLINK experience attracted over 2 million
attendees across the 4-day event, resulting in a
direct economic impact of $126 million dollars.
Additionally, the event directly supported or created
1,687 jobs, and generated $1.5 million dollars in
direct artist commissions, honorariums, and art fees.
5.4 Cultivate and incubate new arts and culture programming to create a regional draw.
a. Develop a signature week-long community -wide event(s) for a quintessential Fayetteville experience.
Consider pairing different types of creative businesses and activities. For example: Dinner and Theatre
Week, Trail Rides and Tunes, or an event based on the original philosophy of the Ramble as a celebration
of ecology + culture + community. Small grants for artists and organizations could be offered to increase
participation and promotion, spreading the word of all that Fayetteville has to offer.
b. Create a larger/signature arts market and promote it locally and regionally (and beyond) as it builds.
c. Establish a program for arts and culture pop -ups in vacant storefronts, on the Ramble or in other public
spaces to support new businesses and art ventures.
d. Build upon the Gallery Hop event and consider a studio tour event to promote visual arts and galleries as
a draw.
e. Build on and expand arts programming through the City's recreational offerings.
5.5 Advocate for Fayetteville's arts and culture sector at the local, regional and state level.
Build a local coalition of arts and culture advocates, leaders
and community political leaders that meets regularly to
identify issues impacting the arts and culture sector and
develop strategies for advocacy.
b. Identify and track leadership training opportunities at the
local, regional and national level, promote the opportunities
locally and consider providing stipends or scholarships for
local artists, creatives and cultural leaders to attend.
CASE IN POINT:
[5.5.b] Programs like the National Leaders
of Color Fellowship, offer regional and
national leadership development in the
arts. This Fellowship is a transformative
leadership development experience
curated by Creative West in partnership
with Mid -American Arts Alliance and other
regional arts organizations to establish
Strive to connect with similar like-minded advocacy groups multicultural leadership in the creative and
and coalitions in cities across Arkansas to strengthen cultural sector. Connecting locals to these
regional and state advocacy for initiatives that benefit the kinds of opportunities and potentially
arts and culture sector. sponsoring their participation will help
develop greater leadership in Fayetteville.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 49
d. Continue collaborating with CACHE to identify opportunities to partner and convene the arts and culture
sector regionally.
e. Continue to connect and collaborate with state, regional and national arts associations, like Arkansans for
the Arts, Arkansas Arts Council, Mid -America Arts Alliance, South Arts, and Creative West.
5.6 Advance the City's leadership role in championing and increasing visibility of Fayetteville's
arts and culture, focusing on the growth of the entire sector.
a. Collaborate across all city departments, especially Arts & Culture Division,
Economic Vitality, Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs, Planning, and
Transportation, in prioritizing and forwarding strategies identified in this plan and
others to grow the arts and culture sector.
b. Ensure that key staff from the Arts and Culture Division are invited and present
"at the table" for discussions and decisions that could benefit or impact the sector
and placemaking efforts.
c. Revisit the role and responsibilities of the Arts Council as an advisory board
and as ambassadors/advocates for this plan and arts and culture in Fayetteville
Consider assigning liaisons from the Arts Council to other City boards and
commissions.
d. Make Fayetteville as accessible and attractive as possible for events and film
projects by providing streamlined access to key resources. Consider establishing
a special events hub or office to serve as a central point for navigating permits,
event production needs, and coordination with City departments.
e. Collect data on the arts and culture industry to provide impact reports and white
papers on the importance of a strong cultural economy.
CASE IN POINT:
[5.6.e] Oklahoma
City's Special
Events Office is a
division of the City's
Public Information
& Marketing
Department and
provides event
organizers with
guidance throughout
the permitting
process and helps
ensure safe and
successful events.
The office manages
a calendar with a list
of permitted events
and road closure
information to assist
with coordination.
f. Ensure consistency of name usage for Parks, Natural Resources, and
Cultural Affairs and the Arts and Culture Division across the City and in all
communications..
g. Encourage candidates running for city offices to create platform positions on how they will enact policies
related to arts and culture.
Convene a local advocacy coalition, connect it within the region and state and be an organizing force
behind it.
rtl�2veS� Arlo aTisas
pR\DE p p,,R
ACE,
50 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
Implementation
to
51
THE ROLE OF THE CITY
Municipalities play a vital role in supporting arts and culture. Cities are uniquely positioned
to champion arts and culture and match grassroots efforts by allocating staff and resources,
serving as conveners and organizers, building partnerships, leveraging internal departments and
infrastructure, and developing public spaces. Further, cities can amplify and help assure that arts
and culture are accessible to all, prioritizing inclusion and belonging across diverse communities.
These, and other municipal tools are instrumental in creating a thriving arts and culture ecosystem.
The City of Fayetteville holds a key leadership role in advancing this community -wide Arts and
Culture Plan. The City's new Arts and Culture Division and Director have the potential to enhance
and buttress the arts and culture sector across the city and beyond. This plan envisions the City as
a leader, facilitator, partner and supporter of all aspects of this plan.
This Implementation section highlights the key considerations and strategies for implementing this
plan. It highlights those areas which the City is best positioned to lead. Broadly, these include:
Amplifying the voice of the entire arts and culture sector.
Convener and connector for the arts community, building relationships and partnerships.
Initiation of collaboration and advocacy across City departments to advance arts and culture
issues.
Continuing to reinforce arts and culture's importance in City planning.
Investment in physical spaces.
Management and funding for a public art program.
Creation of City policies and procedures to support arts and culture.
Direct financial resources such as grants, subsidies, tax incentives and/or other funding
mechanisms and partnerships.
However, the City of Fayetteville is also not the sole entity responsible for this plan's
implementation. A successful arts and culture strategy relies on the collective effort of a broad
range of stakeholders, including key arts organizations, community partners, creative businesses,
and individual artists and creatives. The City is an essential convener, bringing together these
diverse voices and facilitating ongoing dialogue. By building connections and encouraging
alignment with the plan's vision, the City of Fayetteville can set the stage for partnerships and
collaboration, and ultimately, action.
52 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS:
BUILDING CAPACITY
To fully support implementation of this Plan, the City will need to consider building capacity in
terms of structure, staffing and funding capabilities.
Structural Support
City of Fayetteville Structure:
The Parks Department was recently renamed the Parks, Natural Resources, and Cultural Affairs
Department (PNRCA) to reflect the department's expansion to include Arts and Culture. The City
of Fayetteville created a new Arts and Culture Division under the Parks and Natural Resources
Department and hired its first director in 2022.
Arts Council Role:
The City Council -appointed Arts Council predates the Arts and Culture Division. With this first Arts
and Culture Plan, the Arts Council may need to review and adjust its roles and responsibilities. In
doing so, the Arts Council should consider the following:
Defining Arts Council's role and responsibilities as separate from the Parks, Natural Resources
and Cultural Affairs Board and formalize a liasionship between the two.
Appointment of liaisons from the Arts Council to other City Boards and Commissions.
Appointment of separate public art selection
panels appropriate to each new project,
rather than serving in this capacity itself.
Developing and advising on criteria and
policies for a future Strategic Support Fund
and appointing review panels for the fund.
Committing to regular attendance at art
happenings and events in the community.
Listening and serving as spokespeople/
ambassadors for the creative community.
Designating a liaison or board seat on
CACHE's board.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 53
Staffing Needs
Currently, the Arts and Culture Division consists of 1 full-time Director and a .6 hourly position
to support programming (24 hours/week). Additional staffing capacity will be needed to fully
support and implement this Plan and to have a positive impact on the arts and culture sector. The
following table describes additional staff needed, in order of priority. It is possible that some of
these positions could be shared across departments.
Proposed New Positions Over 10 Years
Public Art Coordinator (full-time): Oversees the public art program, guides budget CIP allocations
for the program, collaborates with City departments to identify potential public art projects,
manages all aspects of public art projects including artist selection, contracts, design, installation
and on -going maintenance of the collection.
Strategic Support Fund Coordinator: Once the City establishes a strategic support fund/program,
this staff position will assist with the creation of policies and procedures around distribution of
funds, oversee the application processes, distribution of funds and evaluation of the program. This
work could scale over time from a professional contract to an FTE depending on the scope of the
program.
Arts & Culture Sector Economic Development Specialist: Serves as a liaison for the arts
community and helps forge lasting programs and partnerships that will help grow the creative
workforce. This position could be shared with [or embedded in] Economic Vitality and/or Planning.
Programming/Events Coordinator (expand to full-time+): As the Division grows, consider
expanding this part-time position (approved in 2024) to address expanding programming and
event needs. With the Ramble coming fully on-line in 2025 and future growth in special events, it is
anticipated the need for event coordination will increase over time.
Arts and Culture Positions 2024 2025-2027 2028-30 2031+
Director
1 FTE
Hourly Support
.6 Hourly
1 Hourly
Public Art Coordinator
1 FTE
Strategic Support Fund Coordinator
1 FTE
Shared Positions
Programming Event Coordinator
.5 Hourly
1 FTE
1+ FTE
Arts & Culture Sector Economic
Development Specialist
1 FTE
54 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
Funding Considerations
Similar to the staffing resources, the financial resources brought to bear for this effort will directly
impact the plan's scope, reach and long-term sustainability. Reliable funding enables the growth
of arts and culture organizations, creative business and signature events, while also supporting
artists, public art and community participation. Identifying and securing diverse funding sources —
through city investments, grants, philanthropy, public -private partnerships and economic
incentives —will be essential to fostering a resilient arts ecosystem. By prioritizing funding
strategies, Fayetteville can ensure that its arts and culture sector remains vibrant, accessible and
impactful for years to come.
Growing the Arts and Culture Division budget should be the the highest priority for the City's
arts and culture investment, as the Division is the City's best resource for impacting, sustaining
and growing the arts and culture sector. The goals and strategies of this Arts and Culture Plan
require the Division's leadership and an expanded role both within the City organization and in the
community. Building the Division budget over the next decade should include: additional staff (see
table), additional funding for initiatives outlined in this plan and expanding operational support.
Establishing a strategic support fund and public art fund are also part of the ten-year horizon.
Estimates suggest the Division's budget would be approximately $1 million in annual operating
costs (not accounting for inflation), with additional set aside funding for the strategic support fund
and public art.
City Direct Support and Investment:
Below are examples of opportunities for the City of Fayetteville to support and invest in arts and
culture.
Continue and increase City funding allocation to the Arts and Culture Division: Expanding
capacity of the division in terms of additional staffing, public art projects and supporting key
initiatives from this plan in support of the arts and culture ecosystem.
Fund Public Art and create a Public Art Plan: Beginning with voluntary contributions from
Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) for art, then advocating for an ordinance requiring a
percentage of annual CIP projects to be pooled into a Public Art Fund (see appendix for more
on Public Art). When funding is established, invest in a formalized public art plan.
Establish a Strategic Support Funding Program: Establishing a City fund to provide direct
financial support to the arts and culture sector in the form of grants or contracts for services,
as well as incubating and seeding new projects within the city.
Fund a Cultural Facilities Study.
Deploy economic funding mechanisms to support arts and culture (see the table below).
Develop public/private partnerships: Identify partnerships and funding opportunities to
support developing new spaces and initiatives. Start with key entities that are already investing
in this work and amplify by joining financial resources.
While the City's support is essential for a thriving arts ecosystem, it should be met with dedicated
and robust funding from non -municipal sources, from foundations, philanthropy, business and
corporate support, private partnerships, organizations, grants and other matching funds as well as
state and federal funding.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 55
Potential Funding Mechanisms
This plan identifies potential funding mechanisms that could support arts and culture and
placemaking in Fayetteville. The following table briefly explains each mechanism. (see Appendix
for further explanation of each mechanism):
Fundina
Mechanism now it worKs
rossipie Hppiicazions
A "percent for the arts" program requires that a
% for the Arts - specific percentage (usually 1-2%) of the total cost of a
Percent for Arts programs ensure that public art is
Public Sector taxpayer -funded construction project be set aside for
a part every significant public sector investment
public art.
made in the community.
Public Art
A city may secure public art funding from developers in
Private sector public art programs can encourage
Funding -
exchange for developer benefits. It can be city-wide or
the private sector to tailor their investments to
Private Sector
applied to a smaller district.
support artists and placemaking initiatives.
Utilizing the same or similar boundary as the current
Central Business
Special district assessment tool created by stakeholders
Fayetteville Cultural Arts District, a CBID could
Improvement
in a defined area to deliver special services in that area,
be a source of funding for investments such as
District (CBID)
as defined by Municipal Code
infrastructure, programming, services and cultural
and creative investments.
Community
CRDs utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to fund
A CRD could help develop spaces and facilities for
Redevelopment
reinvestment and redevelopment of blighted or
creative uses or to upgrade older spaces in need of
District (CRD)
underutilized areas.
rehabilitation for use by artists and creatives
A localized sales tax using the same or similar
Special Sales
Many states have legislation to allow for the
boundary as the current Fayetteville Cultural Arts
Tax Districts
formation of special sales tax districts to fund specific
Corridor can be created. Or it could be broader for
improvements or investments in that same area.
the city limits or regional. Funding can target arts -
based programming and/or cultural facilities.
For income -producing properties, Historic Tax Credits
These tax credits can be leveraged to provide
Federal Historic
can be taken on 20% of the approved expenditures
funding to invest in historically designated
Tax Credit
for renovations and restorations that are listed in the
properties for renovation, restoration or upgrades
National Register of Historic Places.
for use as cultural or creative spaces.
State Of
Projects in incorporated communities of more than
Qualified properties listed on both the state
Arkansas
50,000 receive a 30% credit on the rehabilitation
and federal registers can tap into both tax
Historic Tax
of historic properties. This program is meant to
credit programs, possibly covering 50% of the
Credit
supplement the federal program.
approved expenditures for historic renovations and
restorations.
The LIHTC program gives state and local LIHTC-
LIHTC programs can be utilized to develop
Low -Income
allocating agencies authority to issue tax credits for
affordable housing developments and those
the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of
featuring live/work space for artists. Artspace -
Housing Tax
rental housing targeted to lower -income households.
the national non-profit housing developer who
Credits (LIHTC)
This program incentivizes nonprofits and for -profit
exclusively does housing projects for artists -
organizations to develop housing for low-income
utilizes LIHTC, in part, to fund their projects.
populations.
An Opportunity Zone (OZ) is an economically
Fayetteville has a significant OZ area that can
distressed community where new investments, under
be explored further here. The program can spur
Opportunity
certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax
investment and development and could include
Zone (OZ)
treatments. OZ locations must be nominated by the
facilities to support workforce training, film
state, and the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury must certify
production and other workforce -related uses.
the nomination through the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS).
HOME funds are awarded annually to the City of
Fayetteville as formula grants from the US Department
HOME funds could be used to support affordable
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City
housing (including as part of an Artspace project)
HOME Funds
is required to match HOME funds with non-federal
support to artists and in obtaining
resources. The City determines how to spend their
a rk space
affordable living or live/work spa
f
HOME funds through a consolidated planning process
requiring public participation.
56 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
Evaluation Framework
To ensure the success of this plan's recommendations and monitor meaningful impact over the
next decade, establishing an annual review and evaluation framework for Fayetteville's Arts and
Culture Plan is essential. Reviewing the plan annually and tracking accomplishments will guide
future planning, allow adjustments to be made and ensure the plan remains relevant and effective
in supporting Fayetteville's evolving creative landscape.
In addition to tracking accomplishments annually, the City should lead an evaluation process to
assess the plan's impact on the arts and culture sector and the community. Evaluation should be
completed at least at the five and ten-year mark but may be valuable at years three and eight as
well. Timing for some measures will depend on when the data is available or can be collected. The
Evaluation Framework can be developed from the following suggested key measures but need not
be limited to this list.
Cultivate
Increase the percentage of art students staying in Fayetteville after graduation. (U of A Career
Outcome Reports)
Improve Arkansas's standing from 35th out of 50 states in arts and culture production and/or 34th in
arts employment. (Bureau of Economic Analysis Arts and Culture Production Satellite Account)
it) Improve quality of arts and culture as measured through periodic surveying of the community:
"we need to improve the quality of arts and cultural activities in Fayetteville." In 2024, 81% of
respondents somewhat or strongly agreed that quality needs to be improved. (City surveying
efforts)
Sustain
Increase in City funding for the Arts and Culture Division. (City statistics)
Increase staffing for the Arts and Culture Division. (City statistics)
Increase the amount of City support for arts organizations (granting). (City statistics)
Establish a funding source dedicated to public art. (City statistics)
Creative Places
Fund and complete cultural facilities study. (City statistics)
Track and increase the number of places to exhibit artwork, be it in commercial galleries, coops,
nonprofit or public spaces, etc. (Inventory)
Pursue the next level of Artspace study.
Placemaking
O O Track and increase the number of public art projects installed over a five-year period. (City statistics)
O O Use Cultural Mapping to track and determine new "Creative Nodes" or "High Quality Spaces." Track
D o spaces that are outside the central downtown Arts and Culture district boundaries. (Economic
C5 Vitality & Arts and Culture Division)
Lead
Establish goals for the number of arts and culture sector convenings to occur annually, track
attendance and evaluate the success. (City to track)
Improve the community survey rating that 50.5% of respondents stated they were "somewhat or
very dissatisfied" by the "variety and amount" of arts and cultural activities available to them in
Fayetteville. (Through City surveying efforts)
Maintain high community ratings on the value of arts and culture in Fayetteville. Embed key
10 questions into periodic community surveys: "How important to you and your family are arts and
culture opportunities in Fayetteville?" (74% very important; 16% important in 2024) and/or "Arts and
Cultural activities are important aspects of life in Fayetteville" (92% agree or strongly agree in 2024).
(Through City surveying efforts)
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 57
IMPLEMENTATION TIMING
To assist in implementing this Arts and Culture Plan, the following table outlines plan strategies
into timing categories: immediate, short-term, mid-term, long-term and ongoing. As this is a
community -wide Plan, the community, a broad range of stakeholders and the City of Fayetteville
will need to work together to advance its goals. This collaborative effort is indicated below through
icons showing who the initiator or lead of each strategy might be: the City W, the community:0i
or both W Z. In many cases (if not most), collaboration and partnerships will be needed to realize
results.
One of the first steps the City and the community can take is to host a series of convenings to
socialize the Arts and Culture Plan and identify organizations, community partners and individuals
interested in having a role in specific strategies or topics. These groups can then identify who else
needs to be at the table, what action steps to take, and kick-start those steps.
IMMEDIATE ACTION
Continue to provide entrepreneurial training and resources and ensure it is tailored
1.2.a and directly marketed to the creative sector (ie. StartUp Junkie, FPL Maker to Market
Program and Nonprofit and Small Business Resource Center).
1.5.a Regularly convene the arts and culture sector to facilitate collaboration, connection
and networking.
Intentionally invite historically disadvantaged artists and creatives to attend
1.5.b networking events and to suggest meaningful meeting topics, especially BIPOC
groups, emerging artists and youth.
Reprise earlier 2018 discussions with ArtSpace, a national not -for -profit affordable
1.6.a housing developer, to update past information and begin the next level of research for
a larger live/work project in Fayetteville.
2.1 Develop an arts and culture investment strategy for the City of Fayetteville in
alignment with the recommendations of this plan.
Consider developing a local or NWA regional "Business for the Arts" association to
2.6.b connect the creative and business communities, and encourage businesses to support
and partner with the arts and culture sector.
Community
Collaborators
to*
r� Irr
I
58 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
Immediate Action (Cont.) Community
Collaborators
Evaluate the current Cultural Arts District boundary and potentially expand/
3.2.a reconfigure it to fully incorporate arts and culture opportunities in the downtown. �s
Develop incentives and a funding mechanism to sustain arts and culture within the �
boundary.
3 _ Develop a programming philosophy, policies, and diverse partnerships to activate The
Upper Ramble as a key feature and connector in the downtown area.
Actively and consistently participate in Economic Vitality's ongoing process to
3.4.a inventory and prioritize existing, vacant and underutilized spaces and parcels, .s
including those owned by the City, to further identify spaces for potential arts and
culture uses.
4.1.0 Develop Public Art policies and procedures based on best practices and community �A
needs to administer the program. �
4.1.k Identify key opportunities for public art and placemaking based on upcoming Capital
Improvement Projects and priority development nodes. (See appendix) r4W
5.1 Advocate for a strong focus on arts and culture in the upcoming Downtown Plan. 09*
Identify timing and determine Arts and Culture staff and Arts Council involvement. rrr
5.4.b Create a larger/signature arts market and promote it locally and regionally (and
beyond) as it builds.
5.4.d Build upon the Gallery Hop event and consider a studio tour event to promote visual go*
arts and galleries as a draw.
Build a local coalition of arts and culture advocates, leaders and community political
5.5.a
leaders that meets regularly to identify issues impacting the arts and culture sector
._ �•+
I
and develop strategies for advocacy.
Collaborate across all city departments, especially Arts & Culture Division, Economic
5.6.a
Vitality, Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs, Planning, and Transportation, in
�`
prioritizing and forwarding strategies identified in this plan and others to grow the arts
4
and culture sector.
Ensure that key staff from the Arts and Culture Division are invited and present "at
5.6.b
the table" for discussions and decisions that could benefit or impact the sector and
P�
placemaking efforts.
I
5.6.f
Ensure consistency of name usage for Parks, Natural Resources, and Cultural Affairs
.s
and the Arts and Culture Division across the City and in all communications.
�
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 59
SHORT-TERM ACTION • •
Community
Collaborators
1.1.b
Coordinate with the Economic Vitality department to integrate the creative sector into
future
.
planning and programs.
1W
Ensure equitable access to workforce development offerings, such as creative talent
1.2.b
pipeline development, Level Up Skills Development for creative trades, etc. Be Intentional
in inviting and connecting people to training and resources, striving to lower barriers to
participation and meet people where they are.
Build and publish an accessible, online directory of resources for artists, creatives
1.3.a
and organizations, including local, regional, state and national resources, funding
•o•
opportunities, grants, BIPOC resources, apprenticeships, residencies, databases and
♦ft1
training opportunities.
1.3.b
Sponsor the creation of a searchable database (or promote use of existing searchable
000
databases) for creative businesses to add their available studio and rental spaces.
1.3.0
Host an online creative job/gig board for local artists and creatives to connect with work
i 0
opportunities.
r
Bring recognition to the many trades directly related to the creative economy, such as
9 410
1.4.a
welding/metalwork, sewing/costuming/fashion design, culinary, carpentry, electrical,
_
seat
engineering and others and training opportunities.
1.4.b
Expand the City's definition of the Creative Economy to include skilled creative trades as
.�
called out in the Economic Vitality Master Plan 2024.
1.4.f Seek out opportunities for sharing facilities for training through agreements between City 960
and University or other colleges or Fayetteville Public Schools. �� fry
Support and collaborate with City and community entities involved in affordable housing
1.6.b development. Package funding tools to support the development of affordable housing �� jmj
and help developers make the project feasible.
1.6.e Encourage and support the development of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as rw
affordable live/work spaces for artists and creatives.
Adopt a percent -for -art ordinance with a recommended set -aside of 1.2% to 1.5% of the
2.2.a total cost of City of Fayetteville capital improvement projects (CIP) to be pooled into .w
a public art fund to support art projects and collection management throughout the
community.
2 2 c Support the Downtown Fayetteville Coalition in efforts to increase funding for arts and 000
culture infused events, programmed series, and activations. ArW
Examine code regulations to identify interim solutions that don't require full and
expensive renovations to properties to host pop-up installations, performances or
2.4.0 galleries, in order to encourage temporary uses in vacant spaces either for a short or
longer -term period, thus allowing the buildings to be affordably activated while awaiting
new tenants.
2.5.a Continue to advocate for expanding and making permanent the state -level film tax rebate *00
through the Arkansas Film Commission. �� Arr*
2.6.0 Create a private fund at the Fayetteville Area Community Foundation to accept donations .�
to the Arts and Culture Division of the City.
60 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
Short -Term Action (Cont.)
Community
Collaborators
2.6.d
Spur Fayetteville arts nonprofits to increase their participation and collectively promote
•o•
the NWA Gives Day of Giving event to engage the community in giving.
rrr
2.6.e
Develop a larger arts market/special event as a high profile opportunity for artists,
goo
�� ra*
artisans and creatives to sell and collectors to buy.
3.2.b
Identify and prioritize key sites along The Ramble for arts and culture uses and activation.
��
Strive to develop a culture of 24-hour activity along Dickson Street and into the
3.2.0
Downtown area. Activate spaces underutilized in the daytime/early evening to create
a more 24/7 economy and entertainment zone for all ages, while also encouraging a
�� rms
nightlife that is welcoming to the entire community, not just college students.
Firmly establish The Square as an arts and culture destination within the Cultural Arts
3'
District. The City's Arts and Culture Division should continue to advise on the use and
r000
iss
activation of this space.
Engage in a collaborative planning effort for Mount Sequoyah with key stakeholders,
3.3.b
including the City, Mount Sequoyah Board and neighbors, to strategize future
development, activation and use of this iconic site and how to financially maintain, sustain
rrorr
r
and grow this unique and historic place.
Improve the stage area at Gulley Park to improve the quality of the popular free summer
3.3.0
concerts, including a raised and covered stage, small support area and power/sound
��
position.
Strengthen the connection and resource sharing between the University and the
3.5.a
community, facilitating greater community use of existing University theaters, galleries
._ r090
' a
and other arts and culture spaces.
Promote the University's School of Art's community programming for use of the Art +
3.5.b
Design Center's resources (includes non -degree registrations/scholarships and the tuition
rr�>t
free Senior Razorback program).
Explore additional community uses of University and Fayetteville Public School art studio
3.5.0
spaces, equipment and theatre spaces, perhaps through summer residency programs,
���
mentorship or collaborative programs.
Promote and make widely -available spaces at the Fayetteville Public Library to increase
3.5.d
usage of their Center for Innovation, Event Center for performances, and exhibition
06y
opportunities.
4.1.a
Formalize a City Public Art Program, expanding on current public art efforts.
&
4.1.b
Establish sustainable funding for public art.
4.1.d
Consider enacting a "voluntary" public art contribution on select City projects ahead of
s
r�
sustained funding.
Prioritize hiring a City staff position to manage the public art program, oversee
4.1.e
maintenance of the existing collection and serve as a liaison with City departments,
�s
ensuring public art opportunities aren't missed.
I
Prioritize engaging and inviting diverse and underrepresented artists for public art work
4.1.f
opportunities such as commissioned projects, city -sponsored exhibitions, and/or artist
�� areas
registries that promote local artists.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 61
Short -Term Action Cont.)
Community
Collaborators
4 g
Seek to spread public art throughout the city of Fayetteville and its Neighborhood
Centers, especially areas lacking in publicly accessible artwork.
Collaborate with the newly formed Downtown Fayetteville Coalition to identify
4 1.1
opportunities for visual arts to enhance the downtown experience, such as alley
•�•
improvements, dumpster blinds, lighting, temporary art programs, etc. that could
incentivize public art and add to creative placemaking.
4.3.c
Support the Historic District Commission's efforts to identify significant historic structures
and landmarks and the creation of a local historic district designation program.
Encourage the designation of structures and physical locations with historic relevance on
4.3.d
the Arkansas Register of Historic Places and/or the National Register of Historic Places,
.w
making them eligible for both state and federal grants, and state and federal Historic Tax
Credits to help fund restoration and preservation of these properties.
5.2.a
Create a common brand for the arts and culture sector to increase exposure and instill
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pride for the entire community.
Collaborate with Experience Fayetteville and other key partners to develop strategic
000
5.2.116
marketing and promotion of Faytteville's arts and culture and the Cultural Art District, to
increase cultural tourism, bolster the local creative economy and increase participation.
5.2.b*
Expand, invest in, and promote Experience Fayetteville's online calendar to highlight and
•�•
provide access to Fayetteville's arts and culture.
5.4.e
Build on and expand arts programming through the City's recreational offerings.
Identify and track leadership training opportunities at the local, regional and national
5.5.b
level, promote the opportunities locally and consider providing stipends or scholarships
for local artists, creatives and cultural leaders to attend.
Strive to connect with similar like-minded advocacy groups and coalitions in cities across
5.5.c Arkansas to strengthen regional and state advocacy for initiatives that benefit the arts
and culture sector.
5.6.0 Revisit the role and responsibilities of the Arts Council as an advisory board and as
ambassadors/advocates for this plan and arts and culture in Fayetteville.
5.6.e Collect data on the arts and culture industry to provide impact reports and white papers
on the importance of a strong cultural economy.
5.6.g Encourage candidates running for city offices to create platform positions on how they
will enact policies related to arts and culture.
62 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
MID-TERM ACTION
Community
Collaborators
1.2.0
Expand film and video programs and training at the college and university level as well as
high school career programs.
1.2.d
LDevelopmusic industry specific training in areas like licensing, sync, publishing andcoring.
r
1.3.d
Develop a matching program to connect artists and creatives to jobs at employers with
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creative sector needs, building a pipeline of creative workers.
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Sponsor business development programming and education, including tutorials, lectures,
6;
1.3.e
or Q & A sessions for tax, legal, finance, business planning and branding/marketing
�
assistance.
Investigate creating programs to connect artists with professionals who can provide low-
1.3.f
cost or pro-bono bookkeeping, grant -writing, accounting, legal, and other professional
.� I y
' �
services.
1.3.9
Sponsor ongoing education, apprenticeships, mentorships, leadership training and
�.f, � o
residencies.
r
Conduct a study for the City and Region that provides analysis of where there are
1.4.0
gaps in creative trades (what's needed) vs. what's being provided. Target training for
��
specific needs and gaps. Seek potential funding from the US Economic Development
Administration (EDA).
Establish new targeted incentives to encourage developers to provide affordable housing
for creatives utilizing some of the city's funding (i.e. carving out a portion as a set-
1.6.0
aside for artist housing). While Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funding can be
challenging to utilize for small scale affordable projects, HOME and CDBG funds can be
deployed to incentivize some affordable artist live/work units in a larger project.
Partner with planning to create a density bonus to encourage more affordable housing
1.6.d
and/or affordable creative space (galleries, etc.) by allowing for increased building height
or building area in exchange for increased affordability requirements.
Enact a funding mechanism to support the development of arts and culture and creative
2.2.b
business within the boundary of the Cultural Arts District (see also Creative Spaces), such
as a Business Improvement District (BID), Community Reinvestment District (CRD) or
other available mechanisms.
Enact a strategic support funding program to provide financial support to arts and
2.3.a
culture organizations, institutions and initiatives. Programs like this can be a tool for
targeting areas of community need, supporting the work of organizations and for
incubating and seeding new projects within the city.
Ensure equitable access to support funding by valuing social impact and the priorities
2.3.b
and initiatives for and by historically disadvantaged groups including Black, Indigenous/
and People of Color (BIPOC).
Explore the creation of incentives for developers to invest in/develop/carve out room for
2.4.a
arts and culture spaces, studio spaces for working artists and creative business. (Bonus,
Enhanced Development Menu, Public Art, etc.)
2.4.b
Explore incentives for property owners to establish more spaces for creatives to work and
��
maintain affordability. (Lease incentives, tax abatement/refund, residency program, etc.)
4
2.4.d
Explore studio space stipends for artists and members of the creative economy.
V4 O
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025 63
Mid -Term Action (Cont.)
Community
Collaborators
Consider establishing a Mayor's Art Award to honor both artists/creatives and major
2.6.a
philanthropists and donors. Host an awards event that brings donors and artists together,
��
providing public recognition and encouragement for future philanthropy.
I
Conduct a citywide Cultural Facilities Study to identify creative space needs and
000
3.
determine the right mix of cultural facilities to support arts and culture in Fayetteville.
I
(3.1.a-h, 3.2.e)
Identify key existing arts and culture spaces through the cultural facilities study that
could be amplified to meet needs and growing demand and what investment might
3.3.a
be required. Introduce key existing and potential arts and culture spaces as a another
�_ ���
' W
component for analysis within the context of the of Neighborhood Center Advancement
Plan (NCAP).
3.-
Maintain and track locations for potential new arts and culture uses and investment.
r0y
I r
3.4.b
Advocate for strategically acquiring parcels and structures in key neighborhood centers
��
outside of downtown for proactive arts and culture development projects.
3.4.0
Seek to better distribute art and culture spaces, also identified as "high quality places" in
099
the Economic Vitality Master Plan 2024, across Fayetteville to ensure access to all.
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4.1.1 Pursue a Public Art Master Plan to review and refine guidelines and policies, prioritize oft
projects, locations and define new initiatives.
Consider developing a more robust mural program, including developing a formal festival
4.1J (like 2O17's Green Candy Art Action festival or 2O2O's Sprayettville) and revamping ��
existing utility box murals and a wall + muralist match program. I
4.2.a
Consider establishing design guidelines and/or a design overlaywithin the revised Cultural
��
Arts District boundary.
4V
Identify and prioritize cultural and historic places of significance for cultural groups and
4.3.a
diverse communities, with the intent to recognize, preserve, remember and celebrate the
heritage, culture and character of historic spaces throughout Fayetteville.
Activate public spaces and culturally important neighborhoods through the arts, such
4.3.b
as public art, murals, events, festivals, signage, etc., to celebrate a sense of place and
._
'
���
m
identity for the community.
5.3.a
Work with local arts and culture organizations, producers and entities to create and
goo
sustain beloved community events that build on modeled past successes.
��
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5.3.0
Create experiences for local artists to co -mingle with regional, national or international
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artists to inspire growth and development of the local arts sector.
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5.4.0 Establish a program for arts and culture pop -ups in vacant storefronts, on the Ramble or goo
in other public spaces to support new businesses and art ventures. r� rrs
Make Fayetteville as accessible and attractive as possible for events and film projects by
5.6.d providing streamlined access to key resources. Consider establishing a special events hub .�
or office to serve as a central point for navigating permits, event production needs, and
coordination with City departments.
5.6.h Convene a local advocacy coalition, connect it within the region and state and be an 090
organizing force behind it. �� dress
64 CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
LONG-TERM ACTION
Community
Collaborators
Seek out partnerships with University of Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas Community
1.4.d College, Northwest Technical Institute and others to increase creative trades workforce •oo
training opportunities and to connect people currently working in or studying trades with W2111111
the creative sector.
Investigate opportunities at the high school level to connect and assist creation of
1.4.e expanded curriculum and workforce education for youth who are interested in exploring
these careers.
Create a design guidebook with ideas and inspiration on how artist housing can be
1.6.f incorporated into development and redevelopment projects (e.g. providing floor plan
concepts that demonstrate how live/work space might look).
Advocate for a voter -approved sales tax to support arts and culture in Fayetteville,
2.2.d potentially in conjunction with parks, enduring green land acquisition and operations/
maintenance (Arts & Parks) or with climate action efforts.
2.2.e I Explore, long-term, a possible NWA regional tax benefiting arts and culture.
Survey and adjust support funding over time as community, artist and organizational
2.3.c needs change. Initial areas of need may include artist and musician work opportunities,
arts education, neighborhood vitality through public art, capital investment, arts and
culture experiences and programs, technical/training support.
2.5.b Seek to develop a local, municipal -level tax rebate to support local productions and drive
outside filmmakers to Fayetteville and utilize local resources.
5.3.b Create new, large-scale signature events that celebrate Fayetteville's unique strengths
and local identity.
5.4.a Develop a signature week-long community -wide event(s) for a quintessential Fayetteville
experience.
ONGOING ACTIONS
l.l.a Develop the creative workforce citywide and advocate for artists and creative workers to
be paid a living wage and receive business sector support.
U.c Assure that the creative sector is accounted for in future housing planning at the City
level.
Irs
rs Ir1
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to*
Community
Collaborators
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4.1.h Continue to encourage public art as a means of celebrating, remembering and honoring *00
diverse communities and neighborhoods within the city. �� ArW
5.5.d Continue collaborating with CACHE to identify opportunities to partner and convene the •00
arts and culture sector regionally. oW
Continue to connect and collaborate with state, regional and national arts associations,
5.5.e like Arkansans for the Arts, Arkansas Arts Council, Mid -America Arts Alliance, South Arts, y
and Creative West.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE Arts & Culture Plan 2025
65
SECTION 7
•l•I=]@I*
w
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Community Survey
.lesults and Analysis
2024
The Fayetteville Arts and Culture Survey was available to the community from March to June via
SpeakUpFayetteville.org. Additional surveying was done via paper surveys in July and August. Overall
the general survey received a total of 498 responses. The following is a summary of the responses and
analysis thus far. *Questions marked with an asterisk were not included in the paper survey.
Out of a total of 613 Responses: 89% of respondents were Fayetteville residents; predominantly from
Central/South Fayetteville (48%) and North/Northwest Fayetteville (52%). (11% were Non -Residents)
Zip code information indicates that most of the respondents are proportional to the zip
code data demographics for the city (with 72701 and 72703 being the majority of the
city.)
7270148% Central and South Fay
72703 30 % North Fay
72704 20 % NW Fay
72764 1% Springdale/far north
72730 1% Farmington/far west
Age, Gender, Race
Respondents for this survey tended to be younger, predominantly female and predominantly
white. This data is consistent with demographic data for age and race (Fayetteville's median
age is just over 29 while the national average is 39). Anecdotal evidence that arts survey
respondents tend to be more female.
h ttps://www. in foplease. com/us/censuslarkansaslfciyettevill eldemographic-statistics
https://dcitacommons.org/placelgeold/0523290?utm medium=explore&mprop=aqe&poet=Person&hl=en
Respondent Ages
17 or younger 2%
18-24 4% (6% under 24 Note: this seems to be a bit low given the current
demographics, likely due to timing with University schedule and student access to
survey)
25-34 25%
35-44 29%
45-54 17%
55-64 13%
65-74 7%
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 1
Over 75 3%
Respondent Gender
65% Female
28% male
7% non -binary or prefer not to answer
Respondent Race
78% white (reflects current demographics)
7% prefer not to answer
Nonwhite: just under 14%
• American Indian/Alaska Native. 1%
• Two or more ethnic races 4.1%
• Asian 2.5%
• Black/African-American 2.5%
• Hispanic or Latino/a 3.3%
• Prefer to self -describe .6%
When asked to "share your relationship to arts and culture in Fayetteville, the majority of
respondents identified as people who appreciate arts and culture and who enjoy attending
arts events and collecting art (about 55%) and 45% of the respondents who identified as
working artists or arts business owners. *
I enjoy attending arts and culture activities and events. 35.7%
1 appreciate the arts as a general community member. 14.8%
1 am an art lover who collects art. 4.4%
I am a working artist/performer/musician. 14.8%
1 like to make art, perform or create, but don't pursue it as a living. 13%
1 am a creative business owner or entrepreneur. 8.9%
1 work in the arts and culture field, but not as an artist. 8.3%
The arts aren't for me..5%
Other 2.9%
Fayettevillians are proud of their outdoor amenities! When people were asked "When people
visit Fayetteville, what do you recommend they do or see?" two of the top five recommended
destinations were outdoors. Also high in the top five were the Restaurants/Breweries, The
FAPL and Museums. Near the bottom was local shopping and the University or Razorback
athletics.
1 Hiking, biking and outdoor recreation 76.1%
2 Restaurants and breweries 73.2%
3 Drive through beautiful Ozarks 57.3%
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 2
4 Library 56.5%
5 Museums 54.6%
6 Festivals and special events 52.8%
7 Live music venues 49.5%
8 Performing arts venues 42%
9 Our city parks 41.2%
10 Mt. Sequoyah/The Overlook 36.5%
12 Razorback athletics 31%
11 University of Arkansas 30%
13 Local shopping 30%
When asked "What types of arts and culture activities do you participate in or attend?" a
whopping 80% of the people surveyed responded that they enjoy attending the
Farmers/Makers markets in Fayetteville (80%), and art exhibitions/galleries were the next
favorite (68%) The next favorite cultural activities are tied between experiencing live music
(65%) and culinary experiences (65%). Attending dance performances and crafting scored very
low, with only 28/27% of respondents choosing these options.
1 Farmers/Maker markets 80%
2 Art exhibitions and galleries 68%
3 Live music 65%
3 Culinary experiences (great food/restaurants) 65%
4 Botanic gardens 61%
5 Festivals 60%
6 Museums 58%
7 Live theatre 54%
8 Murals/Public Art 53%
9 Art sales or markets 47%
10 Craft beverages 43%
11 First Thursdays 40%
12 Creating my own art 39%
13 Art making classes 33%
14 Film/cinema 33%
15 Dance performances 28%
16 Crafting 27%
What creative activities do people enjoy most frequently? When asked "How often do you
participate in or attend the following in Fayetteville each year?" 66% of people responded
that they were likely to "View murals & public art" AT LEAST 3-4 times a year or more.
Perhaps this frequency is related to the fact that the murals are free and visible in all parts of
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 3
town. 51 % of respondents stated that they experience visual arts or galleries at least 3-4
times a year, and 50% of respondents stated that they are likely to enjoy "culinary and craft
beverage experiences" at least 3-4 times a year and 17% said they enjoy culinary and craft
beverage experiences at least 10 or more times a year. Everyone has to eat, right? The
opposite was true of art classes/workshops ( 48% stated that they never attend) and dance
performances ( 45% said they never attend). The following creative activities were in the middle
ranges for frequency for Fayettevillans:
• Theatre/performing arts events
• Museums
• Arts festival or events
• Film or cinematic events
• Folk or cultural events
According to this poll, it seems that there is room for growth in the "variety and amount" of
Fayetteville's arts offerings/activities. Just under 15% stated that they were "somewhat or
very dissatisfied" by the "variety and amount of arts and cultural activities that are available" to
them in the city. The majority —over 69.1%-- of respondents stated that they are "somewhat
satisfied or satisfied." Only around 13% percent stated they were "very satisfied."
"How do you feel about the variety and amount of arts and cultural activities that are
available for you in Fayetteville?"
Very satisfied 13%
Satisfied 33.6%
Somewhat satisfied 35.5%
Somewhat dissatisfied 12%
Very dissatisfied 3%
On the other hand, when asked "How important to you are arts and culture
opportunities in Fayetteville?" over 90% of people surveyed stated "Important (16%) or Very
Important (74%)." Under 2% stated arts and culture opportunities were not important or not at
all important.
For the majority of people surveyed, the overall benefit of the arts is more about providing a
sense of wellbeing and community --which far outweighed any of the economic development
or tourism benefits of the arts. "When asked "What do you believe are the top three most
important benefits of arts and cultural activities and offerings in Fayetteville?" the top three
answers, by a significant margin, were:
1 Creates a sense of place and community 55%
2 Makes Fayetteville a fun and lively place to live 44%
3 Increases quality of life and livability 140%
4. Supports and creates active and unique neighborhoods 28.4%
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 4
5. Represents and celebrates our diverse communities 26%
6. Causes positive changes in our society 24.2%
7. Brings communities together 18%
8. Provides opportunities for people of all ages to learn 16%
9. Beautifies my communities 15%
10. Contribute to Fayetteville's economy 12%
11. Attracts tourism 4%
12. Improves Fayetteville's reputation 3%
13. Other (please write in additional examples) 2%
People in Fayetteville participate in the arts for their own personal enjoyment and happiness
and to have new experiences. When asked "Why do you attend or participate in arts and
cultural activities?" the top answers were:
1. To have new experiences 72.5%
2. To be entertained 72%
3. For my personal happiness and wellbeing 69%
4. To support local artists 66%
S. To feel connected to my community 66%
6. To spend quality time with family/friends 63%
7. To learn something new 58%
8. To support the local economy 48%
9. To meet new people 34%
10. To express myself 22%
11. To celebrate my identity and/or cultural background 14%
12. It's my job 13%
The arts are regional. Fayetteville residents will travel outside of the city to participate in the
arts as well, which is not surprising given the proximity to neighboring towns and their art
venues. This might also indicate that people travel more regionally to experience the arts —and
people are coming to Fayetteville for certain arts opportunities. When asked "Do you attend
arts and cultural events in nearby communities?" 82% responded that they did, and only 18%
did not.*
Survey respondents feel strongly that Fayetteville is a creative place, and that the stage is set
for an even stronger creative sector. The survey asked how people felt about several
statements:
"Fayetteville is a creative and vibrant city."
69% Somewhat or Definitely Agree
"Arts and cultural activities are important aspects of life in Fayetteville."
92% Somewhat or Definitely Agree
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 5
"There are enough opportunities for me to participate in arts and cultural activities in
Fayetteville."65% Somewhat or Definitely Agree
"Participation in the arts contributes to the education and development of children."
82% Strongly Agree
"We need to improve the quality of arts and cultural activities in Fayetteville."
81% Somewhat or Strongly Agree
"Everyone deserves equal access to the arts."
88% Strongly Agree
There is not much consensus on why people don't engage in the arts, except there is general
agreement that there needs to be better marketing and communication about arts offerings in
Fayetteville. For some, the arts are inaccessible because of the cost. When asked "What are
some of the obstacles that may have prevented you from engaging in arts and cultural
programs and events?" 65% stated that it was due to "Too short notice/Didn't hear about" or
it was due to the "Cost/too expensive" (54%)*
1. Too short notice/Didn't hear about it 65%
2. Cost/too expensive 54%
3. Worry about parking 36%
4. Don't have time, even if interested 23%
5. Not interested in what's being offered 20%
6. Events or activities are sold out 16%
7. No one to go with 16%
8. Do not feel welcome 11%
9. Can't find/afford childcare 10%
10. Don't like to attend activities after dark 8%
11. Other issue/ tell us more 7%
12. Lack of transportation to get to the activity 7%
13. Prefer to do other activities 6%
14. Concerns about accessibility 6%
15. Prefer to go to other cities for arts and cultural activities 5%
16. Concern about language or cultural barriers 1%
The survey reveals that the majority of people surveyed think that the City should spend
more on arts and culture in Fayetteville. When asked "Understanding that the City of
Fayetteville has a limited budget, should the City increase or decrease its investment in arts and
cultural activities and programs?" 64% stated that the City should spend more or much more
on the arts; 27% stated that they should spend "about the same" and only 3% stated that the
City should "spend less or much less."
Spend more 42%
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 6
Spend about the same 27%
Spend much more 22%
Don't know/no opinion 6%
Spend much less 1.5%
Spend less 1.5%
Write-in results
For several questions, respondents were asked to write in answers to questions. Themes
included:
• People love some of the arts programs and events that have been happening or used to
happen and they want them back.
• Fayetteville should embrace its grass -roots efforts and local artists.
• People want murals and public art everywhere!
• More music festivals!
• Not enough museums, galleries, mid -sized music venues.
• Art in and around the natural areas/bike routes would be a big hit.
• People need more studios, flexible spaces, places to create. Cooperative spaces to
share.
• Artist housing & affordable housing is needed.
• Fayetteville should be a place that nurtures and enables its local artists to take creative
risks. It should be a place where young/emerging artists can thrive and find support.
• People are really excited to see what happens in the Ramble.
Do you have any big/transformative ideas to set Fayetteville's arts and culture apart from
other nearby communities?
A Big "Community Center " ... focus in wellbeing (fitness / pool etc ) and in same the building a a big Big
Art Cultural Museo Center ...
After People train every day ... can walk to see / enjoy the art expositions ...
All this central M; near by the library H
1. An awarded artist residency, apartment, or stipend that helps with housing and to encourage their
continued effort to make Fayetteville a vibrant city to live in.
2. Art Fair
3. Mentorship program for artists
1) PLEASE bring back Sprayetteville! That took place in 2020, and it was run by the owners of American
Shaman Kava bar. If the City of Fayeies for the sheer volume of murals we'd have. I also think such
murals could focus on destinations and the trail system. Once we connect the new kayak park (Combs)
to the Greenway, there could be water-themed art leading toward the park.
2) Skayetteville. An artistic extravaganza for roller and inline skaters in Fayetteville! We could make
Fayetteville a true skating destination. We have a phenomenal roller rink, and we also have exceptional
trails for outdoor skating, as well as the art court for dancing. We could make an entire event like
"Skater Migration" in Miami where we do a parade up/down a flat part of the Greenway. The reason
I'm so into this idea is it combines things that make this area unique, such as our trail system, our
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 7
incredible roller/inline skating scene, and our diversity and passion for the arts. You could work with
Clementine Simpson and other local "skate influencers" to make this happen. It would be so fun to
have the skaters do "flash mobs" around town for different holidays, like a Thriller flash mob during
Halloween or a Grease-themed song in the summer.
3) Arts camp for adults. I would love to learn how to do spray paint art/public murals so I could
contribute to the public art along the greenway! I'd sign up for all sorts of art camps to learn how to do
pretty much any type of art!
4) Art-themed bike tours along the Greenway. If we continue to really foster the development of public
art along the Greenway, there could be guided bike tours to show tourists our fabulous art scene!
a large culinary event like Roots Fest used to have on Thursday nights. Develop it into something like
the Aspen Food & Wine Festival
A LARGE public park inspired by the Gathering Place meets interactive, immersive arts experience.
Community block parties to get residents interacting with one another. Revitalize eyesore
neighborhoods like Midtown, in the actual heart of Fayetteville, instead of continuing to make already
bougie places bougier - there are lots of young families, international and hip students in this area that
could benefit from arts corridor type investment. The Marlos Taco Shack lot could be a beautiful
pedestrian friendly destination with string lights overhead and more hole in the wall restaurants like
leverett lounge! Put on free music and movement classes for the under 5 crowd. Shakespeare in the
park. Offer grants to activate underutilized spaces. Build on the native foods/plant scene.
A thriving arts community is inseparable from a city's well-being, yet the current housing crisis
threatens its all of that. Without affordable living options, artists struggle to stay in this town,
diminishing the "funky" that used to exist.
Again, actually fix up the planting on the razorback Greenway
an arts center/ building would be great for the community. for all ages to learn to draw, paint, music
lessons, acting classes. Might be a pie in the sky idea, but it would be a great central place to connect
the community as a hub to lead to our existing theatres, art galleries, music festivals, etc... a shared
space for all, existing and new and for all ages
An increase in literary arts activities.
Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. Art is a healing tool and we need more
opportunities to explore the full spectrum of the human condition and perhaps trauma recovery,
collectively, through public exhibits of emotionally evocative pieces. Perhaps partner with local non-
profits that center work with trauma or violence survivors. Homelessness, victims of crime/justice
system failures , survivors of sexual assault, etc. Provide opportunities for these survivors to create art
and display it. Often, those who suffer deep trauma are also systemically economically impacted and
limited in their ability to access such healing tools. I believe it would be healing for the entire
community to feel less alone in their struggles if they see pieces that relate similar traumatic
experiences to their own with an ability to find hope and healing again. Fayetteville could lead this
innovative, artistic, whole -health approach for the state and the nation.
Artify the trail. The whole trail
Free use of bikes/scooters for transportation
Cross city transportation bus wise
Artist housing and studio developments, artist supplies and equipment share or donation program,
percent for the arts program, funding for arts clubs and organizations, public art workshops,
Fayetteville Art Week, and niche music/film/art festivals.
Artist housing. It would be absolutely transformative for the artists already living here.
Artist studio spaces and fine art sales, galleries. Many small dot spots have had to close which were u
owe and run by local artists
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 8
As I stated above; studio space! The spaces could also be open to the public (at artists discretion) to
view how certain works of art are made.
Be more open to the future and less worried about trying to keep Fayetteville in 1970. Less Rousseau,
more Marc Andreessen and Camille Paglia.
Beautifying our streets, landscaping, more trees, less parking lots, attractive architecture.
Being the college town in NWA it should be the hub for nightlife and music. Eclectic music.
Bentonville is where one goes to "consume" or "spectate" arts and culture. Fayetteville can be where
we create and produce arts and culture.
Bigger murals on the sides of buildings. Something that is a picture destination. Like Fayetteville is my
Favorite ville, but on a bigger scale.
Pop up art exhibits where you can purchase local art. The square would be a great location for this.
Bike -able "museums" like a sculpture garden connected to our bike trail system
Bring back the Music Festival of Arkansas
City art anywhere and everywhere! Excited to see what the park will look like on West and Dickson and
really hope there will be cool art installations
City should work with the Animal Shelter to promote adoption & adoptable pets by doing that thing
that's popular on tiktok where pets make a painting in a zip lock bag and then have an "art show" and
silent auction where citizens can bid on paintings to raise funds for animal shelter and promote
adoption at the same time!
Combined Venues and have program everyday this way instead having bldg just sitting there while
there is nothing going on. Waste of resources!
But that is whole Fayetteville area with everything from housing, to shops and community- museum- or
theaters.
Community open free art making on a regular basis
Continuing to balance nature within the city with urbanization. As such I think the city really needs to
promoting infill and higher density building, while also restricting urban sprawl like developments (like
the rausch Coleman developments on 15th).
This will allow for more green space to be preserved or expanded within city limits. While also reducing
sprawl into the outer areas of Fayetteville.
This will also allow for more arts spaces to be included in development, both dedicated spaces and
outdoor art installations.
I think embracing the natural side of arts would really set us apart from the other nearby communities.
Create a festival around a cultural moment. It could be St Patrick's Day - lean into the musicians and
dancers in the area - share stories about emigrants in the area, bring amazing talent here that visits
Texas and Missouri and surrounding states.
Create a small scale Fringe Festival when the upper ramble is done. I saw a short play from the back
seat of a car with 4 other people and the play was the dialogue of the characters in the front seat.
Incredible. More avant garde events. Not everything has to be family friendly all the time.
Create housing grants for practicing artists
Create more spaces in downtown to make it an art hub.
Create truly affordable housing and work spaces for artists. Pay artists decent fees when using their
services. Be proud of Fayetteville artists and promote them outside the city limits. Don't use arts and
artists as mere economic factors and to help gentrify the city.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 9
Creating sustainable concert series. Bentonville dreams of their arts programming sustaining itself
financially. It's propped up by grants and families. City sessions and sonic guild are doing this, would be
nice to see something like that here.
Fayetteville is unique as most of the working artists in NWA live here, but we mostly make our living in
Benton County. We would take a show of less pay (and even quality) to not go to bentonville because
of the location and we're proud to be Fayetteville residents. More downtown city programming,
utilizing parks/natural spaces with mature trees is something the other cities cannot offer. Their parks
are new and the trees aren't developed. A Wilson park Saturday morning acoustic songwriter series
(low budget) where you invite a local food truck, and encourage the community to bring
snacks/blankets. To increase turnout you could hire the greedy goats to remove ivy nearby or invite a
couple organizations to set up a table/booth and help promote (food loops, city recycling?)
Creative spaces that allow artists to work while engaging with the community without large financial
commitments. Rotating displays of a wide variety of art from smaller budget artists that may not have
time or capacity for large inventories.
Creative studio spaces that residents can rent out for a small fee and use for various types of
art/music/content creation. Similar to renting private study spaces at the University. Ex: more space for
musicians to practice, artists to paint large pieces, etc. Fayetteville Public Television has seen success
with renting out equipment and recording space for video/audio creators.
Cultured Markets, Greek Festivals, Jewish Food events, Rennaissance Fairs, italian food events, food
truck style events. Religious art markets displays and flea markets. Many other cities similar in size to
Fayetteville host events like this people will travel from all over to join in and people who currently live
here will better understand and connect with their community if the people that live here are being
more accurately represented in the cultured events. FOOD is a huge motivator, if you have good food
people will attend, and they will stay for shopping, art, music, dancing, games and friends.
Designate a flowering tree or flower for Fayetteville that grows well here. (Like a dogwood tree or
crabapple. Tulips or Daffodils. Azaleas.) Then encourage or create a program where every business
plants that. Encourage residents to also do so. Plant along heavily trafficked areas. Make it to where
people travel to Fayetteville to see the Azaleas bloom for example. Like people travel to DC to see the
cherry blossoms bloom. Coordinate this with the Botanical Gardens as well. I still think there should be
a major BGO expansion. Also more wildflowers plantings at roadsides and parks would be nice.
Develop engaging programming for the new civic space/upper ramble. Concerts, arts or craft fairs, race
events, parade finale's, etc.
Doesn't the city have people that are exposed to new ideas through conferences and associations?
Don't thin the average Joe has a clue what's missing because because it's missing.
Electric shuttles to attend
Embrace diverse populations and break the stereotype of Ark.
Embrace one of the best things about Fayetteville, its natural aspects, and stop destroying interior
forests for half a million dollar housing for out of staters.
Embrace our heritage of trees, nature, and arts. We have built this town ourselves and it has been
based on our connections to nature. Celebrate this and protect it through policy that protects trees and
conservation and through investments that incentivize small creative businesses.
Empower people already creating grassroots events. The talent is already here.
Expand botanical gardens; add larger music venue and museums. Music genre hall of fame?
Fayetteville (and Springdale) feel more home grown, going back to roots. While Bentonville feels more
like bringing in from the outside (not in a bad way, just different).
That being said, I've been to events celebrating early white settlers in the Ozarks. But I would also like
to see indigenous groups celebrated, and their voices lifted. It feels like there is a void there.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 10
Feature and foster local artists.
Feels like you are trying to get consultant services for free with this question. Does the person whose
idea you use get any compensation or credit?
Focus on the holistic care of your citizens. You cannot actively support the artists of this city, or the
cultural groups of this city, without making meaningful connections or thinking first about issues of
health , poverty, and housing. The arts absolutely cannot be supported in a vacuum. Efforts that do not
address the above are disingenuous and performative.
Free activities that make art accessible to all!
If we are honest, the real competition for best art scene in this area is Bentonville. They are going to be
hard to beat because of all of the money. What would make Fayetteville stand out over Bentonville?
Not sure we have to! If you offer free events like the weekend kick offs, I will do things in Fayetteville
instead of driving the 30 minutes to Bentonville. Help me escape and feel like I have done something
special without leaving my hometown. Give me something to do besides go home and watch tv. Help
my kids feel like their voices matter and get them inspired to create! I want a funky, accepting
community that embraces who they are.
Get the entire community involved
Encourage creativity both individually and collaboratively
Offer venues for people to exhibit/share their works and activities
Given the surrounding communities and distance from other existing ones, a local permanent site
renaissance or medieval festival would probably do really well in the Ozarks.
Grant $$
Grants from our corporate leaders would be wonderful! Could drive or area into model status for
others.
Have a Fayetteville live music site on line to provide listings for music lovers to go to and see what is
available 7 nights a week. This will increase attendance at all of the shows in town.
Have an art sculpture like a painted pig that is along trails, different businesses and buildings
throughout the community that tie the community together through art. The drawings on the pig could
change depending on the "owner" and get updated for events, themes, etc.
Host some Sofar Sound events in the area
https://downtownlincoln.org/explore/first-friday
I believe wherever there is a blank wall (like the giant wall on the new parking deck on West) should
have an art piece commissioned. Staring at neutral concrete is the exact opposite of what Fayetteville
is all about. Maybe start a fund that goes specifically to these commissioned pieces? I'm sure that's
already a thing, but it doesn't seem like it to me.
I don't think it's about amount spent as much as priorities and where/how money is spent. I think the
love could be spread a bit more.
I mentioned them. Spend reserves on our trails and parks. Create an event coordinator position and
give that person the staff and resources they need.
I think if we had a community arts center that would be great! Think like a YMCA, or "Boys and Girls
Club" for artists. I understand that we have the Community Creative Center but that center, as far as I
know, only hosts classes and membership is something that artists cannot afford to pay.
This center would act as a co-op/gallery of sorts where there are individual rooms where people can go
in and freely create. Ideally, the space would allow for artists to donate supplies to it so that everyone
in the space can use them, artists could sell work from the space and display work in the space.
Membership cost would be low and would only have to be paid by those who are looking to either sell
their work out of the space. People would have to volunteer their time to help with the operating of
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 11
the space and keeping it clean -day to day things. There could be classes, and workshops hosted out of
the space in order to bring in revenue to help keep the bills paid BUT the focus would be on actually
creating a physical art community space ... a space that serves THE ARTIST. The space would focus on
serving THE ARTIST so that they CAN create the work that goes out into the community for others to
experience.
I think Mount Sequoyah and Botanical Gardens have a ton of growth potential. I adore both of these
places and could see so much happen there. I think supporting these venues is important. I think
Mount Sequoyah could lean into the wellness retreat/spa arena and also the retro camp vibe as well.
The overlook should be majorly expanded. I am a group member of a local Mom group on Facebook. It
consists of locals, recent transplants, and people moving here. I can't tell you how many times people
have asked about or lamented about the lack of a true spa/wellness retreat experience. I think that
could be a cool avenue for Mount Sequoyah to explore. I think the Botanical Gardens (or Mount
Sequoyah) would be a great candidate to apply for the NWA Design Excellence program the Walton
Family Foundation has. I think that is the name of i. The Botanical Gardens I know had a master plan
that was in the news in the past that included a future expansion. I think it has so many great cultural
events there that supporting it seems like a great decision. It could draw tourists to the city while at the
same time providing a better quality of life for the people of Fayetteville. I would look strongly at
Digital Art. I really think a Digital Arts festival could be really cool and unique.
I think Mount Sequoyah has the potential to be an exciting art park and residency destination.
Additionally I would love to see the historic brick building between WAC and T2 turned into a
Fayetteville Arts Museum. It is definitely something missing for our city.
I think the city is missing a strong core to unify the arts community. There are many markets and
opportunities within the city but this divides the crowd that would regularly attend these events. My
partner and I say this from personal experience, as we participated in nearly a dozen markets
throughout Fayetteville over the last year or so. Comparing these markets to previous markets we
participated in in Monroe, Louisiana, we noticed that Monroe had larger and more Wang aged crowds,
even though it's a less affluent and less snag aged city when it comes to the arts. The main difference
was in the quality of the organization and sense of community that the arts council in Monroe has.
They don't have the opportunity to host dozens of markets a year, and so they make sure the little
numbers of markets they have are extremely well advertised and organized. I feel as if Fayetteville
could achieve this exact same results, but tenfold. Our community here is more engaged and willing to
participate in the arts, we just need to get everyone on the same page to make sure our events are a
true success for both the vendors, attendants, families, and ultimately the city!
I think we should have more frequent farmers markets and put an emphasis on local artists to join in
I think what makes Fayetteville different from other cities is that our art scene is more focused on
smaller artists and performers. I love that when you are supporting the arts in Fayetteville you are
supporting a local artist. I think the city should continue to give a platform to a variety of local artists
If cost is affordable and events are well advertised, more people will participate
If the arts and entertainment district found a way to carve out a pedestrian only space (even if only
after 6:00, on weekends, etc.), I think that could go a very long way in livening up the area. Cars are
noisy and get in the way of performers. We need density not parking lots, so ideas collide and mingle
and meet, not bumpers.
If we could find a way to make the razorback greenway to be tied into arts, culture, and excitement I
think that could be really transformative. This could be art infused into the path itself, it could be cool
tunnels with art and lights within, it could be a whole host of different things that expose so many
people to art in a way that would be so accessible and fun and promote the things that already make
NWA so great!
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 12
If we had a music trust, or a musicians union, or support from the city in any way, it would set us apart
dramatically. We need to be cultivating new, unique artists and recording artists. *new ones*
In a perfect world we'd have a venue downtown that could be activated inexpensively by artists for
exhibits and art installations such as Meow Wolf.
Incorporate U of A and Fayetteville high into art events.
Invest in artists and the community before focusing on more murals and building.
Invest in redeveloping areas of the Downtown, Uptown and the 71B Transit Corridor connecting the
two.
Invest in the culture that's here. Several artists in the community do not have the opportunities that
others may have.
Invest in your artists before they're all gone.
Isn't that what you get paid to do??
It will be impossible to cultivate a community of local art and artists without a comprehensive housing
plan and immediate concrete actions (beyond plans on paper) to reverse recent trends.
It would be amazing to have a City of Fayetteville Gospel Choir. That would be an uplifting experience
for all who are involved/attend, and it would make the current choral scene more musically diverse.
It would be fun to hold some kind of community wide crafting competition. It'd be fun to get to watch
people craft real time and a fun way to showcase local makers
Let Fayetteville grow and stop pushing out businesses. Currently, everyone drives up north for Arts and
Culture and their restaurants as they are much better than what is offered in Fayetteville. If the city
were allowed to grow normally over the last decade we would have a larger budget for arts and
culture. The current system of pushing out any business only hurts Fayetteville and the arts as it is
slowly decreasing interest in the city as a whole. Letting only car washes and oil change locations
doesn't improve Fayetteville or it's citizens in the slightest.
Let's bring the North Forest Lights to the Ramble or some version of it. Let's figure out how to engage
Mt. Sequoyah area to be a gem for our artist community, bring biking trails from east Fayetteville to
the top of Mt. Sequoyah and connect our parts of the communtity.
Local is key. We are not bentonville and do not want to be bentonville.
Look toward traditional rather than the latest new shiny thing, keeping community grounded rather
than transient.
Love outdoor art on trails and murals on buildings in B'ville.
Mainly just creating way more public art all over the city. So much of Fayetteville feels like suburban
sprawl, so anyway, that neighborhoods can develop their own identities through arts would be
extremely helpful! Even creating neighborhood murals would be so transformative when you compare
Fayetteville to the other areas in town. Making them as whimsical and quirky as possible would be
ideal!
Make it local! Communities north of us bring in events and entertainment from other communities.
Create art and culture exhibits and activities from/with local Arkansas artists.
Make run down buildings open , accessible and AFFORDABLE to artist to have places to create.
Make sure that not all events feel too sterile/curated. Bentonville has a monopoly on corporate arts &
culture vibes, so we should double -down on the fact that Fayetteville is a bit weirder!
Maybe try to get builders to build better looking buildings. Too much stark modern boring stuff being
built. That's not " Funky" and is making Fayetteville less attractive.
Maybe we can focus on music since Bentonville has the art scene
Mixing wellness and art
More art and patron to support us!
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 13
More art exhibits. Partner with local galleries. When art is displayed it gets artists talking which leads to
a more connected art community. Make sure to overlap genres in exhibits to bring in more people. Not
every event needs food trucks.
More artist -led initiatives.
More collaborations between different kinds of creative ventures. More interactive public art.
More innovative, experimental events that are available to people who are less physically able. Old frail
people are left out and want art as much as anyone.
More large public art works and murals. I love going to my hometown of Fort Smith and seeing the
Unexpected project. I'd heard that Fayetteville turned that project down. And while I'm super happy
for Fort Smith, I was sad because that would bring tourism/money to our area. I love what Bentonville,
Springdale, and Rogers are doing and am not sure why Fayetteville seems to be excluded from CACHE
and other programs that the Waltons/Tysons support.
More murals and installation pieces by local artists!! And not the same artists repeated lots of times...
hire new people! More installation spaces. Talk to @maddhousestyle
More murals. Install statues and locally made installs along popular streets like college and MLK (which
just opened an art school by Hill St,) improving quality of life while also encouraging walkability. I think
also adding murals to the pavement on the bike trail would be very cool, more installs along the bike
trail that could also provide some source of integrated solar lighting would help deter crime, improve
walkability, encourage exploration, would be very cool.
More music
more public art along trail, maybe a section dedicated to art or a sculpture garden.
continue to leverage the college to create partnerships between the arts program there, public schools,
and the community
More public mural workshops or community art wall events. More Ozark centered folk festivals.
Celebrate regional history and folk craft.
Murals murals everywhere! Street painting too where safe! More murals in schools!
Music festivals
Music festivals
My biggest concern for Fayetteville is the increasing traffic. We are growing so fast and really need a
viable public transportation system, centralize the arts and cultural experiences, making parking
somewhere outside that Big area and have public transport to it.
My MIL is taking a sewing class / fashion show in another city. More fiber arts!
Support local artists housing. Its a lot easier to be creative when you don't have to worry about
skyrocketing rent
My one thought is that we're probably spreading our art and artists too thin and the venues and artists
end up competing against each other instead of supporting each other. It's a good problem to have but
we don't have the population to support how much we have going on .... yet! We have a lot of spaces
and it's kind of spread out. I think the concentrated efforts to focus on one aspect at a time, lately the
ramble, is smart. My big transformative idea would be to create a non -university theater space (for
film) near the square.
Nothing big/transformative- but making it more known what our traditional/yearly events are and
making sure those are quality events every time.
Oh baby yes. More murals, murals everywhere. Initiatives to encourage development downtown. A
new outdoor music amphitheater that takes advantage of the amazing Boston mountains to the south.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 14
Opportunities to view films - start a Fayetteville Film Fest?
Have artists paint creative items like other cities do and place them around the city (we've done this
before, i.e. hogs, rocking chairs, etc. - something unique to Fayetteville)
Our parks are great venues for festivals and performances. We can't compete with Crystal Bridges.
Public transportation between Bentonville and Fayetteville would be a great choice.
Outdoor water park with nature preserved- Underwood's Park
Parking is an issue to come to any events in our cultural downtown or Dickson street areas - cost and
availability. Being late and Fear of getting towed and or ticketed are not a great motivators to coming
down to the arts corridor
PRESERVATION
Provide a free/extremely affordable performance space for local nonprofits
Provide a safe punk venue so people don't have to put on DIY house shows. One understood to be an
adult setting, for example, smoking should be allowed.
Public art installations, like a mural tour
Restaurant crawls, street festivals
See the trolley idea. Trolley can have a rotating "gallery" of local artists. A mobile gallery with art inside
and out.
Seems like more people would rather drive north than stay in Fayetteville for entertainment, a lot due
to parking issues, another is that Fayetteville has turned into a over priced college town with
unaffordable homes
Site specific performance, Taylor Mac, bread and puppet
So many. I would love to take a few people willing to listen around Fayetteville and show them the
actual places people visit and what makes us unique. It would be cheaper to allow the small businesses
to flourish. Fayetteville's overall business model makes no economic sense long term. On the path
we're on now, build up will continue until it sucks here, artists can't afford to live here, and then people
will bail. I wish I could explain how important the arts are for long term city growth, but this box is too
small.
Stay focused on local up n comers, they've been holding the vision this whole time
Stop spending so much to be the best biking trails in Fayetteville or Parks and rec. use that money to
make festivals for kids of different ages, different cultural events, a place that's covered but not to big
like in Springdale on Emma. Maybe we already have a place we can use, it needs easy parking and easy
accessible for all. Free to attend.
Subsidized spaces downtown for artists and performers to work and/or display/perform their work. It
doesn't even need to be fancy and polished.
Support arts institutions from the back end (what CACHE should have done if it had been siccessful)
Take advantage of the presence of the University of Arkansas to incorporate a community of educated
people providing and maintaining a well educated local community of an environmental and social
diversity aware population. The current and increasing non -permanent student population is not
enriching the uniqueness of our city, nor is our permanent community able to maintain prosperity and
permanence of its uniqueness. Surely, there's a better way for the University and the local community
to be better connected and involved with the impacts of each other.
The big transformative thing really would be to prioritize the growth of artists. I think most
communities that say they are arts/culture communities don't really walk the walk, you know? In order
for arts to thrive, artists need to have places where they can (afford to) live and learn and work and
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 15
that is really difficult to come by. I realize this is not just a city issue, and I am speaking as someone
mainly involved in music. There are amazing people in our community who are working on this (shout
out folk school!) but it has to be just as important to support the people who live here as it is to
welcome students, sports fans, and tourists. It's definitely about getting good venues in place, but it's
also about affordable housing in the places where you want artists to be.
The biggest opportunity I see for Fayetteville is investing in the arts and culture of the various
neighborhoods in Fayetteville. As the city grows, having these little pockets of supported diversity and
culture throughout the city will relieve pressure on downtown and allow Fayetteville to expand
uniformly across the city.
The current WAC lease expires in approximately 25 years. We might want to consider a 2,200 seat
venue within 20 years. That is the size which is missing in our region.
The Roots Festival set a significant precedent for showcasing the artistic, culinary, and musical
contributions by diverse, vibrant cultural groups through time. Fayetteville has its own history and mix
of cultural groups on which to focus and engage in creating an annual or biennial festival unique to the
City.
There are many artists that live in Fayetteville. More encouragement of collaboration within city for
Fayetteville artists to work toward a common goal/piece or work with visiting artists.
The area is in need of more art that becomes central to the place. Wilson Park has the castle that is art
but can also be experienced and enjoyed throughout the year. The Arts Corridor should have more art
that people happen upon and associate with Fayetteville instead of having to go out of the way to view
art. It becomes central to the Fayetteville experience versus having to search it out. The Walton Arts
Center as the starting point of the corridor needs to become more welcoming and artistically
inspiring/inquisitive from the outside. The corner steps are wasted space that the public could be
experiencing and enjoying art. Sustainability, enjoyment, and inclusion should be key factors of the arts
and culture of Fayetteville as we plan for the future.
There would probably be more participation in the arts if the city wouldn't kowtow so much to a select
few groups or individuals.
This arts corridor will make or break things for Fayetteville. If we can't make that more than just a park,
then we've failed.
This is a question to ask the artists in our community, they know what makes this place this place
instead a weird manufactured thing like Bentonville
This is not a big idea, but I think more could be done to publicize and showcase Fayetteville's rich
architectural heritage and resources, especially domestic architecture.
Tourists want a quaint, historic, traditional town (think Eureka Springs) in which to stroll around, attend
arts events, get food, and shop. We should be filling our downtown with the traditional, human -scale,
historic -looking architecture through which people want to stroll, rather than with alienating
Modernist architecture that drives people back into their cars.
Transformative ideas
Unique festivals and kids museum
Utilize our downtown spaces more often and close down areas for car traffic.
We are a little more homegrown/diy than the folks up the corridor and local creatives are doing
amazing things- how can we support and expand on that?
We just need to start competing in the sector of art fairs.
We need to stop depending on Walton money. Because the Waltons have a history of financially
manipulating situations to get venues transferred from Fayetteville to Bentonville (their home town).
Examples: The Amp. The original art gallery at the Waltin Arts Center (they had it shut down for several
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 16
years so as not to compete with Crystal Bridges). I'm sure there are other examples I'm unaware of.
Fayetteville needs to wean itself off the Walton money teat.
We should not have to go to Tulsa for arts, shopping, quality museums. Zoo, use local people to do
public art. We need a new mayor county judge. Jail is not an arts destination
Why does it all have to feel like there is an agenda. Why does it have to be about race, religion and
sexual orientation. Why can't we just say things are for everyone and stop labeling everything as for
this or for that group. Our children won't look at everyone as equal if we keep labeling everything.
Work with juvenile courts & mental health coordinators to develop art therapy programs that heal
juvenile offenders and reduce recidivism
Would love to see a riverfront park with music events similar to what is in Fort Smith
would love to see more support for local working artists. I feel that Bentonville has the national reach
and national artists but Fayetteville could be a place that really supports local artists. how can we
provide them with more affordable studio spaces and gathering spaces? it's cost prohibitive for an
average person to build a small business with the costs of real estate, ex: we no longer have an art
store!
Yeah stop trying so hard to be the martyr town of Arkansas. You simply do not have that ammo. Again,
one of the whitest towns on the map and you continue to misconstrue investing in the arts as investing
in the diverse community you so badly desire to brag about at your conferences with city governments
that are over 20 times the population and diversity you are. It's embarrassing how self-serving you act,
recalibrate your reality and serve t your source of tax revenue.
Yearly big weekend Festivals
Yes culinary events
Yes, real affordable art studios.
Younger people involvement in planning. All these old people do it and that's not how it should be. Put
younger people on the boards all across the city government.
Are there additional arts and cultural facilities you would like to see developed in
Fayetteville?
A drop -in kids art studio
A food hall would be also an amazing addition to Fayetteville. Id love to see a large fountain in a plaza
or courtyard added somewhere in the downtown area or a park. With tables and chairs around it.
European style. The green lawn that is empty beside the library would be cool to utilize as a pocket
park or market if the Fayetteville Public Library agreed to it. I'm always at the library wishing that there
was a park there for the kids to play at or just benches.
A free streetcar that goes from the downtown square, up Block Ave, then all the way up Dickson to the
U of A. A student on campus should be able to step onto a trolley that takes them to the Farmer's
Market and back again with as few barriers in terms of cost and convenience as possible. It should be a
tourist attraction, take pictures with the trolley conductor. The trolleys should have their own social
media to document their experiences.
A free use performance venue would be an incredible resource for the community
a fun, small space for rotating interactive installations
A history museum, a science museum, a planetarium
A larger concert venue
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 17
A Light Rail Transit System connecting the four Downtowns and Regional Growth Centers.
A mural art alley.
A music hall/museum of sorts with instruments for people to explore
A place for bands to perform that can't afford (or has an audience that can't afford) to play at the WAC
or George's or As live. There used to be Backspace, and Stage 18 on Center Street, both gone now,
possibly due to the pandemic stopping shows for years. Now apparently there is the HopOut DIY
collective, who don't even have an official venue, and Nomad's South Fayetteville which is tiny and not
sound proofed.
A pottery facility that artists can use for their craft and also teach classes. We used to have a place in
the Nelson's Crossing shopping center that would take orders for decorative plates and mugs that
would be personalized with whatever you want on it.
A proper art museum that regularly showcases local artists.
A quilting guild/group.
A theater that shows independent films would be a huge gain for Fayetteville. A graffiti park would be
rad; like the Cadillac Ranch or the Castle in Austin, TX. Neighborhood pubs.
absolutely! more accessible art galleries and live theatre
Aerial dance community, classes
Affordable artist residency or co-working/co-living artist homes.
Affordable community center
Affordable spaces for dance performance and dance classes
affordable spaces for practice, studios, etc. that are integrated into the city instead of pushed to the
outside.
An art and culture building to house art events and connect locals to artists and resources. Similar to
Experience Fayetteville
An art museum with a growing foundation and collection. With opportunities for traveling collections
and local and Arkansas artists.
Anything on the west side
Art and sculpture park, children's art museum, and art installations along the bike trail and at our
public transport stops (ex: bus stops & cross walks) be amazing.
Would love some of our local parks to have rotating culinary spots free for local artisans to take up and
feature their creations (example: food stand at Walker Park featuring local entrepreneur that could sell
their goods... near the crowded water splash park in the summer :))
Art Museums within Fayetteville
Artist residency program
Arts in the Park plays, for free admission. It's a great way to introduce children to plays. It provides
families with a free wholesome cultural experience they can do together.
As an artist with a limited home studio, I would like to see, affordable studio space offered. I am a large
works artist and there are times of year, like now where I am putting a new collection together for an
upcoming show or sale, and my entire home is forced to become an art studio.
As someone who teaches art and craft classes it can be difficult to find an affordable venue for my
classes. In my dream world Fayetteville has a community center where rooms can be reserved for
creative workshops at little or no cost. These rooms would have good lighting, a sink, plain concrete
floors, and plenty of folding tables and chairs on hand. There would be different size rooms to
accommodate a variety of workshops. There are plenty of event spaces available in our area but most
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 18
of them don't want you to get paint on the floor or furniture. And in order to pay for these spaces I
have to raise the price of my classes which excludes a lot of people. And makes me sad.
As stated in a previous question, I'd like to see a stand alone comedy club in Fayetteville. The likes of
which, would rival the famous comedy clubs from around the country.
Ballet
Ballet troupe with a permanent home. Classic ballet, not modern dance.
Ballroom dancing studios that are affordable
Be nice to have a show that showcases individuals with disabilities. Or shows that feature kids selling
their crafts/wares
Better outdoor facilities/stages, with quality acoustics
Bring back a local theatre Like the Ozarks theater or Dickson Theater
Center Street between University and Gregg Streets... Under the train bridge; It is necessary to do an
artistic intervention to put more lights and Murals... It is part of the greenway, but it looks very
abandoned and decaying, dirty and with graffitis
... It could be a very beautiful arch on symbol of Fayetteville..... the library / the train / the University
...everything converges in that corner
Children's theatre.
Christmas market included in the Lights of the Ozarks.
Community art spaces outside of the Waltons
Community participation programs where citizens are invited to do theatre, visual arts, dance, music,
and possibly landscaping/ beautification projects of public areas.
Develop an outdoors music venue for festivals at Mt Kessler.
Encourage more outdoor music & art (like what is planned for the Ramble)
Eventvenues
Excited for the completion of The Ramble!
Fayetteville is in need of an open studio space where artists can come in and do their art amongst
other artists. This facility could be a drop off point for art supplies donations and for a monthly fee, you
could use the supplies available at the facility. Think of an art library with all kind of tools that can be
loaned out.
Fayetteville needs more outdoor music spaces! Something like Grinders in the crossroads area of
Kansas City, Mo would be awesome.
Giant mural on new parking garage and every large surface in the city as possible
Group activities that are inclusive like open play Pickkeball
Group non -passive activities where singles can go. Dancing, speeches, open rack Pickleball. .
I do not feel the facilities are as necessary if the types of events do not improve. Outdoor street fairs,
existing areas and parks can be utilized to meet a massively improved culture and art experience.
I feel we could be welcoming and commissioning more permanent art in our public spaces, namely
sculptures. The Cultural Arts Corridor, while a nice public space, still seems completely devoid of any
permanent sculptures like would be expected in such a space. A set of memorial sculptures honoring
the armed forces at Veterans Park (currently having nothing ... again something you would expect at a
park bearing such a name) would provide an amazing sense of place at an already nice park.
I hope for vibrant and frequent programming in the new civic plaza. The physical elements of the Arts
Corridor are great, and we have had great programming in the Ramble. Now we need to extend that
into the civic plaza . This will make or break the whole project. People will flock to Dickson on foot and
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 19
bicycle for events. Please, frequent live music and art festivals in the plaza! Reference the Railyard Live
setup in Rogers.
I know this is absolutely not the cities' job but like. I would love to see a jazz club on dickson. That also
maybe had certain nights where it was a traditional club marketed toward like the average millennial
and not courting a college student crowd. I& just spitballing here but it would be fun to go out dancing
and not feel like I am surrounded by children.
I like that the "Ramble" is protecting the creek and gardens and providing an outdoor venue for
enjoying art and nature.
I say we start by maintaining the ones we have, that doesn't mean we won't get new art/ artists, it just
means they will have someplace to start
I think more spaces or better use of spaces would help —it also feels that some things that happen
happen at the sands time and end up poorly advertised or poorly attended so a strategy that spaces
things out across different spaces would be interesting
I think that ship has sailed. Crystal Bridges and The Momentary have that covered. We can't even
repair signage or art that is in disrepair.
I think the film community is ready for development, but it would require an influx of resources and a
theater space near the square that isn't controlled by the university. I think inviting major visiting
artists like the library does is a great example and could be a major step for the film community too.
I think we need more venues for all ages and more listening room style venues for older folks.
I want to say yes, but I know it will take away from already scarce housing.
I would like to see event spaces outside of just the downtown area
I would love to see a dance school in Fayetteville for all ages that could also house a dance company of
NWA. I would also like to see more centralized gathering places like a food hall.
I would love to see a smaller than George's ticketed listening room (100 capacity would be great). I
hear this frequently amongst musicians. Musicians typically make less at the front room at George's
with their operational costs and door split than they would at a Mexican restaurant patio.
I would love to see an equivalent to the Yvonne Richardson center near Gulley Park! More art -focused
community engagement in additional areas beyond downtown would be great!
I would love to see an indie movie theater in Dayetteville that I could walk or bus to.
I would love to see Eugene Sargent start up a sculpture collective. But he would need financial help for
that to happen. I've been applying for grants, but I'd love some help with grant writing for artists. He
could be teaching young people welding as it applies to making sculpture.
I would love to see pottery wheel options for kids under the age of 10. Immersive art would be really
cool- I love Meow Wolf and those types of exhibits. Really, anything that combines different mediums,
such as music and painting are fun! More partnerships with local schools would also be great.
I'd love a meow wolf
I'd love to see a natural history museum! Other than that, more facilities like the ramble would be
great. And more opportunities for art workshops!
I'd love to see smaller theaters with aspiring actors, rather than just the Walton Arts Center!
In general, I feel the city has so much potential and its important for us to continue to try to improve
the city for the sake of all that live here. A cost of improving is that more people will want to come live
here as well but that is a great sign that we are creating an environment that is so desirable that others
would want to be here too.
Independent film venue
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 20
Indigenous art spaces. DIY art spaces (like all the ones that have been/are being torn down to
accommodate gentrification & student housing). Performance Art spaces (not theatre productions -
performance art).
Indigenous culture
Keep WAC healthy and thriving! Promote shows more.
Let the small facilities survive. Protect them. If you don't know where they are ask some artists. Our
muralists a good place to start.
Likewise community is nice, more places that operate similar might be beneficial.
Live music, art fairs, use all the public spaces
Local art museum in Fayetteville! with opportunities for local artists to be displayed
Maker spaces and places for lower -income artists to set up a studio. Innovation labs.
Maybe a place that's covered for outdoor craft festivals, doesn't have to be huge. Springdale has a nice
one on Emma.
More accessibility to studio space for artists of all disciplines. More community lead arts education in
multiple disciplines. Live/work space for creative professionals.
More affordable adult art classes
More art installations on trails and pedestrian sidewalks/pathways
More art museums. and galleries
More Art spaces and interactive green spaces
More community centered art installs like art park on poplar
More dance clubs please! More large public art! More music festivals that are not
roots/bluegrass/hippy music. We need museums (art, history, or ecology) and other rainy day /
inclimate weather options.
Would appreciate more lower cost venues that can be rented by individuals and groups for creative
endeavors.
Better architecture and design should be encouraged.
Affordable housing options for artists and creatives are desperately needed.
More dedicated artist housing, affordable housing in general, and shared studio spaces in walkable
areas would be the most significant stimulation to the local artist community. I would also love to see a
world -class museum and/or foundation dedicated to architecture and interior design leveraging our
rich architectural history (Fay Jones, Segraves, Stone, Williams, Fowler, Jacks, Blackwell, Baribeau, etc.)
More varying sizes of music venues, from intimate to concert halls, would help to rebuild our music
scene.
More emphasis on time tested traditional thread and fabric arts that have endured over decades and
evolved from necessity into art forms such as quilting and other needlecrafts.
More family and child oriented spaces. Would love to see a multipurpose arts community center with
rooms available to the public and free/donation based workshops. A children's museum. Don't spend a
bunch more money if cost to the public is going to remain high though. You all need to work on making
it more accessible and affordable, not bougier. Work on making existing things like first Thursday
better events (where are the bouncy houses like in Bentonville? The happier my kids are the longer we
can't stay and spend money supporting local businesses). Bring something like 8th St market to
Fayetteville -- but focus on making it more practical and funny instead of corporate.
More hands-on immersive activities
More like the bub at Wilson Park. Why don't we invest some of our reserves in improving our parks.
More splash pads, playgrounds and stages like Concerts in the Park at Gulley!!!
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 21
More live music
More local museum space and galley space, maker spaces, coffee shops or breweries with art nights
More mural programs, funding for different types of art shows and markets, venues that are artist
friendly to exhibit (cheap).
More music venues
Rehearsal venues
Community art venues
Affordable and community building studio space
More music venues with deep promotional partnerships beyond the current circuit of acts
More nature venues
More nature/outdoor centric activities
More opportunities for musical talents. There's a very dead music scene in Fayetteville.
More opportunities for people interested in working behind the scenes
More outdoor kid friendly.
More outdoor events
More outdoor sculptures along the trails.
More outdoor venues for theatre and other performing arts
More performance art in other venues besides bars.
More public art outside the UofA and Historic District areas.
More safe and welcoming places to share and educate community members about multiculturalism,
multilingualism, and use of technology to preserve and increase our natural environment .
More small galleries
More small music venues needed and more galleries or museum access within Fayetteville. Art fairs
too
More that are child centered or family oriented
More variety
More venues for live theatre.
More working spaces for artists' community and work.
Mount Sequoyah has arts and culture facilities that need support to flourish.
Music festivals and museums
Music festivals would be nice
Music venues
Need more museums/exhibits. Would love to see a natural history type museum.
Neighborhood arts spaces would help create a sense of community and place in a growing city. The arts
corridor feels forced, artificial, and amorphous.
No
No, horrible idea. Waltons say otherwise I'm sure.
None come to mind at present.
NOPE we got enough.
Not at this time, but very excited about the Upper Ramble!
Not really because I feel like the heart of the arts culture is diminishing to make way for large money
driven venues. The small cool places are being torn down and replaced with capitalism.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 22
Not really.
Not really. It seems like we have plenty. A comprehensive guide to spaces both public and off the
beaten path would be helpful though.
Not sure if current community art -making classes/opportunities (and cost) are adequate to the
demand
open/community crafting/art spaces, or affordable studio space
are there incentives for arts related businesses that offer creative outlets to the public (painting,
crafting, multimedia, classes)?
Opportunities to view films - start a Fayetteville Film Fest?
Our square needs more development to encourage evening events
Outdoor concert venues
Outdoor music venue
Pedestrian only spaces in arts and cultural areas of the city.
Perhaps a greater variety of craft and art classes at the Creative Center. It's a great concept that could
be expanded upon.
Public art making opportunities on the regular. Free and open to all. Healing arts
Public maker spaces. Access to fully equipped shops with machines and support. Heavy machinery like
table saws, M
miter saws, band saws, drill press, lathe, welder, 3D printer... and STAFF to assist.
Smaller local sites in neighborhoods
Something like Chelsea Market would be a dream with lots of food and arts vendors
Something like Crystal Bridges lol
Something on the West Side of town (across I-49 off Wedington)
Something similar to Coler Preserve with the Airship coffee shop. Myself, family, and friends spend A
Lot of time there, but I'd love to have something like this in Fayetteville. Combine Nature, Walking
Trails, Coffee/Beer shop, and somewhere my kid can run around safely while I relax is the ultimate
experience. Add some chill live music to that experience on occasion and art along the trail is the
cherry on top. I'm not sure this even falls under Cultural Facilities, but I'd love to see another outdoor
swimming pool in Fayetteville. Take that as a side note if it doesn't fit in with Cultural Facilities.
The current WAC lease expires in approximately 25 years. We might want to consider a 2,200 seat
venue within 20 years. That is the size which is missing in our region.
The diy spaces we once had and are losing will be the downfall of creativity here
The folk school is new and exciting
The Quonset huts (Backspace)— but those are dead. Lala Land— but that is also gone. Fayetteville
Underground, but also gone. Other than Mt Sequoyah, it's difficult to think of a remaining place with
grassroots artists.
There's a lot of emphasis on visual arts, I'd like to see a greater promotion of literary arts. The current
literary activities are mostly at the library (which does a fantastic job!) but the people who attend tend
to come from a small subset of the community. What would draw the general public to literary events?
University Museum with archeological activities and presentations
Black history museum with cultural activities
Unsure.
We don't really have a museum
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 23
We have a Folk School now which is awesome! But limited capacity. I would love to see a Folk Center
kind of like Mt. View.
We should not have to go to Tulsa for arts, shopping, quality museums. Zoo, use local people to do
public art. We need a new mayor county judge. Jail is not an arts destination
While George's is great, Fayetteville could use more live music venues or perhaps do a better job at
attracting reputable live music performers and artists. The Walton Arts Center would make a fantastic
venue for musical acts that cater to young people but that doesn't seem to be a priority for the
management team there.
Wood shop!
Would love to see more all -ages venues and spaces for young independent musicians to play loud
music and express themselves. There have been a few grassroots house concert type situations spring
up here and there around town where local garage bands and young musicians gather, but they
understandably often get shut down because of noise and parking issues. It would be nice to see
another venue akin to Backspace emerge.
Would love to see more live music - Fayetteville does a great job with local and regional artists, but I
would like to see Fayetteville bring in bigger artists
Yes
Yes - the Botanical Gardens does an amazing job with their events - small scale but best in class in
Fayetteville. Blow it up big time!
Yes a 8 th st market
Yes —facilities in no way affiliated with Walton funding.
Yes, a general outdoor space for hosting events and festivals. With power hookups, and that's easy to
access for load in and load out and a covered area in case of rain.
Work with FPL to do better advertising of existing resources (maker labs) so that people know they are
out there. Then eventual expansion of these types of creative tools that are typically cost prohibitive -
kilns, laser cutters and printers etc.
Yes, real affordable art studios.
Yes, see question 23.
Yes! And art walk! See other answers.
Yes! Open studio spaces. Woodshops are messy and hard to come by.
Yes! Please buy that church on Township at Gulley Park and make it an arts -infused food hall!
Yes.
Yes. More museums. More art museums and such.
Younger people involvement in planning. All these old people do it and that's not how it should be. Put
younger people on the boards all across the city government.
What types of arts and culture activities would you attend or participate in that are NOT
currently offered in Fayetteville? What's missing?
Free Theater Music concert Performance !!... Both institutions, Walton Center and Theater, should
frequently offer free shows so that everyone has access to theater
A ball. Dress up ball
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 24
A city art social for artists.
Open studio days.
Free art appreciation courses for the community
A Digital Arts Event or Festival with experiential/interactive displays as well. Movie Nights at Gulley
Park!! A German style Christmas Market to combine with Lights of the Ozarks on the square. Get
community members involved near the Downtown area to host an event similar to Lights in the
Heights in Houston. It is SO fun. I lived in Houston Heights in my twenties and never missed the event.
It is such a fun neighborhood/community event. A Witches Ride of Fayetteville for Halloween similar to
Witches Ride of Ocean Springs. Very fun and family friendly event. Plays into the popularity of biking in
the area. A family friendly event in January or February to lift the seasonal depression that often
happens after the holidays are over. Maybe a food truck festival that collabs with Frost Fest and add
fireworks or a city bonfire. Include old school family/kid games in the day to keep warm i.e.
Wheelbarrow races and egg races. Or maybe work on building the Mardi Gras parade up. A "choose
your own adventure" mural series on the trails or in town. Like the choose your own adventure books,
but make it a mural with local places (or maybe just smaller wayfinding signs and a story you could pick
up at the visitor center). My kids would love this but so would I. Folk/Bluegrass/Blues Festival
combined with workshops/classes for art. Where you could listen to music, experience nature, and
watch art/cooking/craft demonstrations or participate in mini classes.
A Fayetteville -based ballet company, more events that are not focused on breweries/beer
A Film Festival would be fun. A city-wide music festival where all of the city parks have stages with
performers, much like the free concert series at Gulley Park, but all over town. A public art gallery that
has a constant rotation of local art. An art themed pub crawl.
A larger museum.
A museum experience. Fayetteville has a long history of exceptional makers (furniture and instrument
makers especially) and artists. A central hub to see past and current art would be fantastic.
A speaker box/stage like Hyde Park in London. People could give speeches to anyone who wsljsbup to
hear. Or they could ding or even jarioje if a plug was available. A city sign up on a website could
organize (and limit) time slots.... And somewhat control whose presenting about what.
A ticketed small capacity listening room (around 100 capacity) like Stage 18 was, I love hearing local
music without everyone talking over it and also as an artist this would allow me to host more events
here instead of Bentonville. I also find myself going to Bentonville for the larger outdoor events, I
recognize this is likely a budget thing, but bringing larger acts downtown (or even back to the mall
parking lot) would be amazing.
Affordable art classes for adults
affordable art studios in the city. Like in abandoned buildings or such. ...and when I say affordable I
mean something an actual artist can afford not all the BS places out that the rent is the same as
houses, thats not affordable and you will never have a real growing arts community if the artists can't
afford it. Which right now they can't ...and it doing nothing but getting worse.
All the racist ones
Alternative Press Expos, art installations, Independent cinema
An anual arts festival on the downtown square
An area, preferably all within walking distance where you gallery hop. It's close to restaurants,
shopping, too. I would advocate for downtown of course. An event, like an art walk would coincide
with First Thursday so maybe the galleries are open later those Thursdays. Perhaps there are special
events at those galleries those nights. It would be such a wonderful addition. And it would be FREE.
Usually my first Thursday experiences are a little lackluster because I want art and galleries to be
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 25
included! I moved from Lincoln NE and they have a great First Friday event where all local galleries
participate. It may be worth checking out how other cities to doing it and I urge to you adopt the same!
It's so wonderful. And Fayetteville is missing out.
An Art Fair. This would give local artists the opportunity to sell original work. While craft markets are
many, the craft market clientele is not geared toward the fine artist. A fine art fair, in contrast, could
bring in local and international artists alike to attract collectors. I could see an art fair having some
association with events such as Roots Fest, which brings in art appreciators from all over.
An awesome museum. I'd like to see the razorback Greenway become a beautiful native landscape
with lots of restaurants and shops.
An outdoor art exhibit similar to Crystal Bridges. I enjoy walking regularly and it would be great if we
infused regular walking paths with art, livelihood, and an experience that people could enjoy daily or
even be so compelled to travel locally to come experience.
Annual Home/studio tour of artists
Anything on the west side of town
art auctions, big AFFORDABLE studio buildings to create and talk to artists.
Art in nature programming
Art museum; larger music venues
Art walk like in Argenta. Alamo drafthouse.
Artist's studio tours
Arts and Crafts festivals
Arts in the Park. Basically pop up performances of decent quality. I only recall one. It was in Wilson
Park, in the 90's. They did A MidSummer Night's Dream. It was free. Hundreds attended. Back then the
ACO in Springdale offered those as well, also free. Very well attended. SO enjoyable! Late Spring to late
Summer. It would be great if the City would sponsor these again, like how it spinsors the Gulley Park
music Series.
Attention to the East side of Fayetteville. Totally disagree with the focus on "The Mayor's Box' focus. I
don't feel included in this side of town.
Ballet
Better, realistic housing opportunities!!!
Can't really think of anything! Maybe like a marathon? Or a garden of the month thing? Antique fest!
Children Activities
city promoted architecture guide for the wealth of award -winning architecture in the city/region.
City wide yard sale.
Citywide scavenger hunts like Cotopaxi's Questival :)
Classes or workshops to learn new skills.. glass making, weaving etc.
Different themes food events. More open air events.
Community
Culinary events and pop up like Bentonville
Cultural festivals
Cultural heritage experiences, science museum, cultural connections to nature, celebrations of trees,
wildlife celebrations, world cultural shops, incentives for local businesses.
Dinner theater
Drag shows with a positive energy
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 26
Dragon Boat races at Lake Fayetteville, Cultural or craft festivals in other parts of town like East
Fayetteville, Bringing the University and the City together for more inclusive events.
Emerging artists gallery/promotion; because we are lucky enough to be so saturated with talent, it can
be difficult for emerging artists to find a place or learn how to start doing what they love.
eSports
Ethnic festivals to celebrate and learn about different American cultures
Events where local crafters can display and sell their creative products to the general public with
opportunities fir on site demonstrations of artistic talents.
Events with a broader range of cultures, like ones that support specific nationalities
Fayetteville has an ample variety of A&C activities.
Fayetteville needs more museums!!! I don't want to have to go all the way to Bentonville to see good
art. I would like to see an art museum and a science museum, or something like it, closer to
Fayetteville. Fayetteville has more stuff to do if you are an outdoorsy person, which I am not.
Festivals
Film School
FILM/MOVIE STUFF
Fine art Photography
Food festival
Galleries that will sponsor artist local and abroad.
Great question!! ...I can think of nothing.
Greek Culture/Art and or markets/festivals, Jewish culture/Art and/or markets/festivals, Italian culture/
Art and/or markets/festivals, many European cultures I don't feel like are not as well represented as
other cultures. Renaissance fair would be very cool, more creativity with farmers markets and flea
markets for local business owners and locally sourced foods crafts and art would really add to the
economy and community that I live in.
Gulley Park summer concert series should include classical music.
History museum, planetarium
I don't think there are a lot of Fine Art Fairs in Fayetteville. I do know that there are markets that
happen but I think there's difference between art fairs that include craft art and art fairs that art strictly
FINE ART. Art fairs that are specifically geared toward FINE ART allow for artists who create that kind of
work to not have to lower their prices. When people attend craft fairs, there's a expectation or an
understanding that things will be priced pretty low because it's craft. But say for example an art fair like
the Super Fine Art Fair or something like Miami Art Basel -people go there with an expectation to pay
more than craft fair prices. Those types of art fairs attract customers that can and will pay the prices
that artists NEED and SHOULD be charging in order to actually make a livable wage with what they do.
Of course I don't want to exclude any type of artist and I'm not saying that craft art ISN'T art, because it
is, but having art markets that lump ALL makers into one market hurts the fine artist community more
than helps it.
I feel like the city has done a great job offering events at parks, particularly the ramble. I love the gulley
park concert series. I would love to see more events at gulley throughout the year. I love events that
happen within community centers like parks, because the infrastructure ( parking) is there and it
encourages hyper local community.
I feel like this survey has language focused mainly on visual art and theatre and my main interest is
music —I'd like to see music venues that I can afford to attend regularly. High cost of tickets at Walton
Center, Walmart Amp, etc mean I can only go if I really love the artist
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 27
I feel sad that the local and DIY arts and culture community has been slowly dwindling, it seems in
response to a lack of awareness from the more powerful community members and/or gentrification
that has changed affordability and accessibility of local community art and culture spaces. Losing
Backspace, LalaLand/the art experience, and now entirety of The Alley. These community spaces were
an integral experience growing up in the arts/culture in this area.
TLDR: more support for local artists and bands. We have so much here that we need to connect and
build platforms for! We don't need to be searching for musicians and artists out of the area when we
have so much here to uplift
I have already completed this survey but left out a couple of thoughts. I'd love it if SONA had a show
somewhere outdoors maybe at a park. It would be a wonderful experience. Or maybe at Gulley Park a
smaller section of SONA could play or even the Fayetteville High School orchestra could have the
opportunity to play there. Movie Nights at Gulley Park would be nice. A Fayetteville Hygee festival in
January or February. I'd love to take barista classes or maybe beer making classes at the library. Having
a foodie festival that combines blues and folk music. Sort of like what the Roots festival was but bigger.
I have already completed this survey so that is why most of the questions are blank. I had a few
additional thoughts. A very large art festival like the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs or the
Bayou Arts Festival in Houston would be a fun addition. Some type of Festival held at Mount Kessler. I
think it is really pretty out there and it would be nice to appreciate it in a festival environment.
Something that combines art and music maybe. A renaissance festival is another idea. Small
renaissance festivals are not really that impressive, but I went to one outside of Houston once that was
so large and incredibly fun.
I have been very impressed with the things the city has been doing lately. It seems like there are a lot
of events, and I do try to attend them when possible. I think innovative art experiences like Phantasma
are so fun. I would love to see some immersive art experiences that the community could contribute to
and help create. I would also like to see STEAM events for my kids. Most of what drives me to be
involved in the community art scene is my kids.
I think a creative reuse center would do very well here. Something like Texas Art Asylum in Houston or
SCRAP in San Francisco. It would be a non profit space that sells donated supplies, supports teachers
and art education with free or reduced price materials, offers free or affordable workshops for the
community, encourages sustainability and repurposing, etc.
I think we have a good mix but they could be offered more frequently an more affordable for lower
income paycheck to paycheck families. I would love to attend workshops but can't afford them. I would
also love to see more family friendly events, especially for LITTLE children. Fayetteville isn't very
toddler friendly compared to the rest of NWA. I would love to see a big international street food fest. I
would love to see a community center that holds arts/cultural events and is free of charge for the
community to utilize. I would love to see more concerts that have more variety than the classic folksy
Fayetteville genre. I would love to see more film/cinema based events and a bigger variety of cultural
celebrations.
I would appreciate an indie movie theater very much. I used to visit independent movie theaters very
regularly in other cities I've lived in and feel like it's a major gap here.
I would like art openings to coordinate so that you could go to several in an evening or on the same day
monthly like a Thursday. Or coordinate a food event with and art opening etc
I would like more art galleries and arts -focused museums.
I would LOVE a large, public drum circle like the one in Asheville!
It would also be super cool to have an arts district somewhere along the trail system.
I would support any independent music festivals or events.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 28
I'd like to see a legit comedy club in Fayetteville at some point. There are several venues which host
comedy events, but having a dedicated space, Le, Helium Comedy Club, The Mothership, The Comedy
Store... would be a great addition to the arts culture. I'd like to see another pro sports team in the area
at some point. If that's hockey, basketball, lacrosse, something else major to give these sports fans
another outlet aside from the Razorbacks.
I'd like to see more with and about the indigenous cultures/groups that have been and are here now.
I'd love more cultural events, more public dance events, and other free events. I would volunteer!
Indigenous festivals
Installation art, kinetic art, Sculptures that can be experienced with touch, multi -sensory art pieces for
both old and young. More dance and movement opportunities.
International/diverse food and culture festivals
It would be great to have something that celebrates unique aspects of Fayetteville history and culture,
like what foods and music were invented here. Or more opportunities for international residents or
Igbtq or black residents to show their art contributions to the city. But overall we have a variety of
stuff!
It's not so much that they aren't offered, but that I miss them because I didn't realize they were
happening.
It would be great to have a better central hub for everything that's happening, especially if one isn't
using much social media. Experience Fayetteville and the Fayetteville Flyer do a pretty good job of
coverage, but it would be amazing if there was a daily digest that came out via text/email when events
are uploaded to a centralized listing.
Large concert events. The UofA should utilize Bud Walton Arena for a small number of large concerts
each year.
Large outdoor community dining experiences, such as the Dinner En Blanc type event, where long rows
of tables are provided on a closed street, such as Dickson Street, and amenities such as wine can be
purchased to supplement tables of guests who pot -luck meals.
Larger festivals
Live music for families
Living sustainably i.e. making a sustainable economic living that also sustains biodiversity of our natural
surroundings so that our area can maintain clean drinking water, clean swimming water, clean air
instead of chicken house air while simply driving around with windows down. There should be more
support for creative repurposed, re -used, and recycled products made and sold by local residents.
There should be more variety of affordable and well located art studio spaces for local makers and
there should be more opportunities for small booth art and craft selling booths in places like the
Ramble or Downtown sidewalks or easily visible locations for passers by to notice.
Losing our diy spaces, affordability, availability, money
Lower cost art classes and workshops, eco-centered art
lower cost or free music venues, possibly outdoors. Support and space for local, homegrown art and
music.
Meet ups sponsored by local community for different age groups to make friends. It is really hard for
young people to meet and make friends if you are not in school.
More activations for local artists.
More art and fashion centric events.
more art classes, like figure drawing especially for non-professional artists. We could also use more
theatre venue/performance opportunities, especially more affordable than the WAC.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 29
More art gallery and artist events. I think allot of the pure art events are not happening in this area. We
need more art festivals that draw people in. Currently it's a drive to another city to go to a reputable
art event or sell as a vendor.
More arts/cultural institutions not owned/run by the Waltons
More children and youth focused activities
More choirs!
More classes in creativity
More live music/festivals
More local restaurants
More art installations around town
Affordable concerts
Better community calendar of arts events/opportunities
More areas of accessible beauty/beautification around town
Great variety of arts experiences both as a participant and as an observer
More cooking and craft classes, more murals
More culturally diverse music festivals. Benefits for songwriters and artists to create more. (Helping
more folks have galleries are recording opportunity)
More dance opportunities would be greatly appreciated. Would also like more diversity of music styles
including electronic and music from around the globe. More public art is needed. Overall looking for
more places to get dressed up, be weird, and have fun!
More family friendly events are needed where children under the age of 10 are encouraged and
welcome to attend. The botanical gardens have the best programming of any location in Northwest
Arkansas but would be great if every major event had a kid friendly space.
More fashion & film events would be nice. Also perhaps job fairs. Job fairs please
More festivals that aren't culinary or food based. Cultural festivals, holidays that aren't in the winter
months, art, etc
More Film Festivals
More film showings.
More free events and more community artist involvement. Also pay your artists please they have to eat
too
More free events, bring back the old street festivals of Springfest or Block Party
More galleries, more 'funky' retail,...
More galleries. More shops offering spiritual classes like the four of wands. The square is depressingly
empty these days.
More group involvement. Much more! Please! Such as how cities in Mexico have outdoor dance areas
w band stand. And in England a public area where people can stand and give impromptu speeches (or
maybe sing? Provide an electric plug so people can use a speaker and entertain anyone nearby. For
example, the Walker Park remodel could have both of these types of places.... Instead of just a (money
making) food court area. But that wasn't a suggested choice on their open ended survey. They did
include a grassy concert area. Big deal. Nice... but how redundant (that already happens at Gulley Park
and future WAC grassy area) and passively listening to music (that's boring to me) is also non -inclusive
compared to speeches, and dancing... and .... Open rack inclusive -to -singles pickleball (which is
constantly suggested on chat sites but the city refuses to try it.) I guess it amounts to.... How can
people show up as a single ... (hubby never wants to go out) and not feel so alone and just want to go
back home again feeling kinkier than ever?
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 30
More immersive experiences, regular free public art making
More jazz venues, live music, stand-up
More kids events, classes, workshops, opportunities
More live music at various parks.
More love for visual artists at festivals & events! Pay local artists attend/design/create
More music festivals / live performances - outdoor
More music venues that host bands that are not Americana / rock music. JJ's live has been doing a
good job of that lately. The Momentary is also doing good in that regard. But we need regular live
music from more genres in town, on Dickson. It's a college town , it should be able to support it.
More music, jam sessions, drum circles, improv orchestra, things of that nature.
More opportunities for actual locals to get involved in paid creative opportunities (importing artists
from other areas when we could keep that $$$ in our local economy and support local creative
endeavors, cultivating community, instead.)
More outdoor events, such as dances in the parks
More outdoor experiences that are free so families can attend.
More plays that are not just for families. More opportunities for art projects in the park. More markets
and community events.
More punk, metal, and hiphop shows. Better preservation of Fayetteville history - currently,
fayettevillehistory.com is ran completely independently by a single Fayetteville historian. Why? We
have Ozark Folkways in Winslow and the Museum of Ozark History in Shiloh, but neither are that close
to Fayetteville, and neither are marketed very well.
More small live music venues. More culinary events.
More spaces for local artists to show and present their work.
More stuff for younger people to get involved in city government. The old guys gotta go. Help the
younger get involved.
More unique or niche music events, such as an electronic music festival or an open-mic style hip -hop
festival.
More variety in community art classes, events for fiber artists
More visual art museums, history museum, publicly owned gallery
Most of our area cities have quality city museums. Fayetteville does not. The university has many
opportunities but. Citizens foot the bill but the University is so difficult to park at that the U does not
care about public access except for sporting events.. Historical Society needs more support it is under
utilized Fayetteville is losing its FUNK. Texas investors are tuning the town and city is not keeping up
with growth and heavy handed and moving to the right.
Museums
Museums and art galleries, more pop up experiences! More festivals that are mass appealing. I would
love to see Crystal Bridges and the Walmart Amp don -offshoots in the Fayetteville area. Collaborate
with the Waltons family and Blue Crane / Runway for investment and wider interest in NWA v
Fayetteville or Bentonville. Be a bigger part of the region. Add a top class art gallery to the city - part of
Campus - part of downtown. Create reasons for people to come to the square and Dickson all day
everyday. Playground close to the square. Water play area on the square and entice families. An
amazing ice cream store - on the square.
Music festival
Music festival
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 31
Music Festival
Music festival like they have in Bentonville at the momentary.
Music festivals
Zoos?
Science museum
History museums
Music festivals
Music festivals or multi -day art festivals
New Orleans style parades. Also, bring back the Block Street Block Party!!!
New Years and Independence Day celebrations!
Not enough galleries. Too few places (collectives) to see local art for sale.
Nothing it is getting to much, people don't realize this is a natural state and we are destroying the
environment with all them festivities over and over! We are parking on gras , being parks taking the
quit away from animals to breed and be in peace! WE HAVE ENOUGH !
WHAT WE HAVE IS ENOUGH WE DO NOT NEED MORE!
NWA Girls they do craft fairs with woman/small business es, they have huge events in Springdale and
Lowell. The Towns center should let them use their place and/or square. Crystal bridges has learning
packets for school. It would be great to have places that hang art for sale like restaurants. I liked
Sunday Market at Botanicals when it was mainly art and local stuff. Easier to get on list than farmers
market. Local festivals such as Bikes, Blues, BBQ was a loss to Fayetteville. It's about supporting all
different people and cultures. More cultural festivities.
Arts for kids. My daughter wants to put her art up in coffee house, you display it for a month, people
buy it and get it when you take you show down. They use to do it at Atlanta Bread Company. Children
are proud of arts, check out JLC Middle school's performance of Matilda April 16, 2024 at 6:30. It's on
east/south side of Fayetteville but it shows how all kids should be able to have a chance to be a part of
the arts. How can Fayetteville nourish children in arts to keep them safe and out of trouble. I like craft
fairs, the fair grounds inside is ok. I wish they would have craft fairs at parks or something nice outside.
Look at Sleet city and how many vendors they have when they do fairs. That shows people who do arts
and crafts at home would like to share/sell there stuff. Craft fairs cost so much to enter. Sleet city
charges $25. Give all an opportunity to show arts at craft fairs in Fayetteville, on square, park, or
somewhere easy.
One thing I wish NWA had was a natural history museum, something like the one in DC or Cleveland.
Open Mouth used to host monthly public poetry readings, bringing in poets from around the country
and providing time and space for community members to read. Now that they've gone entirely virtual,
I'm not aware of anything similar happening.
Open Studios
Opera
Outdoor concert venue. Most current live music in Fayetteville takes place in bars.
Outdoor concerts
Outdoor concerts (like the AMP, but in Fayetteville), late night Italian coffee shops which support
artists, community art projects closer to the edge of the city (far west or far east Fayetteville) to
promote community and that 'in-between' space that many cities lack.
Outdoor music festivals,
Outdoor music venues
Outdoor street or park performance. Interactive performances with the audience.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 32
Paint pottery studio. Decent price
Performance art, provocative art installations. Literally anything new. Fayetteville is *so scared* to be
on the cutting edge
Performance art. An annual craft fair focusing on local artists. A museum in Fayetteville that would
provide a niche experience. So something that doesn't currently exist.
Performance venues that are small scale, coffee shops, tiny bars etc. With the loss of AMPM bar
there's not a regular space for intimate and experimental performances.
Photography art market specifically, A Christmas market on the Square, A different Halloween event
than at Ramble.
Pop up locations around town for things like drum circles! It would be fun if each park could have a
drum circle during various full moons throughout the year!
Or keep all of them at Gulley park!
Pottery options and kid museums
Public art experiences
Music in non -conventional places
Local artists gatherings
Hip -hop
Public theatre
Regular survey exhibitions that showcase current art created in the region (something like Made in
L.A.); arts events that bring the university and the city together in meaningful ways; serious efforts to
integrate the history and culture of underrepresented local communities.
Renaissance Faire ('missing' is probably too strong a word); art museum (definitely missing)
Roots Fest
Roots festival and similar.
Site specific theatre and dance, cirque performance, flamenco performance and workshop, more live
dance music, esp Afro Brazilian. Bring back Roots Fest!
small live music venues - like House of Songs in Bentonville - more and different art making classes -
community theater opportunities like in Bentonville and Rogers - more culinary experiences like food
tastings or themed dinners
Smaller performance's and arts in small venues.
Something with animals and art. Like making Christmas ornaments with your dogs paw print.
Spaces for independent artists (outside of corporate or non-profit organizations) to create their art. FPL
has started to do this with their Innovation Lab/Music studio, unfortunately those programs are still
incredibly inaccessible to a large amount of Fayetteville residents due to limited training timings and
capacity. We have public spaces to fix bicycles. Why don't we have public spaces with free resources
available to create art?
Affordable training programs for aspiring artists. If we're so "arts oriented", why is it nearly impossible
for one to create a career in the arts in this area?
LESS FOCUS ON THE WALTONS! Why do we allow them to control our arts scene? They're the patron
saints of shitting on every local artists while continuously wealth hoarding and pulling the strings of all
the local art scenes - consistently bringing in outside artists (non -locals) that will silence the loud ones
here. Its disgusting. Alice Walton and Peter Lane can go to hell. More guerilla art.
Also, why did we get rid of Block Street Block Party? That was such a great opportunity for local
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 33
musicians, makers, and artists!
Can the city of Fayetteville please book someone other than Ashton Barabee and folk/bluegrass bands
for free concerts? Why is everyone so white? Why hasn't anyone reached out to Her Set Her Sound to
do a DJ set for one of those? Please god, something other than folk, country, or bluegrass. PLEASE. I
don't even dislike those genres, it's just this identity that we've clung to for so long and it's hardcore
rooted in white supremacy and black erasure. I swear to god if I hear another summer of banjos
coming out of Gulley Park I will pull my hair out.
I think you should look to the City of Springdale for examples as far as cultural events are concerned.
They're doing the most to highlight the varying cultures within the community! I've learned more about
the diverse population of the surrounding area in downtown Springdale more than anywhere else
(including other states/cities I've lived in). They always have interactive workshops, dances, events, etc.
I typically spend more time in Springdale than I do in Fayetteville these days.
St Patrick's day parade or Irish festival
Supporting musicians who aren't fortunate enough to break through the mould in terms of
"acceptable" genre.
The city of Fayetteville has a deeply misguided and superficial understanding of how to support
traditional arts related activities — it's even clear in how this survey defines it. I attend folk arts related
activities regularly but they're events held by the university or by cultural groups themselves. I can't
think of a single event the city has actively produced that was meaningful in a deep way.
The city seems set on gentrification of our local communities. The grassroots & diy art scene is
available less & less because of this. Love for what made Fayetteville beautiful and grassroots in the
first place is what's missing.
The Fayetteville square is empty weekend afternoons and evenings. Anything to bring people
downtown
The original bank building era Fayetteville Underground is missing. I loved visiting that art community
and watching it come to life every first Thursday night. I also like to go see the Unexpected murals in
Fort Smith.
The tiny artist areas that are all being destroyed for the sake of 'progress'. Those are the places people
get excited to come upon when they visit. The same is true for any city. Sedona made the same
mistake. Nobody cares about your strip malls and car washes. They want unique art and experiences -
like Trailside and all the small business there. Kill them, and have killed Fayetteville's heart. You've
already pushed out all of our most amazing artists, except maybe Matt Miller. Artists and small
businesses need their nooks.
There are not as many independent and foreign film offerings as I would like.
There are not many opportunities to view old, diverse or unique films/movies in Fayetteville. The BFF is
an opportunity but it's not in Fayetteville. Once a year a Film Fest is offered at the WAC, but not
throughout the year.
there needs to be better options for culinary types of experiences, theres too much college focused
cheap bar and grill type places, and less focus on good quality local restaurants
There's a few murals around town that are interesting to look at and visit, but they're mostly spread
out and don't create a cohesive mural community. I think devoting a portion of large empty walls
around town to beautify the city, improve the desire to walk around, and ultimately improve the foot
traffic through the small businesses in these areas would be awesome.
Training/learning/job fair opportunities for people interested in working behind the scenes in events
and performing arts
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 34
University Museum
We dont have enough cultural celebration events, I would love to see a Powwow hosted in Fayetteville
to bring together our native communities in the Ozarks
We have a lot of good things we risk losing as artists and their venues are priced out of the area
We have such a fantastic network of trails that run along various creeks. I think more installations like
the Ramble would be welcome!
We need a live music venue with quality sound. George's sounds awful, and musicians don't want to
play there. The WAC is homophobic.
We need a wider variety of culinary cuisine and experiences.
We need more spaces for artists in our city to perform. small and mid sized spaces, where young artists
can work stuff out and play for people, play months -long residencies, test things out.
We need more volunteer and community theatre in Fayetteville.
We're missing a museum, mural tour / public art, and more cultural community events
Well it really sucks to have to drive to Crystal Bridges and that its in Bentonville, which is kind of the
worst place on earth and like if they made disneyland for walmart enjoyers
What I'd like to see more of are working creative spaces that are financially accessible to creatives with
smaller budgets to be able to exercise their craft and/or offer classes.
What's not available- still not enough parking, plus don't like to pay for parking on or around Dickson. I
went to a event at WAC that ran late, by the time I walked to the new parking garage ( I have a
disability) I was 9 mins late I had a citation for $15.00.
World class art museum
Would love some more traditional theater experiences - classic plays, not presented with "modern"
twists but just portrayed accurately and as written. Example - Shakespeare as written, as opposed to
Shakespeare as interpreted through a modern day lens.
Appendix - Community Survey Results and Analysis - 35
CREATIVE ECONOMY
SNAPSHOT REPORT
Fa
A
CREATIVE ECONOMY CHARTS
CREATIVE OCCUPATION GROWTH (2011 TO PRESENT)
This chart shows the rate of change of your creative job growth over time
10%
8%
R 6%
z
u 4%
z
a
x
U2%
0
W
0%
N
ca
0 -2%
LL
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
CREATIVE INDUSTRY EARNINGS (2011 TO PRESENT)
This chart shows your creative industry earnings over time.
$130M
$120M
j; $110M
to
0
z
z
Cr
$90M
2021 2022
Kgncharts.com
$80M -
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Hlahcharts.com
CREATIVE ECONOMY CHARTS
2022 FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS REGION POPULATION BY RACE TOP 4 NONPROFIT REVENUES OF 2022
This chart shows the demographic makeup by race of the region selected. This chart shows the top four types of creative
nonprofits by program revenues in your region that
2.2% filed IRS990 or 990EZ forms
8.4 %
0.
2.5%
0.6 %
5.0 %
DEMOGRAPHICS
White
Amer. Indian or AK Native
Hawaiian or Other Pac. Island
Two or More Races
01.1%
Black or African American
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
S 1.25M
Sim
S7SOk
SSOOk
S2SOk
SO
■ Visual Arts
■ Theater
■ Arts & Humanities Councils & Agencies
■ Folk Arts
Highcharts.com
Data Sources: Economic Modeling Specialists International, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, National Center for Charitable
Statistics. Due to rounding some percent values may not equal 1009'0
Detaded Information on Data Sources Release Notes Terms of Service Privacy Policy WESTAF © Creative VitalityT"' Suite 2024
Creative Vitality Index Total Population
Q 1.44 116,847
CVI Value
United States CVI = 1.0
This regional snapshot report gives the big
picture of a region's creative landscape. It
provides an overview of creative jobs, industry
earnings, FDR grants, and Nonprofit revenues.
Past 5 years of CVI Performance
1.80 1.78 1.82
1.59 1.44
LA L. I i
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
2022 Creative jobs Occupations with greatest number of jobs
127 111 103 102
A 5% �
since 2021 I
21248
Total Creative jobs
There are 110 more Architects (with Interior Merch & Wndw Librarians Photographers
creative jobs in the exceptions) Designers Displayers
region since 2021
2022 Creative Industries
Industries with greatest earnings
- 9%
IN
Industry type
Industry Earnings
since 2021
Architectural Services
$14.1 M
$123.8M
Total Industry Earnings
Commercial Gravure Printing
$9.21V
There is a gain of $11.6 M
Television Broadcasting
$8.71V
in creative industry
Fine Arts Schools
$8.1M
earnings in the region
since 2021
Advertising Agencies
$7.01V
2022 Cultural Nonprofit Nonprofit types with greatest number of organizations
3% Q 2 2 2 2
since 2021�2.0
$29.3M 1.5
Nonprofit Revenues 1.0
There are $942 K less in 0.5
revenues in the region since 0.0
1
2021 Arts & Culture Arts Education Historical Societies & Visual Arts Bands & Ensembles
Historic
DATA SOURCES: Economic Modeling Specialists International, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, National Center for Charitable Statistics
CREATIVE VITALTY SUITE: The Creative Vitality Index compares the per capita concentration of creative activity in two regions. Data on creative industries,
occupations, and cultural nonprofit revenues are indexed using a population -based calculation. The resulting CVI Value shows a region's creative vitality
compared to another region. For more information on data sources visit: learn.cvsuite.org
WESTAF © Creative Vitality- Suite 2024 cvsuite.org Report created: 5/7/2024
Data Sources (Version 2023.2)
Descriptive Names of Industries (NAICS codes) & Occupations (SOC codes) have been truncated on the Regional Snapshot Report.
For full descriptive names please visit the education section of learn.cvsuite.org
Due to rounding some percent values may not equal 100%.
Occupations: Economic Modeling Specialists International.
SOC Codes (75) 11-2011, 11-2021, 11-2032, 11-2033, 13-1011, 17-1011, 17-1012, 17-1021, 17-3011, 19-3091, 19-3093,
21-2021, 25-4011, 25-4012, 25-4013, 25-4022, 25-4031, 27-1011, 27-1012, 27-1013, 27-1014, 27-1019, 27-1021, 27-1022,
27-1023, 27-1024, 27-1025, 27-1026, 27-1027, 27-1029, 27-2011, 27-2012, 27-2031, 27-2032, 27-2041, 27-2042, 27-2091,
27-2099, 27-3011, 27-3023, 27-3031, 27-3041, 27-3042, 27-3043, 27-3091, 27-3099, 27-4011, 27-4012, 27-4014, 27-4015,
27-4021, 27-4031, 27-4032, 27-4099, 39-3031, 39-3092, 39-3099, 39-5091, 41-3011, 43-2099, 43-4121, 47-2044, 47-2161,
49-9063, 51-6041, 51-6051, 51-6052, 51-7011, 51-7021, 51-7031, 51-9051, 51-9071, 51-9151, 51-9194, 51-9195
Industry Earnings: Economic Modeling Specialists International.
NAICS Codes (81) 238150, 238340, 238390, 323111, 323113, 323117, 323120, 327110, 327212, 332323, 337212, 339910,
339992, 423940, 424920, 448310, 451130, 451140, 451211, 453110, 453310, 453920, 511110, 511120, 511130, 511140,
511191, 511199, 511210, 512110, 512120, 512131, 512132, 512191, 512199, 512230, 512240, 512250, 512290, 515111,
515112, 515120, 515210, 517311, 519110, 519120, 519130, 541310, 541320, 541340, 541410, 541420, 541430, 541490,
541810, 541820, 541830, 541840, 541850, 541860, 541870, 541890, 541921, 541922, 611610, 711110, 711120, 711130,
711190, 711310, 711320, 711410, 711510, 712110, 712120, 712130, 712190, 811420, 812921, 812922, 813410
Class of worker: Economic Modeling Specialists International:
Non-QCEW Employees, QCEW Employees, Self-employed
State Arts Agency Grants: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Cultural Nonprofit Revenues: National Center for Charitable Statistics
Demographic: Economic Modeling Specialists International.
Creative vitality index (CVI): The Creative Vitality Index compares the per capita concentration of creative activity in two regions.
Data on creative industries, occupations, and cultural nonprofit revenues are indexed using a population -based calculation. The
resulting CVI Value shows a region's creative vitality compared to another region.
Fayetteville, Arkansas Region contains:
72701, 72702, 72703, 72704
Job Occupation Codes included in Creative West's Creative Vitality Index for creative industries
11 - Management Occupations
11-2011 Advertising and Promotion Managers
11-2031 Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
13 - Business and Financial Operations Occupations
13-1011 Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
17 - Architecture and Engineering Occupations
17-1011 Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
17-1012 Landscape Architects
17-3011 Architectural and Civil Drafters
19 - Life, Physical and Social Science Occupations
19-3091 Anthropologists and Archeologists
19-3093 Historians
21 - Community and Social Service Occupations
21-2021 Directors, Religious Activities and Education
25 - Education, Training, and Library Occupations
25-4011 Archivists;
25-4012 Curators
25-4013 Museum Technicians and Conservators
25-4021 Librarians
25-4031 Library Technicians
25-9011 Audio -Visual and Multimedia Collections Specialists
27 - Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media Occupations
27-1011 Art Directors;
27-1012 Draft Artists
27-1013
Fine Artists, including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
27-1014
Multimedia Artists and Animators
27-1019
Artists and Related Workers, All Other
27-1021
Commercial and Industrial Designers
27-1022
Fashion Designers
27-1023
Floral Designers
27-1024
Graphic Designers
27-1025
Interior Designers
27-1026
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
27-1027
Set and Exhibit Designers
27-1029
Designers, All Other
27-2011
Actors
Appendix - Creative Industries Occupation Codes - 1
27-2012
Producers and Directors
27-2031
Dancers
27-2032
Choreographers
27-2041
Music Directors and Composers
27-2042
Musicians and Singers
27-3011
Radio and Television Announcers
27-3021
Broadcast News Analysts
27-3022
Reporters and Correspondents
27-3031
Public Relations Specialists
27-3041
Editor
27-3042
Technical Writers
27-3043
Writers and Authors
27-3091
Interpreters and Translators
27-3099
Media and Communication Workers, All Others
27-4011
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians
27-4012
Broadcast Technicians
27-4014
Sound Engineering Technicians
27-4021
Photographers
27-4031
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture
27-4032
Film and Video Editors
27-4099
Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Others
39 - Personal Care and Service Occupations
39-3031
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
39-3092
Costume Attendants
39-3099
Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Others
39-5091
Makeup Artists, Theatrical and performance
41 - Sales and Related Occupations
41-3011 Advertising Sales Agents;
43 - Office and Administrative Support Occupations
43-4121 Library Assistants, Clerical;
49 - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
49-9063 Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
51 - Production Occupations
51-9071 Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers; Production Occupations
Appendix - Creative Industries Occupation Codes - 2
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Plan Alignment Assessment
2024
Overview: Arts and Culture has been included and prioritized in City Planning efforts going back
decades. There's been strong interest in making the City of Fayetteville a destination for the arts,
preserving neighborhood character and uniqueness and promoting arts, culture and historic nodes in
the city. All of these different recommendations have been extracted and referenced in this document
and will be taken into account for the final Cultural Master Plan for the City of Fayetteville.
Relevant plans reviewed for Arts and Culture Master Plan include:
Code if Cited
in Plan
PLAN NAME & DATE
CP40
THE CITY PLAN 2040 VISION, 2020
EVMP
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN, 2024
PRSMP
PARK AND RECREATION SYSTEM MASTER PLAN, FEBRUARY 2023
FFP
FAYETTEVILLE FIRST - CITY 5 YEAR PLAN, 2016
WFP
WELCOMING FAYETTEVILLE PLAN, 2016
CAP
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, 2024 - ENERGY ACTION PLAN, 2018
DMP
DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, 2006
71BCP
71 B CORRIDOR PLAN, 2019
WPNP
WALKER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, 2008
WPMP
WALKER PARK MASTER PLAN 2023
CPMP
CENTENNIAL PARK CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN 2019
GPMP
GULLEY PARK MASTER PLAN 2019
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 1
BDPMP IBRYCE DAVIS PARK MASTER PLAN 2023
RTS JARTSPACE, Presentation of Findings, 2019
VN JArts Vibrancy in Northwest Arkansas, SMU 2017
PLAN NAME & DATE
Excerpts pertaining to Arts and Culture; Excerpts for Alignment with Arts
and Culture Master Plan
THE CITY PLAN 2040
Growth Concept Map
VISION, 2020
The Growth Concept Map depicts, in broad terms, how Fayetteville should grow over the
(CP40)
next 20 years.... The map reflects city-wide policies to create diverse, efficient, and well-
connected communities that are affordable and rich in local employment, access to
transportation, services, and culture. P. 12.
Vision Statement
In 2040, Fayetteville will be a resource -efficient community, in which citizens and
stakeholders can live, work, learn, and grow. Fayetteville will have adopted policies to
achieve sustainability, to provide economic growth, to preserve and protect our natural
and cultural resources, and to enhance the quality of life for all residents. Residents will
have equitable access to neighborhoods that are healthy, walkable, and distinct. P. 21
Goal 1: We will make appropriate infill and revitalization our highest priority
Goal 1 Objectives
3.1.7 Encourage protection of community character in established neighborhoods.
"... development tools should be established to ensure that neighborhood cohesion and
character is not sacrificed at the expense of new development. P.25
3.7 City Plan 2040 Benchmarks
Short Term 2019-2025
• Identify gaps in affordability throughout the city and set numerical targets for
housing that is affordable to a variety of households, including workforce,
supportive, low-income, families with children, and senior housing. (Goal 1, 3, 4 &
6) P. 48
• Identify new or expand existing dedicated revenue sources for affordable
housing. (Goal 6) p. 48
• Identify opportunities for the creation of affordable housing on publicly -owned
land and develop partnerships with developers to provide flexible, affordable
work space and housing. (Goal 6)
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 2
• Seek funding to complete a citywide Community Preservation Plan to identify
resources for future historic survey and registration, assess current preservation
efforts, and plan for new initiatives. (Goal 1)
• Work to preserve the historic character and integrity of neighborhoods with
multiple approaches including but not limited to: create one or more Local
Regulated District(s) in neighborhoods listed on the National Register of Historic
Places; and utilize other preservation tools such as overlay districts with the main
goal of preserving historic character. (Goal 1) p. 49
THE CITY PLAN 2040
VISION, 2020 Section 4.4 Regional Growth Patterns and Transitions
(CP40) 21st Century Regionalism. P. 60-61
"... the continued regionalization of the two -county area has encouraged cities within
the region to become partners in attracting economic growth opportunities, while at the
same time becoming competitors for developing the amenities that residents and new
arrivals to the region seek. Having achieved the threshold level of a major economic
center due to their joint size and resources, each city is now a catalyst for the others'
development. Whereas larger industries may have previously looked at labor force
indicators and the production resources of the individual cities as limited, the now
combined resources are attracting national attention. Notable regional projects that have
been completed since the year 2000 include the opening of the Arvest Ballpark in
Springdale in 2008, the opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville
in 2011, the completion of the 36-mile long Razorback Regional Greenway multi -use trail
network connecting Fayetteville to Bella Vista in 2015, the opening of the Scott Family
Amazeum in Rogers in 2015, he expansion of the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville in
2016, and the development of hundreds of miles of mountain bike trails on public lands
throughout the region including the Slaughter Pen Trail in Bentonville and Kessler
Mountain Trails in Fayetteville.
As Northwest Arkansas continues to develop as a regional entity it will become more
important than ever for the major cities of the region to continue to diversify their
economic base and find niche markets in which to thrive. Fayetteville is poised to lead
the region with our offerings of high quality of life, low cost of living and ever-expanding
job and commerce opportunities."
Goal 6. We will create opportunities for attainable housing
6.6 Housing Strategies
Alternatives to the typical larger -lot single family homes and garden -style apartments that
characterize much of Fayetteville's housing stock are needed, including .... accessory
dwelling units, and live/work units can help meet this emerging demand. P. 78
Action: Fayetteville should identify gaps in affordability throughout the city and set
numerical targets for housing that is affordable to a variety of households, including
workforce, supportive, low-income, families with children, and senior housing. P. 79
• Identify new or expand existing dedicated revenue sources for affordable
housing.
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 3
• Identify new or expand existing dedicated revenue sources for affordable
housing.
• Examine potential regulatory barriers and policies that impede the provision of
household affordability, including: infrastructure costs, the costs and benefits of
development ordinances on housing development, and how the City's fees and
requirements impact the cost of living for households in Fayetteville.
• Identify opportunities for the creation of affordable housing on publicly -owned
land and develop partnerships with developers to provide flexible, affordable
work space and housing.
• Support the creation of a "real-time" database of available affordable housing
units, services, resources, and incentives to strengthen the process of connecting
qualified buyers and renters with affordable housing to comprehensively lower
monthly household expenses. P.80
THE CITY PLAN 2040
VISION, 2020
VISION,
Section 10.4: Historic and Cultural Resources (pp 110 ) Cultural Resources
"In 1992, the Walton Arts Center opened its' doors to the public, the product of a six -year
collaboration between City government, the University of Arkansas and private sector
sponsors and philanthropists." 110
The organization has grown significantly over the last quarter of a century and now
operates three facilities — the original Walton Arts Center, the neighboring Nadine Baum
Studios and the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP) in Rogers. The Walton Arts
Center completed a $23 million renovation and expansion of the original performing arts
campus in November 2016. The expansion dramatically increased front of house and
event space, production support space and administrative offices, adding more than
30,000 square feet and improving the operational capacity and visitor experience for both
patrons and artists. Widely viewed as the project that 'turned around" the Dickson St.
Entertainment District after a period of decline, the Walton Arts Center is now the
premiere live performance space in Northwest Arkansas. 110
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN In the Plan Framework section:
2024 "The Department of Economic Vitality has also identified four key themes that are
(EVMP) integrated throughout each of the strategic focus areas, precisely because they are
intertwined with the economic fabric of Fayetteville's cultural identity:
• Arts and the creative economy
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion, including an explicit focus on populations who face
persistent barriers to economic mobility
• Environmental stewardship
• Quality of life and sustainable growth, including continued response to pandemic
related economic impacts and economic uncertainty (p. 13)
If Fayetteville's residents are its greatest assets —the true drivers of
the small businesses and cultural institutions that make the community
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 4
recognizable —then displacement and sprawl are the greatest foes to the future of
equitable economic growth in Fayetteville.
(p. 65)
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN Step 5: Assess Cross -Divisional Land Acquisition Opportunities
2024 The Department of Economic Vitality will coordinate with applicable departments to
(EVMP) explore municipal acquisition of parcels of land to strategically provide public goods and
equitable community benefit. For example, coordination with other departments could
necessitate
amendment to other key master planning documents and processes.
...Strategic land acquisition should include review of key corners of Neighborhood Center
intersections or sites that could be leveraged for
future public -private partnerships or publicly supported housing development."
"Acquiring municipally -owned land when the City's financial health and economic outlook
allow it provides the City with the opportunity to lock in land prices critical to making the
math pencil on future publicly beneficial projects driven by public -private partnerships."
EVMP, p. 71
There are nine "Master Plan Target Industries:
#3 is Creative Economy
Targeted Industry Sectors
• Advanced manufacturing
• Circular economy and sustainability
• Creative economy "The creative economy consists of economic activity that
depends on individuals and organizations using their creativity to drive jobs,
revenue, community resources, and cultural engagement.liv Few sectors are as
deeply rooted in Fayetteville's history as the creative economy and the arts.
Whether its world class theatre production along West Avenue, a range of local
performances at the iconic George's Majestic Lounge, or film production at Rock
Hill Studios, the arts sector not only provides hundreds of jobs throughout
Fayetteville but also defines our sense of place and community culture." (EVMP p.
104 )
• Healthcare
• Information technology
• Infrastructure, including construction and clean technology
• Outdoor recreation
• Professional services
• Research and development
SECTION: SMALL BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND INDUSTRY
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 5
Today, 84% of private sector employment in the City of Fayetteville comes from small
businesses, and nearly 97% of the 3,900+ active businesses in Fayetteville employ fewer
than 50 individuals. (evmp 94)
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN "Small businesses, arts and entertainment, the recreation economy, and the hospitality
2024 sector are four segments integral to Fayetteville's local economy. Continuing to grow and
(EVMP) render these sectors more resilient to economic change is a focal point of the Small
Business, Entrepreneurship, and Industry section of this Master Plan." evmp 95
Goal:
Increase the number of jobs within Fayetteville's targeted industry sectors from 63% to
70% of private sector employment by 2033 (95)
SUPPORTING STRATEGY 3. Provide tailored entrepreneurial support to artists and other
members of the creative economy
(evmp 96)
Ongoing Action Items (EVMP 100)
• ACTION ITEM 28. Host educational events on financial literacy and the process
for residents declaring themselves as artists on all applicable local, state, and
federal business and tax forms [AC, CON, EV]
• ACTION ITEM 29. Communicate educational opportunities and resources
proactively and with accessibility to artists in mind [AC]
• ACTION ITEM 30. Pursue partnerships with artist -focused entrepreneurial
services organizations (e.g., Artists, Inc., Creative Capital) [AC]
Short -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 31. Integrate the creative economy into existing and future
entrepreneurial programming funded by the City of Fayetteville [AC, CON, EV]
SUPPORTING STRATEGY 8. Prioritize continued economic growth and resiliency of arts,
entertainment, and recreation (107)
Ongoing Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 63. Survey the creative economy (i.e., businesses classified under
NAICS code 71— Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation) as part of the City's future
business retention and expansion services [AC, EV]
• ACTION ITEM 64. Continue to advocate for the expansion of state -level film tax
credits through the Arkansas Film Commission [AC, EV]
Short -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 65. Explore the consolidation of the Entertainment District and the
Downtown Business District into one parking district to ensure consistent
application of programs, rate structures, and technology [AC, EV, PW]
• ACTION ITEM 66. Explore the creation of a municipal -level tax rebate program,
tax credit, or other incentive to supplement the State of Arkansas's existing
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 6
programs to support grassroots and independent film production, encourage
local production hiring practices, and retain local industry talent in Fayetteville
[EV]
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN I Mid -Term Action Items
2024 • ACTION ITEM 67. Explore developing a promotional campaign to bring
(EVMP awareness to local business establishments, showcasing local art as a means of
increasing business traffic and providing exposure to the local creative economy
[AC, DFC, EF]
• ACTION ITEM 68. Explore developing an external live -work -play marketing
campaign through Experience Fayetteville to promote the creative economy and
the recreation economy as key contributing factors to Fayetteville's quality of life
and community character [AC, EF, EV, PNRCA]
SECTION: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EMPLOYMENT, AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY
GOAL 4. Raise the City of Fayetteville's Arts Vibrancy Index score by increasing the
supply of independent artists working in Fayetteville
4A. Increase the retention rate from 13.4% to 16.9% of University of Arkansas students
graduating from the Fulbright College's arts programs or the Fay Jones School of
Architecture
Supporting Strategy 1. Deploy a proactive talent
retention and attraction program to connect workers with high -quality jobs paying living
wages in target industries
Ongoing Action Items (p. 113)
• ACTION ITEM 1. Promote existing tools, equipment, and resources that are
available for use by the creative economy (e.g., Fayetteville Public Library's
Center for Innovation and tool lending library) [AC, EV]
Short -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 2. Expand the City's definition of the creative economy to include
skilled trades (e.g., carpentry, masonry, welding) [AC, EV]
Mid -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 6. Identify local opportunities for artist placement across a wide
range of industry sectors, including industries not traditionally viewed as career
pathways for fine artists [AC, EV, UA]
SECTION: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Placemaking and Quality of Life Enablers
Placemaking is another community development term with competing definitions and
connotations, but it is fundamentally concerned with building communities around places.
While placemaking as a term is relatively new, the concept has deep roots in urban
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 7
planning and advocacy work and highlights the importance of building cities for the
people who live in them. Ixix Key elements of placemaking include sociability, uses and
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN activities, access and linkages, and comfort and image. 131
2024
(EVMP) "Quality of place informs quality of life, positioning placemaking in its many forms as an
economic vitality consideration."
Given Fayetteville's rich cultural history as a site of grassroots arts organizations and
activities, creative placemaking is of particular relevance to in discussions about how a
sense of place can enhance the community's overall quality of life.
More explicit ties to economic development matter for the long-term provision of public
goods, including funding for arts and entertainment. The City can ensure that municipally -
supported creative placemaking has accountability mechanisms in place to ensure work is
tied to equitable planning and development policies and practices and to minimize
displacement of resident populations or cultural assets. Approaching placemaking efforts
with an equitable growth framework can take the best parts of these processes while
advancing Fayetteville's core values.
To strengthen placemaking efforts encouraged by the 2024 Economic Vitality Master
Plan —and perhaps complementary to the forthcoming Arts and Culture Master Plan —the
City can co -develop an equitable growth framework, including equitable growth metrics
that can be integrated into the Neighborhood Center Advancement Plan (e.g., access to
goods, services, and public amenities; access to housing opportunities; access to
employment opportunities; environmental justice). Proactively co -developing an
equitable growth framework alongside our community allows us to acknowledge that
change is inevitable, but displacement is controllable with the appropriate community
consultation, resources, and political will. 131
SUPPORTING STRATEGY 1. Preserve and bolster community character by integrating
public art, greenspace, and recreational amenities into parcel- and Neighborhood
Center -level development strategies as well as neighborhood -supported placemaking
Ongoing Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 1. Explore various placemaking strategies, including wayfinding
and the incorporation of public art, to celebrate the unique community identities
of neighborhood centers [AC, PNRCA]
• ACTION ITEM 3. Support the adoption and implementation of the City's first
Cultural Arts Master Plan under the guidance of the City's Arts and Culture
Director and the Fayetteville Arts Council [City]
Short -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 4. Explore a density bonus incentive within Fayetteville's
neighborhood centers for the development of accessible studio space [AC, DS,
EV]
• ACTION ITEM 5. Explore funding sources for studio space stipends for artists and
members of the creative economy [AC, EV] 131
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 8
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN Mid -Term Action Items
2024 • ACTION ITEM 6. Pass an ordinance adopting a Percent for the Arts funding
(EVMP) stream for the City of Fayetteville's public capital improvements [AC, City, EV]
• ACTION ITEM 8. Encourage and pursue concentrations of the arts and creative
economy beyond Downtown [AC, EV] 133
Long -Term Action Items
• ACTION ITEM 9. Recognize the role of art in placemaking and include public art
as core infrastructure for each of Fayetteville's neighborhood centers [AC, DS,
EV]
• ACTION ITEM 10. Encourage alternative leasing arrangements and policies to
ensure fair access for a diverse range of artists (e.g., short-term or alternative
lease arrangements to activate vacant space) [AC, EV] 133
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 9
ECONOMIC VITALITY PLAN
2024
PARK AND RECREATION ***First picture in the plan is of Wilson Park and the artwork in the park.
SYSTEM MASTER PLAN,
FEBRUARY 2023 GUIDING PRINCIPLES The plan is framed around the five guiding principles:
(PRSMP)
Fourth Guiding Principle:
Gathering and Placemaking
Our parks are designed to provide gathering spaces and amenities for our community
while celebrating our unique culture, the arts and music, the people, and the beauty of
the region.
Gathering and Placemaking Improve parks to address comfort and the ability to gather for
activities. Partner with organizations and provide infrastructure to support events in
parks system. Create more art infused spaces. P.47
Gathering and Placemaking Goals
• Goal D1: Design parks and greenways to celebrate our heritage and communities
surrounding landscape and culture.
• Goal D3: Partner with organizations and provide infrastructure to support
programming and events in the parks system, such as theater, music, races,
games, food access, and markets.
• Goal D4: Seek opportunities to integrate art into public spaces. P.53
Placemaking is a design concept that explores ways to bring people together in shaping
shared public spaces to promote the celebration of arts and culture and social health and
wellbeing. It is defined as "more than just promoting better urban design, placemaking
facilitates creative patterns of use, paying particular attention to the physical, cultural,
and social identities that define a place and support its ongoing evolution." Some of
Fayetteville's parks, such as Gulley Park and Wilson Park, currently are authentic to the
place and people and more identifiable as contributing to the city's character. However,
others are more generic spaces and could be enlivened with a placemaking approach.
P.72
Parks are 'third' places in our lives (home being the first place, work being the second
place, and gathering places being the third place) where we gather, relax, socialize and
recreate. Fayetteville has a culture of parks serving as third spaces, including events such
as movies in the park, concert series, farmer's markets downtown, and playing, running
and biking.72
Goal D1 . Design parks and greenways to celebrate our heritage and community's
surrounding landscape and culture.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The arts bring people together and celebrate what makes
Fayetteville unique. The parks system can celebrate the special cultural, recreational
and environmental needs of the community through an integration of the arts. This
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 10
PARK AND RECREATION might include signage and wayfinding, physical spaces for events and gathering, and
SYSTEM MASTER PLAN, events and programs that connect with the local arts and identity of a diversity of
FEBRUARY 2023 communities. P.74
(PRSMP)
GOAL D1 STRATEGIES
a Coordinate with the Heritage and Historic Preservation Master Plan under
development to integrate strategies for design of parks and interpretation
elements.
b Integrate strategies from the Welcoming Fayetteville Plan such as signage and
marketing materials in multiple languages, hosting events to celebrate immigrant
culture and heritage, and advertise parks and recreation programs in social
service directories.
c Include art and interpretive signage in the creation of new spaces and the
renovation of existing ones.
d Design and program parks to highlight the unique natural, historical, cultural
and/or economic identity of the surrounding area and community in which they
are located. a Study, identify, and prioritize locations that would benefit from
gathering and placemaking efforts.
GOAL D1 PRIORITY ACTIONS
• Develop bilingual sign package to increase welcoming.
• Work with Arts and Culture and Historic Preservation to identify opportunities
for investment.
• Provide interpretive elements and signage at Underwood Park relating to the
history of the property.
• Create a community activity node with the redevelopment of Walker Park.
• Increase arts and cultural programs in parks coordinated with ideas from the
Arts and Culture Plan and partnership opportunities. P 74
Goals D2 . Improve parks to address comfort and the ability to gather for activities
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The community survey and community open houses
emphasized a desire from Fayetteville residents to increase park amenities that bring
people together. This could include non-traditional ways, such as hammocks and yard
games in the park and also an interest in more traditional amenities such as benches and
pavilions. P.75
GOAL D2 STRATEGIES
Provide park features and programs relevant to the surrounding community for
the ways they would like to gather. b Increase social and group recreational
activities in parks such as hammocks, outdoor ping pong, chess, and bocce and
yard game areas.
c Increase amenities in parks such as benches, shelters, parking, bathrooms,
cooling features, and water fountains in line with park type level of service
standards.
d Develop programming with a goal of allowing people to meet and visit.
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 11
PARK AND RECREATION GOAL D2 PRIORITY ACTIONS
SYSTEM MASTER PLAN, • Engage citizens in the design of Walker and Underwood Park to understand their
FEBRUARY 2023 needs.
(PRSMP) • Construct activity nodes including yard games in community parks.
• Analyze existing amenities to determine where additional amenities are needed
to meet level of service standards.
• Partner with others to promote recurring social gatherings such as coffee outside,
etc. p.75
Goal D3 . Partner with organizations and provide infrastructure to support programming
and events in the parks system, such as theater, music, races, games, food access, and
markets.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? There are a number of successful events offered to bring the
community together such as the Gulley Park Concert Series and First Thursday, which
takes place in the Historic Downtown Square and offers music, arts, and bike rides to
celebrate the local arts. There is a desire to see these events and larger events, especially
bike and running races, to promote use of parks and trails and support the local economy.
P. 76
GOAL D3 STRATEGIES
a Continue strengthening partnerships with youth centers such as schools and the
Boys and Girls Club for program provision.
b Support active programming that brings people to their parks for art, events,
programs, recreation and community. This programming should be diverse and
adapted to represent the community culture and encourage the creation of social
connections.
c Consider long-term concessionaire facility needs to encourage their presence in
Community and Regional Parks to provide food, beverage, information, and
equipment rentals.
d Update mobile vendor ordinance to increase opportunities in parks.
GOAL D3 PRIORITY ACTIONS
• Meet with partners to gauge interest in sharing resources.
• Build arts and culture programming budget annually to increase offerings.
• Evaluate parks for concessionaire needs and develop infrastructure.
• Identify and develop areas in parks for mobile vendors to serve park users.
Goal D4 . Seek opportunities to integrate art into public spaces .
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The Castle at Wilson Park is a local favorite and an example of
how the arts can integrate into parks. Other examples could integrate interactive
sculpture into play, art and interpretive elements, passive sculpture, murals and other
integrations of art into nature. P.77
GOAL D4 STRATEGIES
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 12
PARK AND RECREATION a Develop an Arts and Culture Master Plan to identify strategic initiatives for
SYSTEM MASTER PLAN, public spaces and programs.
FEBRUARY 2023 b Include programming or spaces that support performing arts and design event
(PRSMP) spaces in parks to serve multiple functions so they are utilized at all times.
c Create more art -infused spaces such as the Castle at Wilson Park.
d Partner with the University of Arkansas's growing Arts and Design Center and
other arts organizations.
GOAL D4 PRIORITY ACTIONS
• Work with consultant support to create Arts and Culture Master Plan.
• Identify opportunities in existing parks for art.
• Identify opportunities for intersection with creative efforts of our community.
• Develop a broad community engagement strategy for gathering and
placemaking.
FAYETTEVILLE FIRST - CITY The strategic focuses, outlined in more detail below, provide Fayetteville with an
5 YEAR PLAN, 2016 actionable guide to strengthen the area's impact on the Northwest Arkansas economy and
(FFP) to solidify Fayetteville's reputation as a place to collaborate, innovate, and create.
FOCUS 1: ARTS AND CULTURE
FURTHER ENHANCE THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Continue to support existing programs that enhance arts and culture locally (p.13)
• Action Item: Pursue grant funding to support programs for the art
• Action Item: Encourage public art installations
"As previously described, public art is a focus in Fayetteville. In order to sustain
this focus long-term, consider the passage of a Percent for Art Ordinance that
allocates a percentage of selected capital projects for installation and
maintenance of permanent works of public art." p. 19
Expand the arts focus in Fayetteville
• Action Item: Support Cultural Arts District development
"The Fayetteville Cultural Arts District will promote and expand the ever-growing
cultural impact of downtown by creating a single marketable district, and as such
should be supported." P. 19
• Action Item: Create additional live/work space for artists
• Action Item: Develop a Downtown Art Program
Develop and support arts programs in public schools
• Action Item: Create an in -school residency program for artists
"Create a program in Fayetteville similar to the Artists -in -Residence program in
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that involves professional artists working with
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 13
students in the Fayetteville School District to create original programs of art. The
support for this effort is already in place through the Arkansas Arts Council Arts in
Education Artist Roster, which is an online listing of professional per formers and
visual or literary artists who are available to participate in a variety of Arts in
Education programs. The Arts in Education (AIE) program is designed to
strengthen the role of the arts in pre K-12 educational settings by fostering
participation in the arts as an integral part of life and the basic education
FAYETTEVILLE FIRST - CITY
process." P. 20
5 YEAR PLAN, 2016
• Action Item: Pursue grants to support these programs
(FFP)
Continue to support the craft beer industry
• Action Item: Partner to support existing breweries
• Action Item: Assess need for educational programs
WELCOMING
THE COMMUNITY: RECOMMENDATIONS
FAYETTEVILLE PLAN, 2016
5. Host and attend events to celebrate immigrant culture and heritage p.16)
(WFP)
"Every September, cities across the country join Welcoming America in celebrating
Welcoming Week as a way to change the rhetoric, shape the immigrant experience, and
affirm values. Cities are encouraged to host festivals, volunteer projects, or classes that
bring native- and foreign -born communities together. The City of Fayetteville will
celebrate Welcoming Week every year and will seek ways to unite neighbors.
Additionally, the Mayor will support ongoing events during this time of year, such as the
Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce's annual Hispanic Heritage Festival." P.19
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN,
'Picture of Ramble in Appendix 1—example of a project that serves two City goals,
2024
biodiversity and open space preservation and arts and culture.
ENERGY ACTION PLAN,
2018
(CAP)
DOWNTOWN MASTER
Executive Summary:
PLAN, 2006
Basic Principles #6
(DMP)
Sixth, Fayetteville must recognize in all its actions that this part of the City has an
experience -based economy, and thus continue to expand the focus on arts, culture and
entertainment experiences as Downtown's drawing card. (ESummary)
Most widely shared ideas from charrettes:
"make Fayetteville a real cultural destination" "increase walkability Downtown"
2.17 Plan fundamentals Smart Parking
Parking should not be placed on corner lots at key intersections. Surface parking lots on
corners disrupts the urban fabric. Most parking needs to be located near the middle of
the block, so that the valuable street edges can be recaptured for urban architecture or
green space. Where possible, parking lots and structures should be lined with build-ings or
otherwise screened so that parking does not visually dominate the street scene. Lining
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 14
parking structures with habitable space along the street edge is crucial to natural
DOWNTOWN MASTER surveillance and street character. These "liner buildings" provide an opportune location
PLAN, 2006 for affordable housing, offices, and small business. Liner buildings are particularly well
(DMP) suited for live -work units or artist studios. P. 2.17
Section 6. An Experience Economy
"What draws people to Downtown? It is the experience --the high quality of life
associated with living and working and being entertained in a downtown environment
with so much to offer, including arts, culture, and fun. Therefore the City should
continue to nurture these anchor functions." 2.27
To reach the next level of quality and sustained economic benefit, a Cultural and
Entertainment Overlay District should be formed to coordinate the evolution of the area
and to establish a fairly compact geo-graphic limit within which these activities should
be focused. Fayetteville's rich history and cultural institutions make the area a prime
candidate for forming an overlay district (see Cultural Districts box). 2.27
The formalizing of the Cultural and Entertainment Overlay District will be an affirmation
of the City's commitment to keep Downtown a center for creativity, innovation, and
fun. Distinctive flags or signs can be used to mark the overlay district. The City, business
organizations and cultural institutions should also promote the overlay district in tourist
brochures and regional media, and recruit businesses that will enhance the scene to
locate there. 2.27
The building form regulations should closely approximate (or match) those for the "Main
Street / Center" category, but these should be paired with liberalized and modified sign
controls (to promote the exuberant signs and lighting traditional in theatre districts), the
barest minimum parking requirements (if any), and a provision for long hours of
operation. Outdoor music should be welcomed within the overlay district, but noise
control ordinances could provide for a stepdown in permissible volume levels in areas
approaching the edges of the district, and some consideration should be given to
limiting the hours for outdoor amplified music so as to manage any disturbance. P.2.28
Keeping the district compact will be of benefit to the cultural institutions and
entertainment businesses as well, because such districts thrive most when the attractions
are bundled closely together in a walkable, easily -navigable scene. 2.28
Today the recognizable center of the arts district is roughly at the intersection of West
Avenue and Dickson Street, anchored by the Walton Arts Center; other outposts of the
arts such as the Nadine Baum Studios and galleries are located nearby, but these are
separated by parking lots, vacant parcels, and assorted businesses. The entertainment
scene is more tightly clustered and primarily linear, along Dickson Street, with some
activity (including bars and restaurants) in the midblock areas and along perpendicular
streets. To encourage its development in directions that will minimize disturbance to
surrounding residential neighborhoods, as the district coalesces it should grow primarily
south, in the area along West Avenue and parallel to the railroad tracks (see Proposed
Cultural and Entertainment Overlay District Boundary on page 2.29).
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 15
DOWNTOWN MASTER This area lends itself to expanded cultural facilities, vibrant evening activities, and
PLAN, 2006 efficiently -provided shared parking. The Illustrative Master Plan depicts how a 2500-seat
(DMP) performance hall can be added to the Walton Arts Center's south side, and how a
community parking facility with "liners" of entertainment businesses and artist housing
can be developed on the West Avenue parcel. 2.28
To promote growth for cultural and entertainment venues in the area:
1) use its regulatory powers to enable these uses in the desired locations and
discourage certain uses outside these locations;
2) use the incentives available within the overlay district to make these sites most
attractive;
3) participate in the construction and financing of the shared parking facility(ies)
and other desirable functions, such as cultural facilities and artist housing; and
4) target street improvements and other infrastructure upgrades in this area. 2.29
National Trends in Downtown Redevelopment
Redevelopment of ailing commercial districts and city neighborhoods has been taking
place across the nation. Redevelopment has proceeded through five strategies:
• the creation or enhancement of arts districts;
• the creation of housing in or near commercial areas;
• destination retail or lifestyle centers with entertainment;
• new office and retail/mixed use districts; and
• new open space amenities.
All of the strategies have in common the concept of "placemaking" or creating a critical
mass of change that can alter local perceptions of the area to be redeveloped.
Arts Districts
In Northwest Arkansas, downtown Fayetteville is the only place with the ability to support
arts facilities on a regional scale. This is important because the arts are now perceived to
be a significant means for encouraging the public to visit and use peripheral businesses
adjoining arts facilities. Some arts districts occur in areas with old existing buildings, such
as obsolete warehouses that can offer artists studios at a cost low enough to encourage a
critical number of studios and galleries. Major arts districts in large cities typically include
at least four types of facilities: museums, galleries, symphony or opera performing arts
venues and retail to appeal to visitors such as restaurants and cafes.
The reason for looking at the arts as a generator of economic potential is that arts
districts draw people on a regular basis and provide foot traffic for local restaurants,
cafes and retail businesses. In Denver, for instance, the city's cultural district drew 7.9
million visitors in 1997, more visitors than attended Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies, and
Avalanche 4.2
games combined. Arts facilities are seen as an amenity that enhances quality of life and
yields a perception of quality to an area. The arts are also seen as an amenity that
draws new residential and office development.
Arts districts can include many different functions from museums, galleries, theaters,
small cinemas, and educational facilities, to building redevelopments for artists' lofts and
live/work units with studios on the first floor and living space on the second. Creating an
arts district requires many of these uses in conjunction, and usually relies upon the
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 16
DOWNTOWN MASTER renovation of old building stock including old warehouses, theaters, hotels and other
PLAN, 2006 buildings of architectural interest. In Berkeley California, a new performing arts facility
(DMP) was combined with streetscape art installations and the redevelopment of City Hall. In
Portland, a new building for art education is part of the on -going revitalization of the Pearl
District, a former warehouse district.
At the same time as yielding benefits, arts facilities and developments are rarely self-
sustaining, and usually require a variety of funding and equity sources to succeed
including public funding, patrons or donors, and sometimes the use of sales taxes and
local improvement districts to fund improvements. Creating arts facilities requires a
public commitment of funding that varies with the size of the proposed project. Live/work
space, in particular, has been successful in such diverse areas as Salt Lake City,
Minneapolis and Little Rock, Arkansas.
The most successful arts districts have strings of galleries intermixed with theater and
symphony venues. One possibility is to establish an arts incubator as an adaptive re -use
project. Arts incubators are projects that offer lower rent for live/work studios in
exchange for public benefit, such as requirements for public open studio nights. The
residents or tenants are required to be practicing artists and to display work on a
monthly basis to the public. While some funding would be required, such projects have
succeeded and economic development funding is available for incubators. 4.3
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 17
DOWNTOWN MASTER
PLAN, 2006
(DMP)
71 B CORRIDOR PLAN,
PLACEMAKING AND PUBLIC ART
2019
As stated earlier, creating distinctive urban places along the 71B corridor is important to
(71BCP)
the overall concept. This strategy has important environmental, economic, functional,
and image -building dimensions. A high -quality physical environment helps transform a
commercial corridor into an attractive place to live, while an improved image builds the
corridor as a destination that attracts customers and builds business. Placemaking
improvements also help users orient themselves along the street, improving its user
experience and overall ease of use. Public art has a proven role to play in the process of
creating places and should be a major part of the development of this corridor. The
adjacency of the corridor to both the developing Arts Corridor and the University of
Arkansas art department facilities provides the special opportunity to bring
environmental art into a high -traffic public realm. This section is by no means a
comprehensive plan for public art but is intended to open discussion on the value of a
unified, contextual program for this highly public corridor. It identifies six specific types of
art installations:
Subdistrict gateways. These define the edges and themes of identifiable districts along
the the street, such as the research campus and Mill District along South School and the
Restaurant District along College north of Township.
Urban intersections. These installations would help define major intersections along the
way, including such locations as the MLK and Rolling Hills intersections. At special
intersections such as bus rapid transit stops, art and function can be combined with
thematically designed shelters or stations. Pedestrian crossings. Major pedestrian
intersections such as the Greenway and Town Branch Trail crossings can be marked by
placemaking elements that also increase safety and visibility.
Sculpture Trail. Popular trails can become linear art galleries that attract users and enrich
the experience of using the trail. Skokie, Illinois' North Branch Trail segment demonstrates
the popularity of art installations along trails.
Free -Standing Art. Major open spaces such as those envisioned with a redesign of the
Fulbright interchange, the redirection of Green Acres Drive, and the center of
roundabouts provide possibilities for major landmark installation. Smaller, repetitive
installations along the way can also be used to interpret local history, bring attention to
specific sites, and even incorporate community art, including the art of young people, into
the streetscape. The maps on these pages provides a starting point for directing the
locations of various installations along the corridor. Pp. 118-119
Major Free -Standing Art Functional Installation (e.g. bus shelter/station)
WALKER PARK
Theme from Charette: "Jefferson Building as a community center/arts uses" p. 13.
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN,
(former Elementary School was sold to Potter House non-profit in 2023.)
2008
(WPNP)
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ADUs are commonly called granny units because
historically they were designed as an alternative housing option for senior family
members. In older neighborhoods, they were often located above an attached garage or
stood alone as a separate cottage unit. Sometimes they were an integral part of the main
home with separate cooking, sleeping, and bathing facilities. ADUs can create attainable
housing in a number of ways. They are often designed as a housing alternative for
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 18
members of the family who may have special needs or life circumstances. Families with
college -age children may choose to construct an ADU rather than pay rent for a dorm
room or off -campus apartment. Additionally, ADUs as rental units can provide the
necessary income needed for a family to meet their monthly mortgage obligations. The
relatively low residential density and the neighborhood's proximity to the downtown
and University of Arkansas make the Walker Park Neighborhood ideal for homeowners
seeking to supplement their income by creating ADUs. P.22
How the Jefferson Building ultimately is used will be determined by the Fayetteville School
District, the availability of funding to the Jefferson Project group or the private sector.
However, the proposed design would make the building a centerpiece for the
neighborhood and honor the history of the school as well as the neighborhood. The
design also makes the area an asset to the recently created Cultural Arts District, which
encompasses the Jefferson Building.p.33
The other suggestions mentioned for Walker Park emphasized adding uses that would
serve a broader population within the neighborhood. Walker Park currently serves as a
regional sports park; adding other uses such as an outdoor amphitheater, a disc golf
course, splash pad or dog park would broaden the user population. This evolution would
enable Walker Park to transition from a regional park to a neighborhood park. P. 38
The State Historic Preservation Program annually offers preservation grants to restore
historically significant structures and memorials. The Waxhaws Memorial symbolizes an
important part of Arkansas and Fayetteville history, but has fallen into disrepair. Restoring
this memorial and highlighting a northeast entrance to Walker Park would contribute to
the history embedded in the Jefferson Square area and invite residents north of the park
into the nature trail system.
Long Term Recommendation
Add additional uses to Walker Park such as a splash pad and outdoor amphitheater.
These amenities are unique and will diversify and increase users of the park. Adding these
features to then north end of the park will also create a children's area and performance
space for residents who live to the north of the park. However, these features are more
costly than previous uses mentioned, requiring more planning for infrastructure and
capital expenses. P. 46
WALKER PARK MASTER
New plan includes a Stage
PLAN 2023
(WPMP)
CENTENNIAL PARK
Conceptual Plan includes a Stage
CONCEPTUAL MASTER
PLAN 2019
(CPMP)
GULLEY PARK MASTER
***Art Garden indicated as well as a designated area for Performance (which includes a
PLAN 2019
support area and placement for food trucks).
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 19
(GPMP)
Art Garden: This area of the park has more trees than the open fields, but not enough
trees to be a forested area. As such it creates many places that could serve as locations
for sculptures and art works possibly developed by the growing art related efforts in the
city and at the University of Arkansas.
Performance Area: The area that hosts the Gulley Park Concert Series and other events. A
large pavilion, a restroom, and an area for food trucks and other support activities is
included. Electricity could be provided so vendors will not have to use generators during
the concerts. (from Land Use Theme Descriptions)
ARTSPACE, Presentation Key Theme Fayetteville: More space for working artists; keeping and retaining students
of Findings, 2019
Where in Northwest Arkansas would you consider
relocating to a live/work community?
Fayetteville 122 64%
Bentonville 95 49%
Rogers 73 38%
Springdale 69 36%
Other 22 11%
Where would you consider renting private
studio or creative workspace on an ongoing
basis?
Fayetteville 122 59%
Rogers 85 43%
Bentonville 74 36%
Springdale 50 24%
Other 26 13%
Fayetteville Recommendation:
A classic mixed -use development including:
• Affordable live/work artist housing
• Working studios for individual artists
• Link to Fayetteville Square artists, bike trails and
area transportation
• Integration with the Cultural Arts Corridor
• Programmatic connections to University Arts
Campus Expansion and Arts and Design District
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 20
Arts Vibrancy in "The recently established University of Arkansas School of Art should help to attract
Northwest Arkansas, SMU independent artists to NW Arkansas. The challenge will be to keep these independent
2017 (AVN) artists in the community. We note that the University of Arkansas already offered degrees
in music and theatre. NW Arkansas is competitively ranked in the theatre sector but not in
opera, music, or dance. The situation in NW Arkansas is similar to Dallas, TX, where SMU's
long-established Meadows School of the Arts attracts
artists to Dallas but the city has struggled to maintain a thriving community of
independent artists." p.5
Other plans consulted:
MASTER STREETS PLAN, 2020
THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, 2015- UPDATE WITH CP 2020
BRYCE DAVIS PARK MASTER PLAN 2023
FAYETTEVILLE MOBILITY PLAN, 2018
Regional Plans
Rogers Cultural Plan 2021
Northwest Arkansas Music Ecosystem Strategy and Action Plan, 2020
Plans underway (not yet reviewed):
Experience Fayetteville Tourism Plan
Downtown Fayetteville Plan
Appendix - Plan Alignment Assessment - 21
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Public Art Assessment, Gap Analysis & Initial Recommendations
2024
Public Art Program Background
Fayetteville has a tradition of supporting and producing art in the public realm, whether that be a
fountain in front of the Town Center, "Sprayetteville" murals, or paintings on utility boxes. But until
recently, the City of Fayetteville has not had a formal public art program. Most of the City's artwork
collection came to the former Parks department through donations of artwork or collaborations with
other City departments (Recycling, Police department, etc.). With the recent founding of the new Arts
and Culture Division, the City has the opportunity to formalize its Public Art Program, fund it and staff it,
and manage and care for the existing collection as well as commission new works of art.
Collection Assessment
In March 2023, our consulting team personally visited and inventoried nearly every piece of art that is
owned and maintained by the City of Fayetteville. The collection numbers approximately 40 pieces in
total. This assessment pertains to the artwork in the City's collection only. The revised Fayetteville Public
Art Inventory 3.20.24 includes a few artworks that have been destroyed, moved or the consultants were
unable to locate. There are other works of art around the City, which seem to be private installations,
property of the Library or murals and artwork owned and maintained by Experience Fayetteville. The
University has its own public art collection as well. In addition, there are temporary sculptures that are
placed within the Lower Ramble that were not a part of this assessment.
Currently, the diversity of artwork in the collection is quite limited; the collection consists predominantly
of murals and utility box paintings and donated small-scale sculptures. Nearly all of the artwork (95%) is
by local artists from Fayetteville or Northwest Arkansas. Only one sculpture is by an out-of-state artist.
One highlight of the collection is a grouping of artworks located in Wilson Park that is a series of
playable/functional sculptures centered around "Point Seven" or the Wilson Park Castle. The work is in
excellent condition (appearing to be recently restored) and is a fine example of the draw of public art
and its ability to create memorable spaces for all ages. On our visit, a family from Texas was enjoying the
castle, and they mentioned that they had researched the location before they arrived and wanted to
experience the park as a tourist destination.
Appendix - Fayetteville Public Art Assessment - 1
Count of Form/Type
c
15
0
GJ\Q4
0 5
�J�a
Form/Type
The collection overall is in good condition, though several of the utility boxes have deteriorated to the
point where they will need to be scraped and/or repainted. Overall, this is typical of murals —they require
regular maintenance if they are to remain in place longer than a few years. Two of the smaller donated
sculptures are also in fair to poor condition due to chipped and peeling powder -coated paint. More
details on the condition of the collection are in the revised Fayetteville Public Art Inventory 3.20.24.
Public Art Program Resources
City of Fayetteville's Public Art Website—A simple google search for public art in Fayetteville, AR went
directly to the City's Public Art website, which is embedded under Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural
Affairs, and then under the Arts and Culture Tab. It appears as though the items on the Public Art
"splash page" are out of date. The page starts with a description of what public art is, and then links to a
2018 video produced by Experience Fayetteville. Following that, the page is a long list of headings
including a section "About Fayetteville's Murals" and then continues with a listing "Recent
Commissions" and "Collaborations: which are also out of date. The interactive map isn't intuitively
placed on the site, popping up under "Ongoing Projects." https://www.fayetteville-ar.gov/3200/Public-
Art
Generally, the Department would do well to overhaul this resource, keeping it simple so it is easy to
keep up-to-date, and also feature resources for artists (such as RFQs) more prominently.
Appendix - Fayetteville Public Art Assessment - 2
Other Web -Based Resources for the Public Art Program
There are other websites that are linked to the City of Fayettevile's Public Art website. A cursory search
showed the following links:
https://www.experiencefavetteville.com/experience/art
https://www.arkansas.com/articles/favetteville-public-art-tours
These pages are great assets to the City's public art program and the Arts and Culture Department in
General. As the public art program grows, continuing to coordinate and collaborate with these websites
and cross-referencing will make more resources available to the public and tourists.
Fayetteville Public Art Inventory
The internal collection list was updated as of March 2024 as the Fayetteville Public Art Inventory. There
are a few artworks that have been moved, destroyed or were unable to be located. Arts and Culture
staff will need to follow up with these items and confirm their disposition or new location and update
the inventory. It is recommended that the inventory be updated at least annually, or as new artwork is
commissioned or acquired.
Currently there are three sections of the inventory: one for the City -owned collection, one listing
Experience Fayetteville's collection and another list with secondary works which is a list of private and
unidentified artwork that are in the public realm.
Collection Map
The Fayetteville Art Walk Interactive Map does not directly correspond to the Public Art Inventory, as
the map includes artwork owned by the City, Experience Fayetteville and other private owners. The map
also does not include temporary works, such as those displayed in the Lower Ramble. Some pieces on
the map were not found (either the artwork was moved, destroyed or the information on the map is
incorrect). To date, there are no other public art maps or tours beyond this one.
Public Art Funding
In 2024, the City funded the Public Art program in the amount of $155,000 from the CIP five year capital
plan. The program requested $500,000. The funding is allocated as follows:
• $20-25k for Juneteenth Murals on Nelson Hackett Blvd (project complete)
• Yvonne Richardson Community Center Murals (funded through project funds)
• Artwork related to the Upper Ramble construction
The strategy for funding the public art program into the future is unknown.
Public Art Staffing
The current Arts and Culture Department Director is also serving as the primary staff for the Public Art
Program. The City's appointed Arts Commission is serving as the Commission for the Public Art Program.
Gaps
• The Public Art Program lacks:
Appendix - Fayetteville Public Art Assessment - 3
o Dedicated public art staff;
o A percent -for -art ordinance for a set -aside from capital improvement projects for art;
o Dedicated, sustained funding for public art maintenance;
o A maintenance plan for the care and preservation of public art; and
o Formal, adopted public art policies (except for an existing donation policy).
• Marketing of the program is limited:
o The public art website is not up-to-date and a bit disorganized;
o The Art Walk Interactive Map is also out of date;
o There is limited cross -promotion of the public art program and other cultural
programming at the City.
• Maintenance is an issue; several of the utility box murals are in need of repainting;
• Currently, the public art collection is limited in scope, primarily murals and 95% local artists,
making it hyper -local.
• The community is eager for more public art; and
• Without a percent -for -art ordinance or more formalized program, the City may be missing
opportunities to include art in City -funded development.
Initial Recommendations
• Staff the program properly, even with a part time consultant, to ensure there is at least one
person dedicated to public art oversight and project management.
• With additional staff, improve the on-line visibility of the program, create an up-to-date map
and establish additional marketing/promotional pathways (ie. social media, tours, etc.)
• Develop policies and procedures for the Public Art Program:
o Acquisition methods and processes
o Selection/site criteria
o Standard Policies: donation, deaccession, maintenance, and mural/temporary work
o Mural vs. Sign Code
o Eventual codification of a public art ordinance
o CIP contributions (by code or voluntary)
o Sample contracts
o VARA information
o Public Art Framework Plan with steps toward building and funding the program
• Strategize and advocate for a 1% or 2% for art program, either by ordinance or voluntary.
• Seek out funding partnerships through other entities, like Business Improvement Districts (BID).
• Augment the program through grants (local, state, national) and/or philanthropy.
• Legally determine City ownership of art pieces and ensure the City maintains those works.
• Build a small pool of funding for use to upgrade/repair damaged sculptures and failing utility box
murals.
• As funding is more sustainable and new commission opportunities grow, consider how to
expand the program to represent more diverse art forms and engage more artists.
• Collaborate with the University of Arkansas through internships or apprenticeships, for example
to help run a summer utility box mural program or to maintain or repair existing artwork.
Appendix - Fayetteville Public Art Assessment - 4
• Reprise "Sprayetteville" in collaboration with Experience Fayetteville or another fiscal sponsor
as this program was highly successful with the public and they want more.
• Partner with the Downton Fayetteville Coalition to fund more public art within the Downtown
core.
• As the program grows,
• Focus on a few key projects:
o Upper Ramble (finishes in November 2025).
o Hotel in Upper Ramble - encourage the developer to include art
o Alley & Mural beautification program, potentially in partnership with Downtown
Fayetteville Coalition (Little Rock Alley Art Project, Fort Collins Downtown Alley
Projects).
o Grants for neighborhood murals (not on City property) - perhaps through CDBG funding.
Appendix - Fayetteville Public Art Assessment - 5
Peer Cities Report
for the Fayetteville Arts & Culture Plan
2024
Table of Contents
Overview....................................................................................................................................................2
KeyFindings................................................................................................................................................3
Municipal Departments Benchmark Summary..........................................................................................5
Municipal Cultural Facilities and Venues....................................................................................................9
Notable Non -Municipal Cultural Facilities................................................................................................11
Municipal Arts & Culture Programs/Events.............................................................................................15
Unique Arts & Culture Events...................................................................................................................17
Municipal Special Events Offices/Coordination.......................................................................................22
Film& Video Support...............................................................................................................................24
PublicArt Programs..................................................................................................................................27
GrantingPrograms...................................................................................................................................30
Arts/Creative Districts..............................................................................................................................34
Creative Business/Entrepreneurial Support.............................................................................................36
TourismSupport.......................................................................................................................................37
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 1
Overview
This Peer Cities Report is driven by the City of Fayetteville's desire to strategically develop and deepen
its role in arts and culture. The intent of the report is to identify and benchmark best practices, trends,
innovation and success from selected samples to provide both a current snapshot of the industry and
inspiration for cultural planning.
The report benchmarks seven cities identified as having similar characteristics as Fayetteville in terms
of population size, demographics, distance from a large metropolitan area and a major state university
within its borders. Each benchmark city is also known for its arts and culture scene, making it a good
candidate for understanding the role the municipal government has in the arts and culture ecosystem.
The seven benchmark cities are:
•
Asheville, North Carolina
•
Boise, Idaho
•
Boulder, Colorado
•
Fort Collins, Colorado
•
Lawrence, Kansas
•
Little Rock, Arkansas
•
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
This study looked at how each municipality internally engages with arts and culture. Specifically, our
research asked the following questions:
• Does the city have an arts and culture department? What does it do?
• Does the city own and operate arts and culture facilities or venues?
• Is the city involved in supporting special events or festivals?
• Does the city support film and video in its local community?
• Does the city have an art in public places program?
• Does the city provide grants to the arts and culture community?
Methodology
In preparing this report, research consisted of extensive internet research, reviewing existing arts and
culture planning and other city planning documents that were available, delving into public records on
city policies and budgets as well as specific inquiries directly to staff. It's worth noting that the level of
detailed information varied among cities, affecting our ability to collect all the desired data points fully.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 2
Key Findings
Before diving into the detailed data, we've highlighted several key findings that stand out and merit
special attention.
• % for Art: Each city (except Little Rock) has a percent -for -art program, with Lawrence applying
2%. In addition, Boulder and Boise have innovative programs of note: Boise has ground-
breaking public art collaborations with public works, the airport, and water
conservation/treatment center in which artists were part of the design teams. Boulder oversees
a Creative Neighborhoods Program as well as "Experiments in Public Art" featuring temporary
art "experiments."
• Artist Registry: Oklahoma City maintains a local artists registry available on the city's website.
• Artists' Support: Boulder's Arts and Culture Website has a helpful "Resources and
Opportunities" page for artists to link to local, regional and national websites and resources for
artists.
• Community Programs: Fort Collins began its Cultural Community Programs in 2022 (through
ARPA funding) to integrate arts and culture experiences into the Fort Collins community by
activating unconventional public spaces with pop-up events and activations.
• Craft Your Commerce: Mountain Bizworks in Asheville hosts a series of workshops titled "Craft
Your Commerce" for creatives to expand their entrepreneurial skills.
• Creative District: Little Rock has designated the Main Street Creative Corridor as a place to be
for those wanting to incorporate art and culture into their everyday lives and is revitalizing
Main Street one block at a time, using economic development stimulated by the arts rather
than a traditional retail base.
• Film: The state of Oklahoma has a very robust program for promoting the film and TV industry
in its state and has gone even further to target film and music together with their incentive
programs, doubling down on the commitment to the creative economy in this area.
https://www.okfilmmusic.org/
• Grant making: Four cities provide granting programs for local arts and culture organizations
and artists as a way to invest directly in the sector.. Boulder's Cultural Grant program strives to
be innovative and respond to local needs. Recently they've developed "hiring artists incentives"
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 3
and "venue affordability fund" which partners with key cultural venues to provide free or
reduced cost rental rates for the sector.
• Mural Registry: The City of Boise has a Mural Registry to browse in addition to a searchable
database of its entire collection.
• Public Art Training: The City of Boise offers a yearly Public Art Academy for artists looking to
learn how to break into public art.
• Special Events Support: While all the cities require special event permitting, Boise, Fort Collins,
and Oklahoma City (with Lawrence in development) have special event offices within local
government to provide guidance and support to ensure safe, sustainable and successful events.
• Studio Tour: To engage the community with a greater number of local artists, Fort Collins'
Studio Tour runs over three days, partnering with local artists who open their studios to the
public.
• Unique Festival: Lawrence Busker Festival occurs one weekend a year with unusual
entertainment all over historic downtown Lawrence. A roster of street performers from all
around the world perform: magicians, jugglers, musicians, acrobats, and more.
The following pages offer an in-depth look at the data points outlined in the benchmark study.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 4
Municipal Departments Benchmark Summary
We looked at each city to see if it had an arts and culture department and what that department does.
The following summarizes this data for each city.
City of Asheville, NC
-3, Population: 95,056 (Metro area 417,202)
-3, City Arts & Culture Department: Department of Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities
-3, What it does: Owns and operates the city's major cultural facilities and venues. (see below)
-3, Facilities/Venues:
♦ Harrah's Cherokee Center —Asheville
• ExploreAsheville.com Arena,
• Thomas Wolfe Auditorium,
♦ WNC Nature Center
♦ McCormick Field
♦ Aston Park Tennis Center
♦ John B Lewis Soccer Complex
-3, Public Art: Planning and Urban Design houses and staffs the 1% for Art Program Public Art
Program.
-3, Staff: 27.75; .5 FTE for Public Art
-3, Estimated Annual Funding &: $5,530,847 Harrah's Center -
-3, Source: Enterprise Fund = Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville (HCCA )Fund
City of Boise, ID
-3, Population: 235,421 (Metro area 764,718), state capitol
-3, City Arts & Culture Department: Department of Arts and History
-3, What it does: Serves primarily an advisory role to the local arts and history industry. It offers
granting opportunities, professional development support for artists and historians.
-3, Facilities/Venues: The department oversees two city -owned historic sites: James Astle House
and the Emra Hayman House.
-3, Public Art: Public Works houses the Public Art Program. The public art program is embedded in
their new building programs. The City has a ground -breaking public art/public works
collaboration and art/airport collaboration. water conservation/treatment center and the
airport; artists were part of the design teams.
♦ Benchmark Alert: https://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/media/5633/public-works-arts-
plan-print.pdf
♦ https://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/media/5991/airport-art-plan-v212.pdf
-3, Staff: 16 FTE, including a full-time cultural asset manager.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 5
-3, Estimated Annual Funding: $3,121419
—3, Source: General Fund
City of Boulder, CO
—3, Population: 105,898 (Metro area 330,758)
—3, City Arts & Culture Department: The Boulder Office of Arts and Culture
—3, What it does: A division of the Community Vitality department, the BOAC is responsible for the
oversight of cultural grants, creative sector programs, public art, support for cultural nonprofits,
creative neighborhoods programs, and support for individual artists and creative professionals.
—3, Facilities/Venues: The City owns two facilities that they lease for a nominal fee to non-profit
organizations, the Dairy Center for the Arts and the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.
—3, Public Art: Boulder recently instituted a formal 1% for Art Program in 2018. The program also
oversees a Creative Neighborhoods Program as well as "Experiments in Public Art" which
receives an additional $150K per year.
—3, Staff: 6 FTE
—3, Estimated Annual Funding: $1.5 million in 2024; $4 million or more in 2025.
—3, Source: As of 2025, the Office will be funded almost entirely from the voter approved
designation of the existing "2A Tax revenue" to arts and culture. The exact amount is
undetermined at this time. Public Art will continue to be funded through 1% for art on capital
improvements, the general fund and other funding streams.
—3, Benchmark Alert: Boulder's 2024 budget provided $925,000 to support the City's cultural grant
program to arts and culture nonprofit organizations. The majority of the grants budget ($800K)
provides critical multi -year general operating support to over 40 arts organizations. The
remaining $125K supports project grants, grants to artists and arts educators and capacity
building funds.
City of Fort Collins, CO
Population: 170,376 (Metro area 370,771)
City Arts and Culture Department: The Cultural Services Department
—3o What it does: Fosters an inclusive, culturally rich, creatively vibrant and arts -engaged
community. It owns and operates four facilities and manages the art in public places program,
Fort Fund Grant Program for arts and culture nonprofit organizations, and the Cultural
Community Program.
—3, Facilities/Venues: It owns and operates 4 facilities:
♦ The Lincoln Center (performing and visual arts)
♦ Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (public/private)
♦ Gardens on Spring Creek (botanic gardens)
♦ Center for Creativity
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 6
-3, Public Art: Cultural Services manages the 1% for art public art program.
-3, Staff: 45 FTE; 1 FTE + consultants for public art.
-3, Estimated Annual Funding: $9,378,597
-3, Source: General Fund, earned revenue, contributed revenue
City of Lawrence, KS
-3, Population: 96,207 (Metro area 120,553)
-3, City Arts and Culture Department: The City recently added Arts and Culture to its Parks and
Recreation department.
-3, What it does: The newly expanded department is currently working on a Parks, Recreation, Arts
and Culture Comprehensive Plan that will be completed in 2024. The Arts & Culture
Commission is charged "to promote, encourage, and coordinate the artistic and cultural
activities of the community through recommendations made to the Governing Body of the City
and through coordinating endeavors of those groups and organizations which identify
themselves as primarily concerned with the artistic environment of Lawrence." The City
manages the Phoenix Awards and Community Arts Grants.
-3, Facilities/Venues: The City doesn't own or operate any facilities but they manage the following
programs:
-3, Public Art: the City manages a 2% for art program and Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition.
-3, Staff: 2.84 FTE
-3, Estimated Annual Funding & Source: embedded in Parks & Recreation Budget.
-3, Source: Funding is embedded in the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department which is funded
primarily through the General Fund and Transient Guest Tax.
City of Little Rock, AR
-3, Population: 203,842 (Metro 748,031), state capitol
-3, City Arts & Culture Department: The City does not have a designated cultural department, but
does have an Arts & Culture Commission which was established "to promote policies and
encourage endeavors for the appreciation and enhancement of the arts and culture resources
of Little Rock."
-3, What it does: The Commission organizes and promotes the Open Studios Program.
-3, Facilities/Venues: Although the city doesn;t own or operate facilities, the city does appropriate
funding to partner agencies that are run and managed by separately:
♦ Museum of Fine Arts $2,200,000
♦ Museum of Discovery $192,000
♦ River Market $1,071,692
♦ MacArthur Military Museum $307,345
-3, Public Art: The city does not have a formal public art program.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 7
-3, Staff: 1 FTE (Creative Economy and Special Projects Supervisor)
-3, Estimated Annual Funding & Source: $3,777,037 to above organizations.
-3, Source: The facilities above are considered separate entities from the city and receive funds
from service charges that are used to operate their respective facilities and a Hotel, Motel, and
Restaurant Sales Tax.
City of Oklahoma City, OK
-3, Population: 702,767 (Metro area 1,459,380) state capitol
-3, City Arts and Culture Department: the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs
-3, What it does: As a division of the Planning Department, OACA is charged with expanding and
improving the quality of the community's arts and cultural opportunities so the community can
experience social, physical, educational and economic enrichment. The OACA facilitates cultural
planning and implementation and the relationships between artists, cultural organizations, and
other groups.
-3, Facilities/Venues: the City does not own or operate cultural facilities.
-3, Public Art: The OACA oversees the coordination and stewardship of the 1% for Public Art
Program,
♦ Benchmark Alert: OKC Arts has a local artists registry:
https://www.okc.gov/departments/planning/programs/office-of-arts-and-cultural-
affairs/artist-registry
-3, Staff: 2.5 FTE (2024-2025)
-3, Estimated Annual Funding & Source: $532,097 (2025)
-3, Source: General Fund and Special Purpose Fund
The table below summarizes the above information:
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 8
Asheville, North Carolina
Boise, Idaho
Boulder, Colorado
Fort Collins, Colorado
Lawrence, Kansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Fayvetle/illu, Arkanza%
v0 4qo- SP
Municipal Cultural Facilities and Venue -
Which benchmark cities own and operate arts and cultural facilities?
City of Asheville, NC
x
x I x
The City of Asheville's Department of Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities manages a
collection of sporting & entertainment facilities and operations including the Harrah's Cherokee Center
— Asheville which includes the ExploreAsheville.com Arena and the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, WNC
Nature Center, McCormick Field, Aston Park Tennis Center, John B Lewis Soccer Complex and outdoor
events within parks and public spaces, permitted by the City's Office of Special Events.
City of Boise, ID
The City of Boise Department of Arts and History manages the James Castle House, the Erma Hayman
House through its Cultural Sites program. The City of Boise owns —but does not operate —buildings
that house the Boise Art Museum, The Cabin, Black History Museum, the Discovery Center, and the
Human Rights Education Center. Boise Public Works is responsible for the maintenance of the
buildings; Parks & Recreation is responsible for grounds maintenance. Eight Community Centers (some
in partnership with Boise School District), including Fort Boise Art Center, the Foothills Learning
Center, and Boise Watershed Environmental Education Center, are owned and operated by Boise City
Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments with limited partnerships with the Department of
Arts & History.
City of Boulder, CO
The City of Boulder's Office of Arts and Culture does not operate any art facilities or venues in Boulder.
The City does own the building and property used by the Dairy Arts Center and BMOCA through an
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 9
ongoing nominal lease. The facility includes a 225 seat theatre, 116 seat theatre, black box theatre, 70
seat cinema space, two art galleries, workshop space, and rentable lobby space for 250. The Dairy
books and produces its own events and also serves as a rental facility for many other arts organizations
in Boulder. (See grants for more details on venue support)
City of Fort Collins, CO
The City of Fort Collins Cultural Services Department includes the Lincoln Center for the Performing
Arts with a 1200 seat theatre, 220 seat theatre, art gallery and conference center; the public/private
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, the Gardens on Spring Creek, and Creative Community Center,
with affordable community space for exhibitions, performances, classes, meetings, etc.
City of Lawrence, KS
The Lawrence Arts Center is a public/private partnership started in the 1970s, with a new facility built
in 2002. Community raised $3.5 million which the City matched. City owns the facility which is
operated by the nonprofit "Lawrence Art Center." The facility includes five gallery spaces, 300-seat
theatre, Black Box Theater, fully equipped studios for drawing, painting, ceramics, jewelry,
photography and printmaking. LAC focuses on "art is for everyone" and provides financial aid and an
Artists -in -residence program. 10th & Mass Studios is an extension of LAC offering arts classes, events,
and rentals. In 2023, LAC acquired the building to expand programming further through the City of
Lawrence's Arts Commons Tax Increment Fund (TIF) agreement, financing and generous donors.
City of Little Rock, AR
The City of Little Rock established an Arts and Culture Commission to promote policies and encourage
endeavors for the appreciation and enhancement of the arts and culture resources of Little Rock. The
City does not appear to have a specific arts and culture department or own/manage arts facilities or
venues. The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Board of Trustees was created by Little Rock City
Ordinance No. 11,111 (Code of Ordinances Section 22-181). In 2016, voters did pass a hotel -tax bond to
reimagine the former Arkansas Arts Center into the Arkansas Museum of Fine Art, of which the City of
Little Rock is one of many funders.
City of Oklahoma City, OK
The city's Arts & Cultural Affairs (Arts) was established in 2012 to guide, coordinate, and accelerate arts
and cultural development. While this department oversees the 1% Public Art program, the Arts
Commission, and engages in municipal arts strategic planning and research, it doesn't own nor manage
arts facilities.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 10
Notable Non -Municipal Cultural Facilities
Each of the cities also have non -municipal facilities to provide arts and cultural programming for their
respective communities. A few significant non -municipal cultural facilities for each city are noted
below.
Asheville, NC
• Wortham Center for Performing Arts: a three -venue complex comprising Diana Wortham
Theatre (500 seats), Tina McGuire Theatre (100 seats) and Henry LaBrun Studio (85 people)..
• Asheville Art Museum: Asheville Art Museum presents 15 to 20 exhibitions each year and along
with its collections explore 20th- and 21st-century American art and preserve the artistic
traditions of the Southern Appalachian region.
• Magnetic Theater: Located in the River District with a devotion to displaying new and exciting
original work from talented playwrights. Features a New Play Development Program and an
open script submission policy.
• Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre: offers a casual outdoor performances environment featuring
Shakespeare by the Montford Park Players.
• NC Stage Company: 127-seat, off-Broadway style of professional theatre.
Boise, ID
• Velma V. Morrison Center for Performing Arts: Located on Boise State University campus, the
2,002-seat Morrison Center annually hosts hundreds of live entertainment and arts education
offerings. A Boise State affiliate, the Center's budget is supported by ticket sales, facility rentals,
donations, grants, and the generous support of the Morrison Center Endowment Foundation,
Inc.
• Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy: Home to Ballet Idaho, Boise Philharmonic, and Opera
Idaho, located in the Cultural District in Boise, the Academy is renowned for its educational
outreach programs. The Academy was launched in 1992 from a generous endowment from J.R.
Simplot. The Academy has expanded from a single building to three, including the Academy, the
Annex, Ballet Idaho offices.
• Luminary: The Keith and Catherine Stein Luminary is an all -digital museum space, producing a
range of immersive, interactive and sensory experiences focused on visual and performing arts
and cultural exhibitions.
• Discovery Center of Idaho: Idaho's only science center was begun by the Junior League of Boise.
• Boise Art Museum (BAM): Idaho's only collecting art museum hosts an annual outdoor arts
festival featuring more than 200 artists.
• Basque Center: The Basque Center was built in 1949 and is a gathering place for Basque people
in the area, supporting Basque dancing, events and gatherings.
Boulder, CO
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 11
• Boulder Museum for Contemporary Art (BMOCA): Founded by a group of local artists in 1972,
BMOCA is one of Colorado's premier contemporary art venues. It is a non -collecting institution.
• Boulder Theater: Art deco institution since 1906 and an anchor in downtown providing a venue
for music, film, and meetings.
• Chautauqua Auditorium: It is the only chautauqua west of the Mississippi that has continuously
operated with its original structures intact, largely used for their original purposes. Offers
musical, arts and educational programs attracting over 1M visitors annually.
• eTown Hall: A multipurpose, multimedia center in the heart of downtown Boulder that is home
to eTown's world -class live music venue, full service recording studio, post production audio
and video suites, cafe & bar.
• MackyAuditorium: University of Colorado's multidisciplinary venue with 2052 seats serving the
campus and the region.
Fort Collins, CO
• University Center for the Arts: owned/operated by CSU, the UCA is comprised of a 550 seat
music hall, 150 recital hall, black box dance space, and practice and classroom spaces.
Programming partners with the City of Fort Collins Cultural Services Department for the
Classical Music Series.
• Museum of Art Fort Collins (MoA) art museum with temporary exhibits housed in the former
post office in the Old Town area of the city. The museum is a non -collecting institution.
• Mishawaka Amphitheater: Iconic riverfront music venue in the Poudre Canyon with seasonal
outdoor amphitheater with capacity of 1000, indoor lounge & full -service cafe.
• Washington's: a downtown live music venue with capacity of 900 owned and operated by
Bohemian Live Music, which also owns The Armory, a premier listening room featuring acoustic
acts with 200-person capacity.
• The Comedy Fort: standalone comedy club in downtown Fort Collins with shows nearly every
day of the week, open mic nights, and classes.
• The Aggie Theatre: historic movie theatre turned into a live music venue hosting local and big -
name bands. Owned and operated by Z2 Entertainment which also owns the Boulder Theatre,
Boulder Fox, Chautauqua and 10 mile hall.
Lawrence, KS
• Lied Center 2020 seat performing arts center at the University of Kansas, serving the campus
and greater community.
• Spencer Art Museum: Operated by the University of Kansas as the only comprehensive art
museum in the state of Kansas serving more than 50,000 visitors annually.
• Theatre Lawrence: 35,000 square foot theatre and education facility opened in 2013, producing
six to eight major shows each year, touring shows, an extensive youth program, senior
programming, a summer program and a script library.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 12
• Liberty Hall: historic theater in downtown Lawrence, Kansas with a main stage, a small cinema,
a coffee shop and a video library
• The Bottleneck: Live -music venue featuring local and touring bands; capacity up to 500.
• Americana Music Academy: A nonprofit school teaching all forms of American roots music;
offers individual and group lessons, workshops, summer camps, jam sessions, and concerts and
events.
• The Granada: former movie theatre turned live music venue/nightclub with capacity of 900.
Little Rock, AR
• Robinson Center: The Robinson Center is a 2,222 seat, 25,000 square foot live performance,
convention, and exhibition space.
• Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts: Arkansas' premier art museum, formerly known as the Arkansas
Arts Center. The museum is a free and inclusive cultural space for the community to engage
with the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions, theatre, and courses.
• Mosaic Templars Cultural Center: A nationally -accredited, world -class Department of Arkansas
Heritage museum and cultural center and is dedicated to telling the story of the African
American experience in Arkansas.
• Arkansas Repertory Theatre: 340-seat auditorium and 100-seat black box space
• River Market Entertainment District: a riverside hub with an international food hall, a twice -
weekly farmer's market & frequent concerts. Home of First Security Amphitheatre outdoor
concert venue (7 acres, 7,000 capacity, 1375 fixed seating, 60x60 covered/trussed stage). The
district is also a banded drinking zone.
• Little Rock Zoo: It is home to more than 725 animals representing over 200 species, and covers
an area of 33 acres.
• The Looney Bin Comedy Club: Intimate theater presents rising comedy stars, stand-up, improv &
sketch comedy shows, plus in-house classes.
Oklahoma City, OK
• Rose State College Hudiburq Chevrolet Performing Arts Center (partners with Civic Center Music
Hall) 1400 seat venue.
• Civic Center Music Hall: Managed and operated in conjunction with the Rose State Performing
Arts Theatre. Together they serve more than 300,000 patrons at around 250 performances at
four different stages each year. In 2018, the Civic Center Foundation assumed full management
of the Civic Center Music Hall and Rose State College Performing Arts Theatre from the City of
Oklahoma City.
• OCCC Visual Performing Arts Center Theater: Modern campus facility with 1,000+ seats hosting
concerts, live theater & other community events
• Armstrong Auditorium: multi -award -winning Armstrong Auditorium is home to the
Armstrong International Cultural Foundation's performing arts series.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 13
• Oklahoma Contemporary: focuses on living artists and contemporary art. The new building
hosts free exhibitions, events and performances year-round and offers low-cost, high -quality
arts classes and camps for youth and adults.
• Oklahoma City Museum of Art: is one of the leading arts institutions in the region. The museum
presents exhibitions organized from prestigious museums and collections throughout the world
as well as its own collection. The Museum's Samuel Roberts Noble Theater screens
international, independent, documentary, and classic films.
• The Criterion: Located in the heart of Oklahoma City's Bricktown District, The Criterion is a
3,000 capacity live performance venue.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 14
Municipal Arts & Culture Programs/Events
For the municipalities that own and operate major cultural facilities, they are also programming events,
classes, and exhibitions within those facilities. For those without major facilities, their level of
programming efforts vary.
Asheville, NC
As part of the City of Asheville's Department of Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities, the
Harrah's Cherokee Center hosts more than 200 event days each year, and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium is
home to the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.
Boulder, CO
The City of Boulder's Office of Arts and Culture is launching a Public Art Walking Tour Program and is a
major sponsor of Boulder Arts Week and they fund a Cultural Grants Program. Aside from this, it
serves a marketing role for the city's cultural landscape, a significant resource in linking artists and
performers to partnering cultural facilities.
Boise, ID
The Department of Arts and History programming includes the "Fettuccine Forum" a free speaker
series that invites the public to interact with politicians, artists, historians, activists, advocates, and
professionals in an effort to promote good citizenship and responsible growth through education. The
city also organizes history tours and public art tours. Otherwise, the Department "serves an advisory
role to a $50 million local arts and history industry," awards grant funding to artists and historians, and
manages Boise's percent -for -art funding and art collection.
Fort Collins:, CO
As a municipality that owns and operates major cultural facilities, Fort Collins Cultural Services
Department is also programming a wide spectrum of events, performances, educational opportunities,
and exhibitions within those facilities. The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is also a rental facility
for other arts and community organizations and the Center for Creativity is specifically designated for
community uses.
Benchmark Alert: Fort Collins Cultural Services Department began its Cultural Community
Programs in 2022 (through ARPA funding) to integrate arts and culture experiences into the
Fort Collins community by activating unconventional public spaces with pop-up events, and
activations.
https://www.fcgov.com/cuIturaIservices/communityprogram#cb-51710-7569
The Program includes all art forms and disciplines with an equitable engagement strategy. The
first year's programming saw 108 unique engagements, 33 internal and external partnerships,
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 15
249 artists hired, including individuals part of groups, 4,700+ community members engaged,
actively and passively.
Lawrence, KS
As major arts facilities are run by the nonprofit Lawrence Arts Center, the City of Lawrence Arts &
Culture Division focuses on grant making to the arts and culture industry (see Grants), marketing and
special events. Parks and Recreation hosts three seasonal arts and crafts fairs for exhibitors to
showcase and sell their work and hosts eight free outdoor summer band concerts in South Park.
Little Rock, AR
The Parks and Recreation Department hosts a Therapeutic Recreation Arts Festival annually and the
Arts & Culture Commission is hosting an open studio tour in 2024. The Downtown Little Rock
Partnership (501.c.3) sponsors events (2nd Fridays, Main Street Food Truck Festival) and mural
projects, including an Alley Art Project.
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City's Art & Cultural Affairs Department oversees the city's public art program and is home
to the city's Art Commission, but they rely on Arts Council Oklahoma City for arts programming and
events, including the well -established annual Festival of the Arts..
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 16
Unique Arts & Culture Event --
All of the benchmarked cities boast a slate of events to engage residents and visitors with arts and
culture. Common among them are:
• First Friday Gallery Walks (or Second Friday or Last Friday)
• Juneteenth Festivals
• Food Truck Festivals
• Outdoor Summer Concerts
• Latino Festivals
• Pride Parades and Festivals
• Film Festivals
• Book Festivals
• Art Festivals, Art Markets, or Art Week
The following listings are a few different examples beyond those listed above from each location.
Asheville, NC
Asheville Art in the Park: Asheville Art in the Park takes place on three consecutive Saturdays in
downtown Asheville in October. Some of the local artists who exhibit at these events are
nationally -known.
Asheville Ideas Fest: Innovative thinkers and inspiring speakers convene at UNC-Asheville in
June for this annual event.
The Big Crafty happens twice a year in July (Pack Square) and December (Harrah's Cherokee
Center Asheville). This is one of the best festivals in Asheville, offering an inclusive space for all
artists to showcase and sell their work.
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands: Showcasing the finest artwork of nearly 200 craftspeople
from around the region, this four -day festival offers live demonstrations.
GRINDFest: GRINDFest is a free, three-day festival that celebrates Black freedom, as well as the
success of Black entrepreneurs + business owners in Asheville. Held in the River Arts District,
the celebration includes music, live performances, food, local vendors + learning opportunities.
Indigenous Walls Project: a mural project that aims to raise awareness about the existence and
identity of indigenous communities and to work with developers to bring land back to
indigenous people. In 2022, organizer Jared Wheately created an Intertribal Graffiti Jam,
recruiting artists from tribes around the country to come to Asheville for an art takeover. The
week-long event produced 8,000 square feet of murals.
Leaf Festivals: The LEAF Global Arts Foundation hosts three annual festivals, combining artistic
performances from around the world, educational activities and workshops.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 17
Boise:
LoveShinePlay Festival: Formerly known as the Asheville Yoga Festival, LoveShinePlay is a four -
day event held downtown that includes an expansive schedule of lectures on practical
astrology. Classes are held around Asheville in hotels, community centers, and outdoor stages
alongside a downtown marketplace of wellness vendors.
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival: Hailed as the nation's longest running folk festival, this event
focuses on old-time and bluegrass music and dance preserving classic Southern Appalachian
culture.
Art in the Park: Boise Art Museum's Art in the Park is an open-air festival widely recognized as
one of the premiere cultural events in the Northwest.
Bipoc Playwrights Festival: Seeks to champion emerging and mid -career playwrights from
marginalized communities by connecting exceptional works with professional actors, directors
and technicians.
Boise Fashion Week: Celebrates, elevates, and promotes the unique and diverse fashion
community in Boise.
Boise Music Week: 10 days of free musical entertainment for all ages. Started in 1919, the
festival is the longest running free musical celebration in the United States.
Boise Soul Food Fest: The mission of the Boise Soul Food Festival is to educate and grow the
Boise African American culture for present and future generations. The Soul Food Festival's
purpose is to celebrate and educate the greater region about Black culture and enhance and
nurture racial understanding and harmony within the community.
Fiber Frolic: a day -long festival in downtown Boise that celebrates Idaho wool, sheep, and
Basque history. All are invited to experience the frolic with educational booths, wooly vendors,
crafts, and a community yarn -bombing installation! A collaboration between the Twisted Ewe
yarn shop with the the Basque Community, City of Boise Arts and History, and the Idaho Wool
Grower's Association
Jaialdi Basque Festival: a festival to celebrate the Basque culture and heritage that recurs every
5 years with 30,000 attendees.
Boulder:
Boulder Arts Week: Celebrates the city's robust art scene and its thousands of artists and over
140 arts organizations. The week-long celebration across the community showcases the best
and brightest local talent through cultural experiences from murals and installations to music
and dance, and includes workshops, masterclasses, and discussions.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 18
Boulder Creek Festival: Four days, 30+ bands, 3 stages plus 200 artisans, 30 restaurants, kids
activities, and Streetwise Art Battle. Local bands, performers and dancers are encouraged to
apply to be considered to perform.
Boulder Comedy Festival: just completing its second year, the Boulder Comedy Festival brings
focus to and highlights women and diversity in comedy. Nationally touring comics featured on
Comedy Central, Netflix, and Amazon come together with festival winners and local comedians
to create a sea of hilarity in Boulder and the surrounding areas.
The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is a professional theatre company in association with the
University of Colorado Boulder. Since 1958, the summer -long festival has produced a series of
Shakespeare's plays under the stars, but in 2024 hosted the season indoors.
Pearl Street Arts Fest: includes over 100 artists showcasing a variety of art, from functional
pieces like furniture and jewelry, to sculptures, paintings and mixed media in their booths on
the outdoor Pearl Street Mall.
Streetwise Mural Festival: Each year, a new theme exploring the intersection of art and activism
is explored through installing public artworks and murals that center womxn, BIPOC, LGBTQIA,
and emerging artists based in Colorado and beyond.
Fort Collins:
Fort Collins Artist Studio Tour and Sale: Over one weekend, the public is invited to a free self -
guided tour of local artists' studios. Artists provide demonstrations, share how and where art is
created and offer their work for sale. Artists apply to be included on the tour. The weekend
kicks -off with an exhibition featuring work by Studio Tour artists at the Center for Creativity.
FoCoMX (Fort Collins Music Experience): This two-day music festival features a diverse lineup of
350+ Colorado bands from all genres on 30 Downtown Fort Collins stages. Bands submit an
application to be considered.
Tour de Fat: Tour de Fat is an annual costumed bicycle parade followed by a party at New
Belgium Brewing with music, entertainment, contests and games. Bike Fort Collins.
Fort Collins Art Week: During Art Week, community members can get their hands dirty with a
workshop, explore public art, take bike mural tours, hunt for Tiny Art, listen to live music or
read a book with Poudre River Libraries. A slate of events are promoted to celebrate the lively
arts and culture scene.
Lawrence KS:
Benchmark Alert: Lawrence Busker Festival: for one weekend a year you will find unusual
entertainment all over historic downtown Lawrence. A roster of street performers from all
around the world perform: Magicians, jugglers, musicians, acrobats, and more will perform.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 19
Kaw River Roots Festival: A celebration of roots music, with multiple stages, across three
venues, and over a dozen live acts over two days in downtown Lawrence.
Free State Festival: is a signature community event that celebrates the free spirit of Kansas
through independent films, live music, comedy and art experiences in venues throughout the
city of Lawrence. It is a week-long annual event that attracts visitors from the midwest region.
Civil War on the Border (Watkins Museum of History): annual themed event (2024 theme is
food insecurity, past and present) featuring events such as bus and walking tours of local Civil
War sites, in -person and online talks with historians, and documentaries.
Haskell Indian Art Market: Shoppers swarm Haskell Indian Nations University to browse the
jewelry, pottery, carving, paintings, and other artwork at the annual Haskell Indian Art Market.
The event showcases original, handmade items made by Native American artists from across
the country. Traditional Native American food is served and entertainment occurs daily.
Little Rock:
Jazz in the Park: On Wednesdays in April and September, Little Rock's River Market Pavilions
come to life with the sounds of soulful jazz and joyful music from local jazz and R&B musicians.
501 Fest: Every year on or around May 1 (5/01), the community gathers for a day of festivities
that include live entertainment, a marketplace full of local vendors, food, and fun for the entire
family to enjoy. Powered by the NTWRK agency in partnership with Creators' Village, the event
is dedicated to uplifting artists and creators while addressing social and emotional needs in low
socioeconomic communities.
Lanterns at Wildwood Park for the Arts: This annual festival is a fundraising event for Wildwood
Park, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Originally the festival was patterned after similar
lanterns festivals in China celebrating the lunar new year. "Lanterns" was created in partnership
with the Arkansas Chinese-American Association. As it became more popular, additional
cultural tributes were added and Lanterns became a multicultural event spread across the
entire park. Each year, it celebrates the food, music, crafts, and performing arts of a new
combination of world cultures.
Oklahoma City:
Asian Night Market Festival: A vibrant celebration of Asian culture hosted by the Asian District
Cultural Association that offers community members the chance to showcase their AANHPI
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) talent, including dance
performance, singers and martial arts plus food vendors and other activities. Over 40,000
people joined the festivities in 2024.
Fiesta De Las Americas: the largest Latino festival in Oklahoma City, the event kicks off with the
Parade of the Americas and offers a full day of family friendly activities, live entertainment, art
and pop-up markets in the Historic Capitol Hill.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 20
Youth Art Sale: The Youth Art Sale is a one -day juried art sale for children ages 8— 18 held
during Festival of the Arts, the flagship event for the Oklahoma City Arts Council.
Prix De West: Every year since 1973 the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum hosts its
prestigious invitational art exhibit featuring Western paintings and sculpture by contemporary
artists. It is the.largest annual fundraiser for the Museum.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 21
Municipal Special Events Offices/Coordination
All of the benchmark communities host events like festivals, markets, special events and outdoor
concerts on streets, sidewalks, parks, public squares or even parking lots. Most of these spaces are
controlled by the municipality and require coordination with multiple departments within the City. Six
of the cities studied have a dedicated office to assist those individuals or groups who would like to
produce an event within the public realm. These offices consist of one or two staff that serve as
coordinators and liaisons to help guide event producers through the city's process, ensure events are
held safely and responsibly, coordinate potentially competing events, and serve as a resource.
Asheville:
City's Office of Special Events permits Outdoor Special Events on Public Property including City
Streets, Sidewalks, and Parks as well as neighborhood block parties. Also provides Street
Performer Guidelines, generally allowable without permit. The City also provides support
through the Outdoor Special Event Guide.
Fort Collins:
Boise:
Special Event staff guides event producers through the permitting requirements and
regulations when planning a special event in Fort Collins, act as a liaison to various City
departments involved in making sure all events are held safely and responsibly, and serve as a
resource for the community, providing information about the many festivals, outdoor concerts,
runs, walks and parades held in the City each year.
Approximately 75 special events are permitted through the City of Boise's City Clerk's office
each year. The Special Events Team works with and guides event organizers to produce
successful, safe, sustainable events. Events are grouped into three categories: Special Events
(over 1,000 people or road closures with alcohol service/sales), Neighborhood Events + Block
Parties (under 1,000 people), Park + Greenbelt Events (under 1,000 people). The City offers
thorough guidance and support resources online and through their department. Special Events
applicants are required to attend Special Events Team Meetings in advance of the event.
Lawrence:
Special Events support and permitting operates out of the Communications & Events division.
This department appears to be evolving and the website is under construction. The City hosts
three large annual craft fairs. The City's Parks & Recreation Department markets and offers
several recreational facilities for rent for public events. Special use permits are required for
events that are open to the public, involve admission fees or necessitate special
accommodations.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 22
Little Rock:
The City does not have a special events office, however the Public Works Department oversees
permit applications for Parades, Public Assemblies (more than 20 people) and Block Parties.
Special Events/Parades are reviewed by the Public Works and Police Departments and are
approved through the City Manager's Office.
Oklahoma City:
The City's Special Events Office is a division of the City's Public Information & Marketing
Department and provides event organizers with guidance throughout the permitting process
and helps ensure safe and successful and safe events. The office manages a calendar with a list
of permitted events and road closure information.
Boulder:
Special Events Permits are processed through the Office of Special Events. A special event
permit is required for all planned and promoted public activities that meet any of the following
criteria: 50 or more participants; using tents, structures and/or sound amplification; providing,
selling or distributing alcohol and/or food to the public; using public right of ways and/or
impacting vehicle, bike or bus traffic. The Special Events Office provides a comprehensive guide
and planning support to event applicants.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 23
Film & Video Support
Asheville, NC
The City of Asheville does not have a film commission, but film permitting is necessary when
involving city -owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks. Permitting, location agreements
and city service coordination for all filming & photography is managed by the Office of Special
Events, in the Department of Community & Regional Entertainment Facilities. Permitting is
similar to event permitting. Permit Application Fees are $100-$150, plus additional fees for
secondary permits, reserved property use, and support services.
The state of North Carolina Film Office offers film and Entertainment incentives including an up
to 25% rebate via funds from the NC Film and Entertainment Grant. The State has a reported
$31 million in rebate funding and the laws allowing these rebates and incentives was made
permanent in 2017.
Boise, ID
The Idaho Department of Commerce -Tourism Development Office runs the Idaho State's Film
Office. The State of Idaho doesn't offer tax incentives currently, and one person in the office
handles filming inquiries for the State. Time. City of Boise commercial filming permits (ranging
in price from $75-$1550) are managed through the City's Parks and Recreation Special Events
Staff.
Boulder, CO
The City of Boulder's Office of Special Events processes film permits. The Boulder County Film
Commission provides filmmakers information on how to film within city limits and in Boulder
County - helps navigate permitting, suggests locations, acts as a liaison to crew and support
services, and aids in outreach.
The State of Colorado, through the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media in the Office
of Economic Development and International Trade, offers incentives to encourage film
production in Colorado with rebates for up to 20% of qualified expenses. The office also offers
educational programs, region -specific resources, industry support, location and crew referrals
and film festival support and promotion.
Fort Collins, CO
The City of Fort Collins doesn't have a Film Commission, but the City requires commercial
filming permits that are managed through the Emergency Preparations and Security
Department.
The State of Colorado, through the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media in the Office
of Economic Development and International Trade, offers incentives to encourage film
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 24
production in Colorado with rebates for up to 20% of qualified expenses. The office also offers
educational programs, region -specific resources, industry support, location and crew referrals
and film festival support and promotion.
Lawrence, KS
The City of Lawrence requires Special Use Permits for commercial film/videography and those
are processed through the Parks & Recreation Department. The Lawrence Organization of Film
and Theatre (LOFT) was created as a way to help provide resources and support to those involved in
local film and theatre. The organization also works towards helping film and theatre develop more
of a presence within the Lawrence community.
The State of Kansas doesn't offer tax incentives at this time. (Interesting side note, the KCMO
film office offers 10% rebates for qualified expenditures in the 6 wards in Kansas City, MO.)
Little Rock, AR
The City of Little Rock does not appear to require commercial filming or photography permits.
Most public locations are possible and permits are generally not required. The Arkansas Film
Commission requires an application to film on state property. The Arkansas Cinema Society
offers a Filmmaker Travel Stipend for films made in Arkansas or made by an Arkansan.
The State of Arkansas offers fully transferable tax credits or rebates of up to 25% for Music
Videos, Animation, Commercials, Documentaries, Reality TV, Scripted TV, Interactive, Feature
Film, Post Production. (An additional 10% incentive is available for payroll of below -the -line
employees who are: Full-time certified residents of Arkansas; Veterans; and expenditures paid
to a veteran -owned small business for qualified production costs. An additional 5% incentive for
either: expenditures or payroll of below -the -line employees whose full-time permanent address
is located in a Tier 3 or Tier 4 county in the annual ranking of counties established by the
Arkansas Economic Development Commission under Arkansas Code §15-4-270) The incentive
program is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2031.
Oklahoma City, OK
The Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office for filming in the Oklahoma City metro
area. The office is a partnership between the City of Oklahoma City and the Greater Oklahoma
City Chamber, with an emphasis on economic development, inclusivity, and creation of a
thriving production environment. Oklahoma offers a 5% rebate base with up to 5% in "uplifts"
for qualified film and television projects.
The State of Oklahoma through the Oklahoma Film and Music organization,
https://www.okfilmmusic.org/ offers grants and a baseline of 20% rebate for Animation,
Commercials, Documentaries, Web Series, Reality TV, Scripted TV, Feature Film, Visual Effects,
Post Production, Miniseries, etc. that film principal photography in the state. They have
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 25
additional "uplift" percentages available for filming in rural and small communities, use of
certified soundstages, multi -episode or film deals, and use of Oklahoma musicians/producers.
The state also offers a stand-alone post -production incentive offering a 20% base incentive for
post -production work done in Oklahoma by projects that were filmed outside of Oklahoma. The
city rebate can be combined with the state program, creating a highly competitive incentive
package.
Benchmark Alert: The state of Oklahoma has chosen to target film and music together with
their incentive programs, doubling down on the commitment to the creative economy in this
area https://www.okfilmmusic.org/
The film and television industry involves a "nationwide network of tens of thousands of
small businesses, the majority which employ 10 or fewer people," and direct industry jobs
generate $53 billion in wages and an average salary 42% higher than the national average.
Compared to other states across the country, Arkansas is in the lower third for direct jobs,
total wages, and production -related jobs for film and television.
Here's where Arkansas stands compared to its neighboring states:
Direct Jobs:
Total Wages:
Production -Related Jobs:
Texas: 38,993
Texas: $1.66 billion
Texas:10,136
Te n n essee: 12,210
Tennessee: $762 million
Louisiana: 6,942
Louisiana:11,469
Louisiana: $469 million
Tennessee:5,774
Missouri: 8,813
Missouri: $335 million
Missouri:1,697
Oklahoma: 5,571
Oklahoma: $208 million
Oklahoma:1,341
Mississippi:1,692
Arkansas: $62 million
Arkansas: 394
Arkansas:1,413
Mississippi: $61 million
Mississippi: 229
Source: RKMA Market Research (2023); MPAA and state film commissions
Film and Television Industry table.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 26
Public Art Programs
Asheville, NC
Asheville has a 1% for Art Program. The Public Art Program is a Division of the Planning & Urban
Design Department. The City of Asheville's Public Art and Culture Commision is the governing
body. Staff consists of .5 FTE and it's stated in the Commission's minutes that it is a top priority
to reevaluate and update the Public Art Master Plan. The primary components of the City of
Asheville's Public Art Program are the Public Art Master Plan, the Percent for Public Art Policy,
the Public Art and Culture Commission, the Public Art Collection, Public Art Program
Administration, and Current Projects. A key feature of the Asheville public art program is the
Urban Trail https://www.exploreasheville.com/urban-trail/. The website for the Public Art
Program is simple, with mostly text and very little information about the collection.
https://www.ashevillenc.gov/department/planning-urban-design/strategic-
development/public-art/
Boise, ID
Boise has a robust public art program consisting of a large collection of site -based Installations
(400 works), traffic boxes (216), Boise Visual Chronicle (a city -owned interior collection of 286
2- and 3- dimensional works of art), and Portable Works (150). In addition, the Public Art
Program Team, with 3 FTE, manages public art projects on behalf of Capital City Development
Corporation (CCDC) and public, private and community organizations for original public art, all
contributing to a unique sense of place and vibrancy in the capital city. Funding Sources include:
1.2 %-for-Art Fund, Department of Public Works, Department of Parks and Recreation, Capital
City Development Corporation (CCDC), Energize Our Neighborhoods and the Neighborhood
Investment Program of City of Boise Planning and Development Services.
The public art website is informative, complete and a terrific resource for visitors, residents and
would-be public artists.
https://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/programs/public-art/
Benchmark Alert: the City of Boise offers a yearly Public Art Academy for artists looking to learn
how to break into public art, https://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/learn/guides/public-art/
Benchmark Alert: the City of Boise has a Mural Registry to browse in addition to a searchable
database of its entire collection.
https://www.boiseartsandhistory.org/explore/boise-mural-registry/#/search
Boulder, CO
Boulder recently instituted a formal 1% for Art Program in 2018, following a recommendation
from its Cultural Master Plan. The program also oversees a Creative Neighborhoods Program
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 27
for small neighborhood interventions as well as the "Experiments in Public Art" program which
receives an additional $150K per year. The public art program has 1 FTE and a % employee.
https://bouldercolorado.gov/guide/public-art
Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins has a 1% for Art Program - The Art in Public Places Program is composed of three
tiers plus donations of art to the City. The program is staffed by 1 FTE and consultants.
1% Projects
The first tier consists of construction projects estimated to cost over $250,000. One percent of
the estimated cost of these large projects is designated for works of art.
Design Consultant Projects
The second tier consists of projects costing between $50,000 and $250,000. The project
architect or engineer of these projects must utilize an APP approved artist to participate in the
design of the project for the purpose of incorporating works of art into all aspects of the
project, both functional and aesthetic.
All Construction Projects
The third tier states that the city will try to incorporate artistic and aesthetic values in all
construction projects, including those costing less than $50,000 and in all purchases of personal
property that may be located or used in places open to the public.
Lawrence, KS
The City of Lawrence public art program allows for its "...City Commission may annually set
aside through bond or other normal budgetary procedures an amount not to exceed 2% of the
cost of all capital improvements constructed/acquired or contracted for
construction/acquisition during the previous fiscal year for the acquisition, purchase, and
installation of art in public places."
Lawrence Annual Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition (ODSE) is sponsored by the
Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, which receives financial and staff support from the City of
Lawrence. Artworks are displayed or performed in downtown Lawrence, at Theatre Lawrence
and city-wide. The public art program is staffed by one FTE (but he has other jobs lately!)
https://Iawrenceks.org/lprd/public-art/
Little Rock, AR
The state capital does not have a public art program - the community's public art program is
managed by Downtown Little Rock, a partner organization of The City of Little Rock, and
consists primarily of murals. The Vogel Schwartz Sculpture garden, inspired by Loveland,
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 28
Colorado's Benson Sculpture Garden, is notable and is funded by a non-profit organization,
Sculpture at the River Market. Downtown Little Rock also manages an Alley Art program.
https://www.downtownIr.com/pages/public-art/
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City has a 1% for Art Program is managed by the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, a
division of the City's Planning Department. The website is simple and lists all documents
relevant to the public art program, as well as a rudimentary database of their collection. The
department employs 3 FTEs.
https://www.okc.gov/departments/planning/programs/office-of-arts-cultural-affairs
OKC a public art plan
https://www.okc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/2774/63594840741853000O
Oklahoma also has a 1.5% for art program statewide.
https://arts.ok.gov/OAIPP/Art in Public Places Collection.php
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 29
Granting Programs
Of the seven benchmark cities, four (Lawrence, Boise, Fort Collins and Boulder) have municipal granting
programs that directly support arts and culture in their communities. Each of these cities has identified
specific areas of need and tailored their granting program to match. These grants range from general
operating support for organizations to special events to grants directly to artists. Some require
matching funds, others do not. The funding sources for these granting programs include general fund
dollars and hotel and lodging tax. For Asheville, local arts and culture is supported through a County-
wide granting program through tourism, while Little Rock and Oklahoma City seem to rely on state-
wide granting opportunities.
Here is a summary of Municipal Granting Programs:
Asheville: is part of a County -wide granting program through tourism and in partnership with the
regional arts council, ArtsAVL. The City joined this partnership primarily to help support arts -related
events. ArtsAVL has an established granting program offering the following grants:
Arts for Schools Grant: Providing arts -based programs for Buncombe County Schools students.
Arts Build Community Grant: Supporting arts -based community projects for underserved
communities.
Region 17 Artist Support Grant: Supporting emerging and established artists taking the next
step in their careers.
Grassroots Art Program Grant: Provides program and operating support for nonprofit arts
organizations.
Asheville Event Support Grant; For permitted nonprofits events within Asheville's streets,
parks, and outdoor public spaces
Boise: The Boise City Department of Arts and History offers two granting programs: Catalyst Grant
Program and Annual Arts & History Grant program. Applicants may be an individual (but does not fund
professional development or creation of individual work without a public component that means
having the work accessible for free or low cost to the public) or nonprofit organizations or nonprofit
Friends groups affiliated with a government organization. Selected by a Community Review panel made
up of Arts & History Commissioners, practitioners from diverse communities, and program staff.
Recommendations reviewed by Arts & History Commission and City Council. (1997) Per Emily Chivers,
the program's administrator, these two granting programs are funded by the City's general fund .
Catalyst Grant Program: a one-time pilot program to support small-scale and mid -sized arts, history,
and cultural activities such as public programs, events, projects, exhibitions, and tours throughout the
year. (20 @ $2,OOOea). Selected by a Community Review panel made up of Arts & History
Commissioners, practitioners from diverse communities, and program staff.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 30
Annual Arts & History Grants: supports the Department of Arts and History's (A&H) mission to
cultivate a distinct sense of place which reflects Boise's rich past, diverse communities, and
unique natural setting by creating opportunities that nurture and sustain Boise's creative
economy. Funds meaningful creative projects and programs for Boise residents, helping to bring
people together and build positive relationships that help create A City for Everyone. Awards
$150,000 (2025) to support people in established and emerging cultural fields with projects
designed to benefit the community. ($1,000 and $5,000 awards).
Boulder: The City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture offers eight (8) different grant opportunities in
its Cultural Grants Program that is overseen by the Boulder Arts Commission. The Cultural Grants
Program distributed more than $1 million in 2024 and is funded by the City's General Fund (although
soon to be a designated Special Revenue Fund from a voter approved renewal of an existing tax now
dedicated to arts and culture).
• Artists Hiring Incentive Grants: hiring incentive for nonprofits to employ Boulder -based visual,
performing, and literary artists to perform, or create new work. (18 @ $3,OOOea)
• Arts Education grants: Increase exposure of students to unique experiences that may shape
their future in cultural participation and creative careers. (10 @ $3,OOOea)
• Community Project Grants: Encourage innovation and exploration in order to achieve progress
on these Community Priorities from Boulder's Community Cultural Plan. (Individuals: 4 @
$S,OOOea; Organizations: 10 @ 10,OOOea)
• Cultural Field trip Grants: Funding for children who attend a Title 1 school to visit Boulder's arts
institutions and cultural destinations. (5 @ $2,000 ea)
• General Operating Support Grants: To bolster the sustainability of the community's cultural
organizations, a system of operating grants is a priority for the cultural grants program. (varied
by size, $805,987 distributed to 42 organizations in 2024)
• Grant Writing Assistance: provides opportunities for first-time applicants and those who have
not received a grant through the Boulder Arts Commission to get grant writing assistance. (8 @
$500ea)
• Leadership Pipeline Fund Scholarship: Provides financial support and professional
development opportunities for emerging leaders who will focus their career in the arts on
increasing diversity, improving equity, and elevating the voices of historically underrepresented
groups in the arts and culture sector. (2 @ $B4OOOea)
Professional Development Scholarships: Encouraging leadership and the sharing of good
practices through professional development will advance our creative economy, support
professionals and businesses, and enhance cultural dialog. (16 @ $500ea)
• Venue and Online Event Affordability Fund: To facilitate and assist community cultural groups
with access and affordability of performance venues and hosting online programming, the
Boulder Arts Commission is offering support in the form of rental assistance, the purchase of
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 31
Personal Protective Equipment and/or COVID 19 testing, and/or equipment for hosting online
programming, such as video software, cameras, or tech support. (37 @ $1,OOOea)
o Macky Auditorium Fee Waiver: 16 rent-free days to facilitate and assist cultural groups
performing at Macky. For supplementary funds to support your event, apply for the
Venue and Online Event Affordability Fund. (University of Colorado facility)
o eTown Hall Fee Waiver: To facilitate and assist community cultural groups with access
and affordability of performance venues, the Boulder Arts Commission and eTown offer
up to 12 days per calendar year of rent-free space at eTown Hall. (Private non-profit)
o Roots Music Project Fee Waiver: To facilitate and assist community cultural groups with
access and affordability of performance venues, the Boulder Arts Commission and Roots
Music Project offer up to 11 days per calendar year of rent-free space at Roots Music
Project.
Benchmark Alert: Boulder's Arts and Culture Website has a helpful "Resources and Opportunities page
for artists to link to local, regional and national websites and resources for artists:
https://bouldercolorado.gov/services/resources-and-opportunities-artists
Fort Collins: The City of Fort Collins Cultural Services Department offers the Fort Fund Grant Program
to support nonprofit arts, cultural and tourism events that enrich the creative vitality of the
community, promote local heritage and diversity, provide opportunities for arts and cultural
participation, help support Fort Collins as a creative center and tourist destination and promote the
health and well-being of all residents and visitors. Applications are reviewed by the City Council -
appointed Cultural Resources Board who recommends funding to the City Council for final approval.
The granting program is funded through a designated portion of lodging tax revenue. (1989) Grant
categories include:
• Special Event Grants: for single arts, cultural and/or tourism events that last for no more than
three consecutive days. $2,000-$7,500. ($65,000 distributed in 2023 Project II)
• Program Support Grants: for arts and cultural programs that last over a period of at least four
days or multiple programs throughout an extended period of time. Funding requests may be up
to 30% of the specific program budget, not to exceed $30,000. ($205,000 distributed in 2023)
($185,000 distributed in 2023).
• Cross -Sector Impact Grants: for projects that promote the integration of arts and culture with
other sectors to enhance the health and well-being of the community. The grant encourages
collaboration between arts organizations and other sectors to achieve this objective. $2,000-
$7,500
Lawrence: The City of Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission oversees the Community Arts Grant
Program. The grant program is funded through Transient Guest Tax (TGT) revenue which is a tax paid
by hotel guests. The program administers two granting opportunities:
Community Arts Mini Grants: five - $500 grants to help support artists with start-up costs for
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 32
equipment specifically aligned with their art practice.
Community Arts Grants awards ranging from $500 to $10,000 per project. (7 grants = $70k in
2023)
Oklahoma City and Little Rock seem to rely on state-wide granting opportunities.
Oklahoma City: Allied Arts is a regional nonprofit arts support agency that focuses on central
Oklahoma. They offer a granting program that helps ensure a dynamic and sustainable cultural
community in central Oklahoma. The agency is primarily funded through philanthropy including
corporate sponsors, private foundations support and individual donations. They offer three granting
programs:
Educational Outreach program: supports nonprofit arts organizations providing programming
and outreach for underserved K-12 students, veterans, hospitalized adults, developmentally
disabled adults and beyond - from bringing teaching artists into underserved schools to creating
programming for organizations who strictly work with communities of color. (up to $5,000ea
plus Hobby Lobby store gift cards).
Capacity -Building program: helps nonprofit arts and cultural organizations grow stronger, fulfill
their missions and better serve their constituents by supporting organizational training and
board development to volunteer management, strategic planning and other professional
development opportunities. (up to $5,000, with some restrictions including prioritizing
professional development opportunities in Oklahoma and surrounding region).
Allocations program: Annually, Allied Arts distributes campaign funds to its member agencies
through the allocations process. Agencies utilize these funds for a host of needs — from
offsetting administrative costs to bringing world-renowned exhibits and performances to
central Oklahoma. This program is only open to the 25 Allied Arts member agencies in central
Oklahoma.
In addition to Allied Arts, Oklahoma has the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition that offers Thrive Grants
which collaborate with the The Andy Warhol Foundation to further support artists' innovation
throughout Oklahoma with project grants of up to $10,000. THRIVE Grants fund collaborative artist -led
projects across the state of Oklahoma that are open and accessible to the public, prioritizing artist
projects that create new collaborations, connections, and partnerships.
Little Rock: The City of Little Rock provides limited cultural grant opportunities. The City offers an arts
education related grant through the Helen T. Leigh Museum Field Trip Grant Program. Aside from this,
the City relies on the Arkansas Community Foundation's Art in Arkansas Fund and the Arkansas Arts
Council's grant program to provide support for Little Rock's art programming and infrastructure.
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 33
Arts/Creative Districts
• Asheville: River Arts District (RAD) is a mile -long stretch along the French Broad riverfront, one
of the oldest rivers in the world, and surrounded by ancient mountains. The district has a rich
history that infuses its vibrant spaces. Beginning in 1985, industrial buildings by the river were
transformed and opened as working artist studios. In 2013, approximately 80 artists of the RAD
voted to incorporate as River Arts District Artists, Inc., a non-profit member organization which
now has over 300 members who work in the RAD. RADA seeks to be a voice for the artists
locally and regionally related to marketing as envisioning the future.
https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/
• Boise: mini -art district: Freak Alley is a "notable venue" for murals, graffiti and public art
located in an alley in downtown Boise. It is said to be the largest outdoor gallery in the
Northwest, and has been a Boise institution since 2002. It began with a painting of a single alley
doorway and now extends from the alley itself to a gravel parking lot. Began by artist Colby
Akers. https://northend.org/freak-alley/
• Boulder: The NoBo Art District is an inclusive, grassroots, community -focused nonprofit
organization dedicated to promoting artists and creative businesses located in north Boulder,
Colorado. Currently, the district is not certified at the state level, but is working towards
certification. https://noboartdistrict.org/
• Fort Collins: Downtown Fort Collins Creative District is certified through the State as a district
that contributes to the state's economy through creativity, culture, and the arts. The program's
goal is to help communities increase jobs, incomes, and investments in creative places. The
State provides benefits to certified creative districts including a cash award (local match
required), access to technical and professional assistance grants, marketing assistance from
Colorado tourism Office, two state highways signs, and access to economic data and Creative
Vitality Suite. https://www.dfccd.org/; https://oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-creative-districts
• Lawrence: Warehouse Arts District located in the East Lawrence neighborhood was historically
filled with industrial and factory buildings but has undergone a transformation in recent years.
It now houses art galleries, lofts, art studios, and the surrounding historic neighborhood. Recent
preservation and development projects in this district have contributed to the revitalization of
this small section of the community. Lawrence has one of the highest percentages of working
artists in the country per capita, and The Warehouse District has become the perfect area for
those wanting space to create and display their works.
https://www.explorelawrence.com/plan-your-visit/neighborhoods/east-lawrence/
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 34
• Little Rock: Main Street Creative Corridor is revitalizing Main Street one block at a time, using
economic development stimulated by the arts rather than a traditional retail base. Home to the
Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Ballet Arkansas, galleries, creative firms, and the Little Rock
Technology Park, the Creative Corridor is rapidly becoming a mixed -use, work -live environment
that is at once sensitive to the historical context of Little Rock's Main Street and invigorating to
its residents and visitors. Initial Planning and design for the Creative Corridor was funded by a
2011 NEA Our Town grant and created by the University of Arkansas Community Design Center
and Marlon Blackwell Architects. Several blocks on Main Street have been reconstructed to
include Low Impact Development streetscapes (rain gardens, porous pavers, bioswales, etc.)
with funding by a grant from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Public, private and non-profit groups have invested in
Main Street led by the Downtown Little Rock Partnership.
https://www.downtownlr.com/places/neighborhoods/main-street-creative-corridor/
• North Little Rock: Argenta Arts District is one of North Little Rock's oldest and most eclectic
neighborhoods where the buildings are more than a century old but the lifestyle is cutting edge.
Argenta is home to art galleries; theaters like The Joint Theater & Coffeehouse, founded by
former SNL writers; local breweries like Flyway Brewing and Diamond Bear, and musical venues
ranging from the 18,000-seat Simmons Bank Arena to the cozy Four Quarter Bar. It is also an
outdoor banded dining district. https://argentaartsdistrict.org/
• Oklahoma City: Paseo District is home to over 20 galleries and more than 80 artists, all within
walking distance. Intermingled with the galleries are fabulous restaurants, a vegan donut shop,
shoe and clothing boutiques, a theatre, gift shops, a yoga studio and more!
https://www.thepaseo.org
• St. Petersburg, FL: Warehouse Arts District Started with artists reclaiming abandoned
warehouse buildings in Midtown St. Petersburg. Concern grew that this affordable studio space
was becoming desirable and rents would soon go up. Interested people decided to create the
Warehouse Arts District Association, which became a nonprofit dedicated to creating a vibrant
arts community in and around St. Petersburg and developing and growing as an energetic group
that creates jobs, attracts artists, participates in the local community and provides arts
education opportunities. In 2014, with the help of public and private donors, WADA purchased
2.7 acres of land in the District and created the ArtsXchange which includes multiple warehouse
buildings that house art studios, galleries and local business. https://warehouseartsdistrict.org/
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 35
Creative Business/Entrepreneurial Support
Ashville: Craft Your Commerce: Mountain Bizworks in Asheville hosts a series of workshops titled
"Craft Your Commerce" for creatives to expand their entrepreneurial skills.
Boise: Through Entrepreneurship + Creative Economy, the City connects creatives and artists to
entrepreneurial resources like Boise Pitch Nights; a local non-profit that offers mentorship, funding
resources and collaborative spaces to help startups launch and grow; Boise State University's Venture
College; and coworking spaces. https://www.cityofboise.org/programs/opportunity-for-
everyone/entrepreneurship-plus-creative-economy/
Boulder: The Boulder Office of Arts and Culture has an informative resource on their webpage for
artists, sharing current and evergreen opportunities. https://bouldercolorado.gov/arts-and-culture-
resources-and-opportunities
Fort Collins: The Downtown Fort Collins Creative District has a resource page for artists, creatives, arts
organizations and creative business on a variety of topics including business assistance, health, funding
sources, connecting with other artists, and more. https://www.dfccd.org/artist-resources/
Little Rock: Mid -America Arts Alliance's Artist INC program, part of the Emily Hall Tremaine
Foundation's "Marketplace Empowerment for Artists" program, is the only stand-alone program in the
Midwest region dedicated exclusively to artist entrepreneur training. https://artistinc.art/about/
Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition's Artist Entrepreneur Program consists of a yearly
cohort of Oklahoma City creatives with artistic businesses in the fields of visual arts, music, dance,
theater, and film/cinematography. Over the course of 10 weeks, participants will learn about topics
such as business plans, legal compliance, accounting, marketing, grant writing, and more. Participants
who successfully complete the program will each be eligible to apply for a $5,000 grant to implement
their creative business plan. OVAC's ASK Program offers professional development for Oklahoma artists
through Consulting, Workshops and Artist Panels. The website also provides resources including an
artist job board, artist opportunities, and funding and fiscal sponsorship opportunities.
https://www.ovac-ok.org/aep
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 36
Tourism Support
Each of the benchmarked cities have visitor's bureaus that, to varying degrees, foster arts and culture
through maps, events calendars, information about tourist destinations, historic sites, museums and
cultural attractions. The following provides links to the tourism bureaus.
Asheville, NC
Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority - members of the Authority administer the
proceeds of the occupancy tax within the legislative mandate of the legislation that established the tax.
The BCTDA's purpose is to further the development of travel, tourism, meetings and events in the
county through marketing, advertising, sales and promotion.
ExploreAsheville is the visitors bureau that works on behalf of the Buncombe County Tourism
Development Authority (BCTDA) to support the community and tourism partners by providing free
marketing opportunities.
https://www.exploreasheville.com/
https://www.exploreasheville.com/things-to-do/arts/
Boise, ID
Visit Boise is the tourism division of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. Their mission is to
establish Boise as a premier destination for tourism, events, conventions, meetings and recreation, and
assist groups with pre -event planning, booking hotel rooms, guest activities and more. Visit Southwest
Idaho also promotes Boise, but less information about Arts and Culture is available here.
https://visitboise.com/
https://visitboise.com/play/arts-and-culture/
Visit Southwest Idaho (Southwest Travel Association)
Boulder, CO
The Visit Boulder organization helps orient visitors, meeting planners or Boulder tourism businesses —
their mission strengthen the local economy by inspiring visitor connections to Boulder's vibrant
landscape and unique culture.
httos://www.bouldercoloradousa.co
https://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/things-to-do/arts-and-culture/
Fort Collins, CO
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 37
Visit Fort Collins is the official visitor information source for Fort Collins, CO. It features a terrific page
on Arts and Entertainment.
https://www.visitftcoIIins.com/
https://www.visitftcollins.com/things-to-do/arts-entertainment/
Lawrence, KS
Explore Lawrence is the convention and visitors bureau of Lawrence, Kansas, assists leisure travelers,
meetings and events planners, sports events planners, groups, the media and locals. The brand is
"Unmistakably Lawrence" https://www.explorelawrence.com
https://www.explorelawrence.com/things-to-do/arts-entertainment/
Little Rock, AR
The Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau (LRCVB) is the official destination marketing organization
for the City of Little Rock. The website features terrific search categories such as black culture, LGBTQ+,
Theatre & Performing Arts, and Museums & Attractions.
https://www.littlerock.com/a bout/
https://www.Iittlerock.com/things-to-do/
Oklahoma City, OK
Visit Oklahoma City, is the organization helping to promote Oklahoma City as a first-class visitor
destination. We also help contribute to the economic well-being of Oklahoma City and its citizens
through the solicitation and servicing of conventions and other group business. The tourism website
for Oklahoma City has a landing page for LGBTQ+ travelers with travel inspiration.
https://www.visitokc.com/
https://www.visitokc.com/things-to-do/arts-entertainment/
Appendix - Peer Cities Report - 38
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Community Engagement Summary
August 2024
The Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan process included a robust community engagement phase from
March through August 2024 to ensure the community's voice directly influenced the Plan. More than
1,250 residents and stakeholders engaged in the planning process through a variety of methods, which
included:
• Project Advisory Group: representatives from the arts and culture industry and community
leaders were convened to help guide the planning process. A series of meetings and workshops
were held throughout the planning process.
• Interactive Project Website: The site https://speakup.fayetteviIle-ar.gov/ included project
background, timeline, information about events, and ways to get involved. The website hosted a
community survey, targeted surveys and a mapping exercise.
• Stakeholder Interviews and Focus Groups: Input was gathered from key stakeholders in the
community and the City organization through a series of one-on-one interviews and focus
groups.
• Listening Sessions: a series of listening sessions were held to hear directly from visual artists,
musicians, performing artists, film and video creatives, arts organizations and other individuals
directly involved in the creative industries. In addition,
• Community Survey: A survey was conducted online through SpeakupFayetteville with additional
paper surveys distributed at key locations throughout the community, with 532 responses.
• Targeted Surveys: Content was designed and distributed specifically to gain the perspective and
valuable input directly from artists and creatives, creative businesses and organizations, and an
additional effort to reach westside residents.
• Engagement Events:
o YRCC Egg Hunt (March 2024): This event provided an opportunity to engage with
families from the nearby neighborhood about the types of arts and culture activities
they were most interested in participating in and encourage attendees to take the
survey.
o Ozark Regional Transportation Route 20 (April 2024): Community members who ride
this key bus route in Fayetteville were engaged in conversation about arts and culture in
Fayetteville during their route.
o Phantasma Silent Dance Party (April 2024): Held in the Lower Ramble, this free silent
dance party attracted a wide -variety of Fayetteville residents to enjoy music and a light
Appendix - Community Engagement Summary - 1
show throughout the forest. Attendees were asked to share key words they hope would
describe arts and culture in Fayetteville and were encouraged to take the survey.
o Cultural Cartography, (April 2024): The public was invited to share cultural assets of
Fayetteville on a map in the upper lobby of TheatreSquared. The exercise was also
completed by the Project Advisory Group, the Arts Council and offered as an online
activity.
o Creative Convergence, (July 2024): Held at the Fayetteville Town Center, this community
conversation brought together attendees to wrestle with three primary questions about
the "What, Where and Why" of arts and culture in Fayetteville. 75 attendees.
o The 17th annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) In the Park community
picnic (July 2024): This annual tradition held in Walker Park celebrates CDBG's
investment in the community and provides information to residents in need about
programs the City and other organizations offer. Attendees from various backgrounds
enjoyed the picnic and visited a series of booths, including completing a survey and
sharing their thoughts about arts and culture in Fayetteville.
• Tours of key facilities and arts and culture events.
• Creative Sector Economic Development discussion: A special session was held to discuss creative
sector economic development opportunities and what different tools may be available to
Fayetteville to support arts and culture.
• Key stakeholders and the community were invited to review and provide feedback on the draft
Arts and Culture Plan (December 2024) through SpeakupFayetteville.
Appendix - Community Engagement Summary - 2
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Creative Convergence: a community conversation about the future of arts
and culture in Fayetteville
July 17, 2024
Engagement Event Summary
On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at the Fayetteville Town Center, approximately 75 community members
gathered for a creative conversation about the future of arts and culture in Fayetteville. Through round
table discussions, participants engaged in informal and lively conversations, shared their perspectives
and ideas to help shape the Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan.
All of the input provided was
collected as raw data, and a
graphic facilitator Mark De La
Torre (with the help of several
apprentices) captured the live
conversation in a 15 ft
illustration. The following
includes highlights of the event
and the conversations. All
responses were gathered and
will be used as internal research
for the plan.
Event Summary
The event kicked off with a
welcome from Joanna Bell, City
of Fayetteville Arts and Culture
Manager. The group then experienced inspirational words from featured speaker and multidisciplinary
artist/activist Na'Tosha De'Von. Ms. De'Von shared an original poem about arts and culture in
Fayetteville and spoke about her experience growing her creative practice in Fayetteville.
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Next, the Stilwell Cultural Consulting Team (Jill Stilwell, Kendall Peterson and Jamie Giellis) facilitated the
table conversations.
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 1
Three words: Attendees were asked early in the session and towards the end to share three words that
they hope will describe the arts and culture scene in Fayetteville in 20 years. Their responses are
reflected in this word cloud.
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Small table conversations based on 3 questions
Next, participants were asked three key questions to discuss at their tables. After the discussion, each
table shared a few key ideas with the rest of the group. Between each question, participants were asked
to move tables and engage with a new group of people. Below are highlights summarized from all the
responses that were shared and collected.
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 2
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Question 1: WHAT? What will help make Fayetteville a place where artists and creatives can
flourish, grow, and sustain their artistic/creative practice, in all phases of their career?
Below are some highlights from the responses to Question 1, particularly those responses that were
repeated or shared multiple times.
• Affordable Housing
• Affordable Studio Spaces
• Maker space (for working artists and the community)
• Studio Space and Misc. Artist Needs
• COOPs, city and private funding mix/Rent communal/ cooperative/Co-owning
• Funding - sustainable, diverse support, dedicated funding streams
• Grants
• Percent for public art
• Artists Convening and Networking: appoint an Artist Liaison, host multi -disciplinary gatherings,
networking, community hub for all arts
• Professional Development for Creatives: training in grant writing, services like legal and tax
assistance, mentorships, promotional support, residencies, etc.
• Advocacy: advocate for well paying jobs/wages, respect artists as workers
• Artist Resources: Harnessing local resources
• Art Destination marketing, building a local identity, social media amplification, system to post
shows and exhibits, Strengthening the visibility of existing systems
• Festivals/Events/Art Markert - needed for artist exposure/selling and for the community to
participate in
• Venues/Spaces: a number of spaces were mentioned, including museum space, galleries, dance
space with sprung floor, underage music venue, small performing spaces, multi -disciplinary,
public/private, greenway, pocket parks
Question 2: WHERE? Think of spaces, areas, locations in Fayetteville that would benefit most
from an investment in placemaking?
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 3
Below are the highlights from the responses to Question 2, especially those that were repeated or
shared multiple times.
Past and present creative spaces/Gathering areas
• Likewise, Community Creative Center, Walton Arts Center, Icehouse (west street), Studio 225,
Old Armory, Clunk Music Hall, Orpheum, Backspace (practice spaces off the trail),
TheatreSquared, New art school, Prairie St Live, University of Arkansas spaces
Spaces needing investment to support arts and culture
• Mt. Sequoyah (need a way to get up there)
• Art on the greenway of various genres/Trail adjacent
• Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks; there are some art offerings but could be more
• Parks: Wilson Park, Gulley Park, Centennial Park, City Park
• YRCC - add more creative opportunities
• Public buildings with a shared use agreement
• Ramble/Arts Corridor; high expectations
• Art Deserts: east, west and south side of town, trails, small communities surrounding
Fayetteville(Elkins, Huntsville, Farmington)
• 71B Corridor/College Ave
• The Mall has potential!
• Some spaces that are utilized daytime but not so much at night
• Black historic district could use representative creative space within it
• My T By Design — Art therapy studio
• Pop -ups in vacant spaces
Spaces that could have Rreater access
• University of Arkansas spaces: build collaboration between the City and U of A?
• Public schools — getting artists and art into public schools to encourage arts education at
younger ages/Schools (local art on display and connect to artists)
• Library/Fab Lab
Needed spaces
• Galleries/Galleries in The Square
• Art Market
• Multi -disciplinary space for working, performing, shows, public to come in and see — mentioned
a San Francisco example — both clean and dirty type spaces and encourage collaboration/cross-
over
• Performance Space/Dance Space/Dance
• Outdoor concert/festival venues
Question 3: WHY? If arts and culture are wildly successful in Fayetteville, what will the
community be like/look like/feel like in 20 years?
Below are some themes, and visions for the future in Fayetteville that are drawn from the responses to
Question 3, especially those that were repeated or shared multiple times.
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 4
• Fayetteville is the art capital of Arkansas/Arts center of NW Arkansas/Art Hub/cultural
destination.
• Art everywhere.
• Fayetteville's art scene is what distinguishes it from other areas.
• Fayetteville is welcoming and inclusive.
• Fayetteville is not corporate.
• Art is part of the quality of life in Fayetteville.
• "Stay in Fay:" Fayetteville stays (and grows) as a funky destination, artists and creatives stay in
Fay and attract other creatives, the community stays in Fay to experience and participate in the
arts and tourists are attracted to stay in Fay.
• Thriving, inclusive network of diverse artists working in all genres who are collaborative,
empowered and respected (valued?)
• Fayetteville is a place with vibrant, inspiring arts, which unleashes a sense of hope and
optimism.
• Fayetteville rejects systemic inequality in every aspect of our development of the arts
infrastructure and respects cultural history and difference.
• Art unites the people of Fayetteville and supports their well-being.
• Fayetteville has affordable places to work and create - a place where students and
artists/creatives don't have to leave to create their professional path.
• Artists have financial support and security, homes and businesses with a plethora of
opportunities.
• Good art changes lives, brings love, reduces poverty, reduces divisions.
• "Fayetteville is the leading arts center of Arkansas, serving as an anchor point of accessible
public art. From murals throughout the entire city to public art installments that engage
community members self-expression, Fayetteville will be known as a center of inclusivity,
walkability, and connectivity, embracing nature and fostering local art."
Conclusion
The participants in this creative conversation were incredibly giving of their time and ideas. Many
remained and chatted at length after the session ended, and there was palpable excitement and joy in
the room. Groups were grateful for the opportunity to convene, share their input, and contribute to the
first Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan, which will be introduced later this year.
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 5
M INA*1aelLi 9*111541911I 01193
THREE WORDS [included in word cloud]
Able to make a living
Energizing (2)
Murals
Abundant (2)
Engaged
Nature
Access
Enough Room at the Table
Non-competitive (2)
Accessible (7)
Equal opportunity
NWA Arts Market
Accessible to newcomers and
Experiential
On the map
outsiders
Forward thinking (2)
Open
Afrocentrist
Free
Organic (3)
Ageless
Freedom
Outdoors
Anti -racist
Freedom of Expression
Ozarkans
Artist -run
Funded (2)
Ozarkansas
Authentic
Ground breaking
Pipeline for artists
Beautiful
Growing
Prosperous
Belonging
Homegrown
Recognized
Big
Inclusive (5)
Renowned (2)
Bold
Ingenuity
Respected
Brave
Innovation
Robust
Challenging
Innovative (2)
Surviving Artist vs. Starving
Coherent
Inspiring (2)
artist
Collaborative
Interwoven (2)
Sustained
Colorful (3)
Invests in artists
Thriving (3)
Communal (2)
Invigorating
Truthful
Community
Inviting
Unconventional
Cooperative (2)
Large Scale arts selling
Vibrant (6)
Dance
Live (2)
Thought Provoking
Defiant
Local (3)
Welcome
Democratic
Locally led
Welcoming
Destination
Maintain the funky
Well -funded
Diverse (6)
More opportunities
Wild
Diversely -funded
Multi -generational
Dynamic
Multiply
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 6
Raw Data Collected from the Table Conversations:
Q1: WHAT? What will help make Fayetteville a place where artists and creatives can flourish, grow,
and sustain their artistic/creative practice, in all phases of their career? Think of what resources,
support systems, networks, facilities/venues/support spaces, or services are most needed to nurture
and incubate the arts and culture ecosystem? What's missing? Do you see a role for the City in this?
• Affordable Housing**********
• Affordable studio space (more)******
• Artspace — engage again/relook at plan from the past**** (subsidized artist housing)
• Funding***** (both sustaining support and temporary support)
• Grants
• Artist Liaison (experienced) ***
• Affordable commercial space
• Maker space for all of the arts**
• Artist Collectives
• Art stores
• jobs -well paying
• Multi -disciplinary gatherings
• investments
• More events like this to bring together artists and appreciators from different backgrounds
• There are things that exist but not everyone knows about it — how do we make it more visible
• Framing mental health services as artistry
• Diverse funding — not just propped up by certain people that want to prop up a certain type of
community
• Market like the farmer's market that is consistent — but art specific (multi -disciplinary)
• Create an economic model that respects artists as workers
• Connecting artists to the business community, network, etc. — help business folks understand
the process of creating art — an understanding helps businesses and the city incorporate art into
everything
• Creative spaces inside Fayetteville
• Art Basel/Frieze Art Festival as examples of arts festivals that we could replicate
• Fayetteville Gallery Coalition
• Dance space with sprung floor (indoors and/or outdoors)
• Promotional support
• Underage music venue
• Museum space
• Graffiti Skatepark
• Studios with windows invite collaboration and observations
• Partnership with local University
• Mentorships
• Recording spaces
• Open the entire bike trail to graffiti
• Park Gallery
• Fayetteville Gallery Coalition
• Art Crawl
• Small performing spaces Farmington, West Fay, East/Huntsville, south of town (elkins)
• Arts zoning - later noise deadlines for late night
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 7
• Artist Payments, Wages and housing (arts advocacy)
• We need to teach artists to sell themselves
• Contract services (devin doing?)
• Shared use agreement (city of Fayetteville)
• Artist Tax assistance (look at St Louis model)
• artist legal Assistance
• Tax that directly goes towards art community
• Networking possibilities: art talks, artist of the month, artist spotlight
• Festivals
• System to post shows, exhibits (example = cafe)
o Newsletter (more community organizations origination
o APP - information ecosystem
o Fayetteville specific community calendar
o CACHE = community calendar needs to be filtered for each city.
o Money/revenue in the wrong location
o Accountability
• Problems:
o good for beginning artist;
o no support system for late career artist;
o people do not know what's going on in the area;
0 over complicated way to find opportunities
• Fundraisers/silent auctions - as exposure
• Bridges to bring money to artists: cultural awareness, publications, art education for community
• Maker space (wood, metal equipped, rehearsal space (NWACC Integrated Design Cab; Tulsa
Makerspace, St Louis)
• Artist hub; community hub for all arts
• Grants - no strings (big corps); more**
• Budgeting assistance
• Marketing assistance
• More education
• Professional development
• Creative incubator
• Grant writing support****
• Visiting regional artists
• Visible institutions
• Real opportunities for artists throughout their career
• More collaborations between mediums and groups
• Consistent art market
• Large art events
• Pop-up art spaces/events
• Percent for art bill
• Education opportunities
• Support community communication
• City support to new businesses to incentivise working with artists on commercial spaces
• City support for current businesses to employ artists to redo or update their trade [dress],
menus, interiors, etc.
• Mentorship
• Subsidized workspace, COOP, city and private funding mix
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 8
• Dedicated funding stream
• public space alongside private development
• Systemic change?policy, housing policy
• Events for artists within the community
• Stronger collector culture
• Rent communal cooperative
• Jobs
• An art housing collective for those older - when making art throughout their "careers" they can't
afford Butterfield Trail
• Legal resources for Creatives
• Proposal process (open)
• Social Media Amplification
• Resident Art Program
• Cultural activities are not "counted"
• Bigger arts district
• Public museum (Art)
• .5 Cent Tax designated for art support (like library)
• Art Market like Farmer's market (Town Center)
• Centralized resource Directory
• Match -making service for experienced artists and new artists
• miss having gallery space on the square/bring back gallery art spaces on the square
• more "pump house" community art projects
• more on the greenway (use it to help slow folks down, traffic calming)
• access to multidisciplinary space
• strengthening the visibility of existing systems
• Economic model that respects artists as workers in an industry
• Internships + vocational opportunities to connect artists with the business community
• Promoting cross pollination of artists
• Creating an art infrastructure.
• Art in everything
• More art/galleries on the square
• More pocket parks in neighborhoods outside center
• Access to Maker Spaces
• Where are the stakeholders?
• Diverse funding/Affordability
• Spreading the word
• Harnessing local resources
• Building a local identity
• Championing local artists
• Concept + vision + Discovery = Notoriety; investment = sponsorship
• Residencies Mt Sequoyah 1-4 weeks stipend, meals
• City artist in residence
• Art destination marketing
• Mental health services (how to prioritize health) esp under 18
• Places for 17-24 locally art driven, no spending $$ and not about drinking
• Co -owning
• What does bentonville do
• Media coordination
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 9
• Fine art festivals, True art festival, juried, spoleto
Q2: WHERE? Think of spaces, areas, locations in Fayetteville that would benefit most from an
investment in placemaking? Where are creative spaces in the community? Where does the community
gather? What places could be improved with more attention, activation or better design? Think of a
handful of these places and your suggestions for making them into meaningful spaces that benefit and
build community.
• Mt. Sequoyah (need a way to get up there) *******
• Public buildings with a shared use agreement**
• Black historic district could use representative creative space within it**
• Ramble** (a lot of stuff happening, but not known)
• Spaces for performing arts/visual arts
• Bolster Fayetteville gallery coalition
• Foster creativity in "art deserts" — thinking of small communities surrounding Fayetteville
• Multi -disciplinary space for working, performing, shows, public to come in and see — mentioned
a San Francisco example I couldn't hear — both clean and dirty type spaces and encourage
collaboration/cross-over
• Centennial Park
• Art on the greenway of various genres
• Spaces that are utilized daytime but not so much at night — how do we make them affordable
available during underutilized times
• Library
• Look at places where people are already gathering — maybe need some upgrades/equipment —
help fund that and make them a safe space
• Mighty By Design — Art therapy studio * My-T- By Design (lease)
• Likewise
• Pop -ups in vacant spaces
• Mall has potential!
• Pumphouse — and similarly smaller places spread out over the community
• Bring gallery space back to The Square
• Building in requirement into new development that a percentage of the budget would go to arts
either in that project or into some sort of fund that the city could use for arts
• Public schools — getting artists and art into public schools to encourage arts education at
youngerages
• Arts Corridor doing good but east and west side of town not doing as well — as trails move east
and west find places there to expand arts opportunities
• South Fayetteville — south school — between 13t" Stand Brinks Drive
• Prairie Street Life — part of cultural district
• Parks — Wilson Park, Gully Park — city fund that goes towards concerts and theatre in the parks
• University of Arkansas spaces
• Existing
o Botanic Gardens of the Ozarks - some art offerings but could be more
o Centennial Park
o Fayetteville Parks (overall)
• To create/build on:
o Trail adjacent
o YRCC - add creative opportunities
0 71B Corridor
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 10
o City Park (restaurant)
o Collaborative spaces
o Spaces used/full in the day time but not at night
o Existing gathering spots (police attention)
• Coalition Springdale Labor Let
• Art spaces on greenway
• Develop art deserts in surrounding small towns/communities (Elkins, Huntsville, Farmington)
• Shopping mall/Art space
• Restaurants/Bars
• Art Market
• Market/Collector class
• Performance Space
• Dance Space
• Development
• Accessible Spaces
• Incentives
• Likewise
• University of Ark
• Walton Arts
• Ramble
• Botanic Garden
• Fab Lab
• 7th Street Lot
• Needed: More on West Side
• Needed: popups in vacant Spaces
• Where are creative spaces? CCC, WAC, Mt. Sequoyah, the Library
• Where does the community gather? Gulley Park, The Rumble, Trail system, Library, Botanical
Garden
• What places could be improved? S. School MLK-15th as arts corridor, small studios, shops
• Old Levis Plant - a farmers market type venue for artists but not outside and not seasonal or
weather dependent.
• What could be colonized and improved? the Mall, an art hotel, chicken museum
• THE THIRD SPACE - investing in places that aren't home or work and places that aren't just
places to spend money
• taking over new spaces (like downtown NYC)
• Place for artists to ask for what they need
• Someplace with free wine and live music
• Ramble/ Arts Corridor has challenges for doing new things
• College Ave, Midtown Corridor
• Schools (local art on display and connect to artists)
• Placemaking inspired by artists from here (Carrboro NC, Elizabeth Cotton)
• Museum Exhibitions
• Where were creative spaces? Icehouse (west street), Studio 225, Old Armory, Clunk Music Hall,
Orpheum, Backspace (practice spaces off the trail)
• Characteristics of making a good artist space:
o A warehouse divided
■ 1,200 - 3,800 sq feet divides musicians, painters, metal workers, builders, etc.
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 11
■ Multidisciplinary community that worked and (sometimes lived) together for 25
years
■ Gallery show, circus, bands play
■ Big communal space convertible for different uses
■ Affordable, cooperative, a space to create, an opportunity for the community to
witness and participate
■ Could be anchored by a communal retail space where artists work and public
can gather
o What attracts the public to these spaces?
■ Family friendly, all ages, sober, parking, after-hours open
o Project Artaud in San Francisco
• TheatreSquared
• The Square
• Place to take kids
• New art school
• Prairie St Live
• Studio Leilaui
• Teens need a space
• Gallery
• Likewise
• Trail mix
• Community Creative Center
• Where is the dance?
• Earth Friendly
• TheatreSquared
• University of Arkansas
• South Fayetteville/south School between 13th and Brinks Drive
• Mt Comfort Church and Community Building
• Community Creative Center (Nadine Baum)
• Oak Plaza Shopping Center
• Placemaking incorporated with our trails
• West Weddington
• Who is our audience
• How do we build collaboration between the City and U of A? Or do we?
Question 3: WHY? If arts and culture are wildly successful in Fayetteville, what will the community be
like/look like/feel like in 20 years? Can you write a vision statement or a series of statements that
capture this new future state? Use the words we generated earlier as inspiration, or the words on your
table we captured from our community survey and focus groups.
• The art capital of Arkansas/Arts center of NW Arkansas — inclusivity, accessibility, walkability,
fostering local art
• Invite collaboration as much as we can, empower individuals, multi -generational, eliminate
"starving artists"
• More local art
• More art centered events
• Art tax
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 12
• Retaining artists and attracting other artists — our artists will have security
• Recognize us as what's cool instead of looking to bigger art markets
• To come to a place with vibrant art — it unleashes a sense of hope and optimism
• Diversity
• Quality of life
• Dancing in the streets
• "Stay in Fay"
• Stay its funky self— be organic trendsetters — don't want to do it everybody else's way, do it our
way
• Ordinances that require space for the arts in new developments
• Enhancing the individual
• Growing and growing but on an individual level —grow in local ways, incrementally, not big
business
• Enough room at the table
• Good art changes lives- and if we have 20 years of good and inspiring art here people in
Fayetteville would change and they would be more loving, happy —we could reduce poverty, we
could reduce political division to help us understand each other more
• Art hub — art everywhere — art is tactile — taste it, see it, hear it, feel it
• Art everywhere — schools, public spaces, etc.
• Seamless movement through the city with continuous opportunity for cultural engagement
• Colorful accessible interwoven, on the map, strong patron base, local artist spotlight, art
appreciation experiences, engaging with artists, cross -industry support for the arts, health of the
community at large
• Benton is bike riding, trails — Fayetteville is the art. Own it.
• Economic justice along with everything that is done
• Respect cultural history and difference
• Reject systemic inequality in every aspect of our development of the arts infrastructure building
• Commune/Community
• artists that can live
• Getting away from being only buoyed by private capital/investments
• Having spaces more open to unconventional mediums
• More art that unites people
• Not having all your eggs in one basket (Tyson, Walmart, etc.)
• Art is more present in public and in local schools
• Art is more a part of political discourse and public funding
• Investing more in local arts
• See their artistic Value
• Empowering individuals
• enhance the individual
• 2044: how many students at U of A in 2044?
• Art Hub: what make a hub - galleries, food, museum, performance spaces (for tourists); what do
you need for a successful hub - U of A schools, educational spaces, vibrant community of artists,
art everywhere and integrated for daily life, artists have a plethora of opportunities, accessibility
(parking, transportations), tourists with money
• Art in schools - increase budgets for elementary education in arts (music performance, crafts);
after school programs.
• Art as Leisure - adult classes, art classes as alternative to bar culture
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 13
• Priority of Local Artists - Fort Worth, Santa Fe, San Miguel DeAllende, Knoxville Museum of Art;
Folk art doesn't have to be fine art
• Art Everywhere (vision statement)
• Art in Fayetteville is Tactile -
o Taste - culinary, food
o Hear - local music that permeates - drum circles, fiddle music, community dances
o See
o Touch mosaics on sidewalk
o Feel art and design everywhere
o Small —food, perfumes, trees
• Imagination and hope ignited in all
• Good art changes lives, brings love, reduces poverty, reduces divisions
• Art is tactile in all of your senses
• In 20 Years, Fayetteville is the Art Capital of Arkansas and will export Art and Artists to Art
Deserts in the World.
• Seamless movement throughout the City with continuous opportunity for cultural discovery.
• Funky destination where the people are uniquely capable of creative thought, sharing, and
critical dialogue.
• Large Community Bonding event (all arts involved)
• festival focuses (Folk the Roots, Gallery, Market, Incentives to community involvement
• Nature —integrated with nature
• Recognition
• Designated arts district
• Fayetteville is Art
• Affordable places to work and create - a place where students don't have to leave to create
• Strong patron base
• local artist spotlights
• art appreciation experiences
• cross industry support for arts
• engagement with Artiss
• Health of community at large inherent good
• Based around the health of the creative community.
• Many venues and communication re events;
• Ordinances which require space for the arts in new developments, eg 21C
• Support - financial support - for local artists in all genres
• arts community if famous/recognized nationwide
• Biz community supports and collaborates with the arts community — Artist Liaison
• artists supported by corporations
• artists have security, homes and businesses are filled with art (Public Art)
• Fayetteville is the leading arts center of Arkansas, serving as an anchor point of accessible public
art. From murals throughout the entire city to public art installments that engage community
members self-expression, Fayetteville will be known as a center of inclusivity, walkability, and
connectivity, embracing nature and fostering local art.
• We will retain our artists & attract other creatives
• Art Tax
• Our reputation & know our brand/vibe as a cultural destination for art
• More art created events
• A thriving community of support (ie. similar to farmer's markets, local farming)
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 14
• Financial backing for artists and galleries from private donors/diverse funding
• Administrative/Art Liaison support
• Heart & Soul
• Quality of life : we are the heart of the city
• Top of list
• Diversity
• Thriving networking for new to the area artists, POC, LGBTQIA, Diverse communities
• More Artosphere events,more art centered events, orgs
Appendix - Creative Convergence Engagement Summary - 15
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Veeds Assessment
August 2024
Introduction
A key task in developing the Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan is identifying gaps and needs within the existing
Fayetteville arts and culture ecosystem. With the help of the community through a variety of engagement methods
combined with research and peer cities benchmarking, this document presents the findings of an extensive
assessment of the arts and culture needs and areas of potential improvement for Fayetteville. The Needs
Assessment serves as an important grounding document for the Arts and Culture Plan.
While Fayetteville already has an established arts and culture scene, these emerging needs can be viewed as
opportunities to not only support and advance arts and culture, but to differentiate Fayetteville within Northwest
Arkansas (NWA). Fayetteville is where art is made and home to the working, creating, making artists and creatives.
Many of the gaps and needs identified align with supporting, retaining and growing artists, creatives and creative
businesses in Fayetteville.
Public Input
Throughout the engagement process, the community
has expressed strong beliefs that arts and culture are
an important part of Fayetteville. In fact, 90% of people
surveyed said arts and culture opportunities in
Fayetteville are important or very important.
90% of people surveyed said arts and culture
opportunities in Fayetteville are Important (16%)
or Very Important (74%). Only 2% stated arts and
culture opportunities were not important or not at
all important.
However, there is a gap between what the community
deems important and what they believe they are receiving. According to survey results, the community indicated
there is room for growth in the "variety and amount" of Fayetteville's arts offerings and activities and that the
quality of arts and culture activities could be improved.
65% of survey respondents somewhat agreed or
definitely agreed that "There are enough
opportunities for me to participate in arts and
cultural activities in Fayetteville." That means 45%
disagree and want more activities.
The community shared that there are missing arts and
culture activities in Fayetteville that they would like to
attend or see more. These include:
• Live Music Events/Festivals/Outdoor Concert
• Cultural and Art Festivals/Events
"We need to improve the quality of arts and
cultural activities in Fayetteville."
81% Somewhat or Strongly Agree
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 1
• Museums
• Art Classes and Workshops
• Art Galleries and Exhibitions
• Public Art
• Film and Cinema Events
This aligns with research that Fayetteville is missing some core arts and culture events, spaces, experiences and
participation opportunities.
Gaps
The following pages of this document outline a number of gaps and needs identified for the arts and culture
ecosystem in Fayetteville. They are organized into five categories as listed below but not they are not in a prioritized
order.
1. Funding and Resources
2. Placemaking and Public Art
3. Spaces to Create
4. Artist and Creative Sector Support
5. Advocacy and Visibility
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 2
1. Funding & Resources
Understanding that Fayetteville's Arts and Culture Division was only established in 2022, the City's direct funding for
arts and culture has been limited. However, the arts and culture sector has achieved remarkable success on its own.
The following section is an assessment of the gaps and opportunities in the areas of funding and resources needed
to better support and bolster the arts and culture community.
Need: Sustained and Protected Fu
Arts and Culture Funding: Fayetteville will require sustainable
support for the arts and culture industry. This can come in
many different forms, such as a dedicated tax, City general
fund support, public/private collaborations, grants through the
City, etc. This funding will need to be diversified, and not overly
reliant on just a few sources. The City could also make better
use of financial tools such as percent -for -art ordinances, special
tax districts, tax increment financing and/or planning policies
and economic incentives that either require and/or encourage
investments in creative spaces, art in development and more.
Need: Financial Resources for the Arts and Culture Industry
The community survey revealed that the
majority of people surveyed think the City should
spend more on arts and culture in Fayetteville.
64% stated that the City should spend more or
much more
27% spend "about the same"
3% stated that the City should "spend less or
much less."
Grants for the Arts: At this time, Fayetteville does not offer grants for arts organizations; Support for these types of
projects have been considered ad hoc.
Incentives: Currently there are no incentives to encourage arts/culture/creative leasing, nor are there developer
incentives to encourage placemaking or public art. Communities working to bolster the creative sector have found
success interweaving requirements via zoning or zoning overlays with economic incentives to achieve economic
activity driven by the creative community. The cultural plan should look at opportunities to support housing,
creative spaces in development, utilization of artists in the design and aesthetics of development, support for
creative uses and more.
Film Incentives and Advocacy: Currently, all advocacy for the film industry is happening at the State level.
There isn't a local or regional incentive driving filmmakers to Fayetteville or Northwest Arkansas, which
could have great economic potential for the entire region. There is no "film office" in Fayetteville to provide
assistance for filming requests, permitting or promoting the regional locations or talent.
Philanthropy & Donors: As in many cities, donors and philanthropists are becoming older and younger generations
are not in the habit of giving. In NWA, there are a few large foundations that have been significant funders of arts
and culture. In the absence of a strong city or community strategy for arts and culture, these donors have often
directed cultural priorities through their funding. Diversifying funding sources through partnerships with a variety of
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 3
donors, businesses and sustainable funding sources mentioned above is needed along with a clear strategy for that
support.
Collector Culture: There is not a robust "art market" in Fayetteville. A "collector culture" is usually supported by
galleries, arts fairs, a public art program, art buyers/collectors and art consultants. All of these are gaps in
Fayetteville.
2. Placemaking and Public Art
The City of Fayetteville has invested in several distinctive cultural assets, most recently, the Ramble and mural
projects. This forward -thinking placemaking and investment in creative spaces, memorable gathering areas and
publicly available arts is necessary for growing the creative community.
Need: Public Spaces Activated by Arts and Culture
Public Art: Fayetteville didn't have a formal public art program until 2022. The program was predominantly mural -
based, created almost entirely by local artists, and funded ad -hoc. Since that time, several sculpture commissions
within City parks and mural projects have been completed and resonated with the public. Public art and murals were
consistently noted as a need through surveys and outreach and community excitement for a more formal,
broadened public art program is gaining momentum. The program needs well -developed policies, sustainable
funding such as a percent -for -art -ordinance, staff assistance and a liaison between City departments so art
opportunities aren't missed. A strong public art program can offer a diverse group of artists work opportunities
through commissioned projects, city -sponsored exhibitions, and/or artist registries that promote local artists. As the
recent Nelson -Hackett mural demonstrates, public art programs can also be an important means of celebrating and
honoring diverse communities and neighborhoods within the city.
Mural Program: The existing public art collection centers around utility box murals which are currently deteriorating
and in need of re -painting. The community would like to see more of this type of artwork in the public realm.
Revamping the utility box program or reprising "Sprayetteville" might be popular and inexpensive ways to fill this
gap.
Placemaking: Designating key nodes and locations that are of special interest through placemaking or place -keeping
(public art, design, preservation, correct mix of businesses and public spaces) is needed. This was proven effective in
the development and design of the Cultural Corridor/Ramble, and the community is eager to see the completion of
that project.
There are other locations that could be formed into placemaking nodes that would benefit from this type of
consensus building and advocacy led by City leadership and department staff —for example, the Square. A new
downtown plan is in the works; elements like an art market, public art, pedestrian zones, and prioritization of
creative businesses can help energize/catalyze the downtown square. Other major projects like redeveloping
Highway 71 could be a huge opportunity for public art but also arts and culture venues or gathering spaces, too.
Cultural Arts District: At this time there is a border delineating a cultural district, but there isn't any funding,
strategy or promotion for that district. The designated cultural district can help promote and fund (depending on the
funding tool chosen) artists, creative businesses, public art, events, programming and more in that area and these
areas tend to attract more businesses and economic activity as a result. The vibrant nightlife of Dickson Street is
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 4
included in the district but doesn't feel accessible for the non -college student community in Fayetteville. Spaces are
underutilized in the daytime/early evening and could be leveraged to create a more 24/7 economy and
entertainment zone for all ages. Also in the District is the Cultural Corridor/Ramble, which needs to be programmed
as a key component and connector of this area.
Historic Neighborhoods and Culture keeping: There are many important cultural sites, traditions, and historic
neighborhoods that are important to Fayetteville's history and local culture. These places need to be identified,
protected, advocated for and celebrated.
Mt. Sequoyah: This property is a one -of -a -kind landmark, resource and historic property. However, the area
is in great need of repairs and maintenance. The area is already supporting the artist community with 50+
studio spaces and a gallery, but it is critical to support planning efforts to help develop a means for the
property to become a sustainable, integrated and useful destination for Fayetteville. An updated master
plan would help to not only determine how best to continue to activate Mt. Sequoyah, but how to
financially sustain this historic and important site for the long term.
Arts Outside of Downtown: Arts and culture opportunities are concentrated in downtown. The west, east and south
sides of town need expanded art opportunities. The City can look for pockets of arts- and culture -ready areas and
venues in other neighborhoods (Gulley Park, Centennial Park, South and Western Fayetteville).
3. Spaces to Create
Although Fayetteville has a number of wonderful cultural facilities, there are critical spaces missing that support
artists, musicians, and creatives in growing within their discipline, developing their careers, and making a living.
Affordable spaces like the former quonset but that housed grassroots music spaces and art studios are disappearing.
These losses have significantly impacted the cohesion of the arts community and nothing has yet replaced it. The
artist community needs informal spaces to become hubs of multidisciplinary collisions that spur innovation and
connectivity. The community also needs spaces where they can experience and participate in arts and culture.
Need: Affordable Artist Spaces
Affordable Studio Spaces: Studio space was the most frequently mentioned need for artists and creatives to build
their practice. Studio space could take many forms, including shared, multidisciplinary, and/or collaborative. Closely
linked to studio space are makerspaces for all arts, including wood, metal, and large project space, which could also
house an art tool library.
Affordable Performance Spaces: In addition to studios and makerspaces, Fayetteville also needs rehearsal space for
musicians and performers, spaces for classes and workshops (all disciplines) that artists host, and a space with a
sprung floor for dance.
Need: Spaces to Share and Participate
Mid -Size and Outdoor Music Venues: There are missing music venues in the inventory of Fayetteville that are mid-
sized to support a robust music scene, for both musicians and music consumers. Absent also is a large outdoor
venue for festivals and concerts beyond Gulley Park. The community wants to attend more music, festivals, film and
performances outdoors and in small music and/or performance spaces.
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 5
Exhibition and Gallery Space: Both artists and the
community would like to see more exhibitions in Fayetteville.
Artists need the opportunity to show and sell their work, and
without these types of spaces, building a collector or client
base is difficult. The community enjoys seeing and
experiencing art. With the museums and galleries in
Bentonville being so close, the community is very aware of
the absence of these experiences in Fayetteville.
"What types of arts and culture activities do you
participate in or attend?"
a whopping 80% of the people surveyed said they
enjoy attending the Farmers markets in Fayetteville.
Second was art exhibitions 68% & galleries and tied
for third was live music (65%) and culinary
experiences (65%).
Art Market: Fayetteville has a Farmers Marketbut doesn't have a consistent artist market that brings together the
arts and culture community in a comprehensive and visible way. Where it makes sense for a farmers market to be
seasonal during the growing season, an arts market can be a year-round draw with an indoor location. Fayetteville
needs this type of activity to support its arts identity and also to provide opportunities for artists and creatives to
engage with the community and sell.
Community Arts Center: Although the Community Creative Center is an existing important and well -used resource,
demand is far exceeding its capacity. This and the loss of grassroots art spaces is compounding the lack of spaces
available to artists, creatives, young people and the community to create. A community art center could bring
together a number of needed, affordable spaces to support art -making, workshops and classes, dance and small
performances, etc.
Transportation and Parking: Current bus routes do not link residents to all of the arts and culture venues and
activities available to them, creating barriers and limiting access. There is also a perception that parking is a barrier
to participating in the arts.
4. Artist and Creative Sector Support
Fayetteville is home to working artists and creatives who add to the unique character of Fayetteville. They are an
important workforce for the city. Similar to other economic sectors, attention needs to be paid to retaining,
resourcing and growing the arts and culture ecosystem.
Need: Affordable Housi
Affordable Housing: Affordable housing was repeatedly top of mind for many artists and creatives living in
Fayetteville. As Fayetteville continues to grow and develop, housing costs are increasing, and local residents are
feeling the crunch. There is a general concern that artists and creatives will be (or have already been) priced out of
Fayetteville and greatly hurt the local creativity industry. Housing targeted to artists that create live/work
opportunities are missing.
Need: Artist Resources
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 6
Artist Resources: Artists need resources to support their careers such as mentorships, residencies, apprenticeships,
networking events, training, and artist opportunities. Resources that are available also need to be visible or in a
centralized location that is well known and easily accessed.
Artist Liaison: The arts and culture community is seeking someone who is their liaison, focused on their industry and
looking for ways to build and grow their ecosystem. The new Arts and Culture Director is poised to serve this
function in their role or through their office with additional staff in the future.
Networking and Convening: A thriving arts and culture ecosystem consists of artists, creatives, galleries,
organizations, event producers, creative entrepreneurs, venues, etc. who are well connected to one another.
Inclusive networking opportunities are needed to build collaboration, promote innovation and cross pollination, and
stimulate creativity and growth.
Fayetteville Public Library: The Library is a terrific resource for arts and culture with its dance space, performance
space, Innovation Lab, recording studios, beautiful white walls for artwork and a public art plan. But artists are
unaware of how to strategically make use of these resources and there is little funding available to support
activation.
The top five recommended destinations in Fayetteville were outdoors and Restaurants/Breweries, The
FAPL and Museums.
1 Hiking, biking and outdoor recreation 76.1%
2 Restaurants and breweries 73.2%
3 Drive through beautiful Ozarks 57.3%
4 Library 56.5%
5 Museums 54.6%
Need: Artist Retention
Retaining Talent: Aside from the housing costs, many artists and creatives are finding they need to move away from
Fayetteville to further their careers and find sustainable work. Some return, but this loss of talent is a concern for
building the arts and culture industry and starting new entrepreneurial ventures in Fayetteville. This is probably due
to a combination of factors:
Missing Middle: Many emerging and mid -career artists and creatives, including graduates of UofA, are not
well -supported for that "next step" in their career in Fayetteville. Some feel like there are not as many
opportunities for artists to work and artists aren't a respected and acknowledged workforce. There are
missing elements that you would expect to find in a healthy ecosystem, such as training and sector support,
right -sized venues that build a career scaffold, and creative/work spaces and hubs.
Entrepreneurship Support: Although the City does support entrepreneurs (through StartUp Junkie), artists
and creatives seem unaware that these resources are available to them. The arts and culture community
needs to feel included and invited to participate in these opportunities which aren't traditionally a part of
their ecosystem.
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 7
Sector Recognition: Arts and culture needs to be recognized as an economic sector within the local
economy, acknowledging that artists and creatives are workers to be paid a living wage who work in
businesses that deserve support.
Training & Business Acumen: Like every other industry, the arts and culture industry needs training and
workforce development, not necessarily in their artistic disciplines but in running, managing and growing
their business and career. This includes tax, legal, financial and branding/marketing assistance as well as
incubating, mentoring and connecting the creative sector with the broader business community.
5. ADVOCACY & VISIBILITY
The City has created an Arts and Culture division and hired a Director to begin the important work for creative sector
advocacy. The advocacy and visibility of arts and culture will be essential to the growth of the entire sector. The new
Downtown Fayetteville Coalition, Experience Fayetteville and other key community agencies and organizations can
be key partners in activating and promoting arts and culture.
Need: Create an Identitv and Build Excitement
Identity and Promotion: Go Create Fay! With a strong artist and creative presence, Fayetteville needs to lean into
and build common ground for everyone to rally around. Co -branding and marketing through key partnerships are
needed. Special events are also needed. The City's arts and culture website needs to be more robust and up-to-date.
Marketing: There are several different entities promoting
and marketing arts and culture in the region, but
Fayetteville needs a system for marketing its local arts
scene and events that is easy to find, easy to maintain
and continues to build a local identity.
When asked "What are some of the obstacles that
may have prevented you from engaging in arts and
cultural programs and events?"
65% "Too short notice/Didn't hear about" 54%
"Cost/too expensive"
The Ramble/Cultural Arts Corridor: Many are aware of
the Ramble development, and anxiously await its completion. But a vision/plan is needed to explain how this space
will benefit arts and culture in Fayetteville. This location needs to be carefully activated and programmed to become
a draw for residents and visitors and known for its unique offerings. It is also an opportunity to co -mingle local and
touring musicians, bring diverse partners together to build programming, and offer unique, engaging identity -
creating events.
Festivals and Events: Fayetteville needs a signature, iconic event "Arts and cultural activities are important
(or two) which will likely require city support. This could be a aspects of life in Fayetteville."
reprisal of the Roots Festival or another event that connects and
celebrates the community. Events that embrace and celebrate 92% Somewhat or Definitely Agree
the diverse cultural heritage of Fayetteville's residents are also
needed. Also, the few galleries lining the Town Square for First Thursdays are no longer there, so Fayetteville lacks
large events that coalesce arts and culture.
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 8
Pop-up art/event spaces: There isn't a program for pop -ups in vacant storefronts or in public spaces, that would
support new businesses and art ventures.
Need: Advocacy
Advocacy: Fayetteville needs to advocate for its arts and culture sector at the local, regional and state level. Building
cultural coalitions will be imperative to success in lobbying for important issues and initiatives that will help the
creative economy. While CACHE is the Northwest Arkansas arts agency, they have not had steady or effective
leadership in this regard.
Code Analysis: The City can supply additional support to the creative industry by examining current code that isn't
conducive to creativity (sign code, noise ordinances, live/work/sales spaces, etc.)
Special Events "Office": Fayetteville permits special events, filming and events in parks, and although this has been
streamlined somewhat between the City and Parks, there isn't a specialized office or staff team dedicated to guiding
producers through the city process and serve as a resource in coordinating special events across the community.
Partnerships: With the new Arts and Culture Division and a point person in the Director, there are new
opportunities to advocate for and develop partnerships within the arts and culture industry and also between the
industry and the broader community. For example, the University of Arkansas is a major producer of arts and culture
in Fayetteville, but few artists and creatives outside the University walls have connection or understanding of the
University role beyond their student population. Work needs to be done to break down barriers and create inroads
and partnerships throughout Fayetteville to achieve greater collaboration and connectivity.
Appendix - Needs Assessment - 9
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Plan
Public Art Policies & Procedures: Sample Draft
2024
OVERVIEW:
This document establishes Policies and Procedures to guide the City of Fayetteville's Public Art Program
and implement any future Public Art Plans.
SECTION I: PUBLIC ART PROGRAM DEFINITIONS
The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this document, shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Accession means the steps taken to officially acquire and designate an artwork as a part of the City of
Fayetteville's Public Art collection.
Acquisition means the inclusion of an artwork in the permanent collection of the City, according to the
City's Public Art Policies, whether by commission, purchase, donation, or other means. Acquisitions are
owned by the City.
Art in Public Places (see Public Art, below)
Art on Loan refers to any artwork that is not owned by the City but is on public display on City property
in the City according to the terms of a loan agreement with the owner.
Artist refers to a person who creates art (such as painting, sculpture, music, or writing) using conscious
skill and creative imagination.
Artwork (or Work of Art) means but is not limited to, unique, one -of -a -kind artwork by an artist. This
includes the following media and methods:
• Sculpture: in the round, bas relief, mobile, fountain, kinetic, and electronic, in any approved
material or combination of materials.
• Two-dimensional artwork: painting in all media, mixed media, collage, including portable and
permanently affixed works including mosaic and murals.
• Printmaking and photography, original graphics.
• Environmental art: earthworks, land art, environmental and natural elements, installation -based
artwork.
• Interactive art: art that engages a spectator or audience, (e.g. fountains, climbable elements,
play elements, sound -based art, participatory art, etc.).
• Playground artwork: playable structures or kinetic elements created by an artist.
• Time -based media, film/video, digital art, web -based art, projections.
• Light -based art installations.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 1
• Temporary art/Semi-permanent art that is available for a limited time.
• Performance -based art: dance, movement, theater, live music, puppetry, storytelling, acrobatic
displays, fire breathers, stand-up comedy, opera, etc.
• Conceptual art and social practice events.
• Text -based artwork, including literary works, spoken word, and live poetry performances.
• Crafts: includes fiber arts, textiles, stained glass, metalwork, ceramic arts, and other crafts.
• Functional art and streetscape elements: benches, shade structures, bike racks, lighting, artist -
designed landscape elements, retaining walls, etc. as designed by an artist.
• Architectural art: artist -designs incorporated into the building design, facade or structure (i.e.
glass, terrazzo), or is attached to the exterior of a building, bridge, or other physical structure.
• Memorial art: art, sculpture, structure or artist -designed space created to preserve the memory
of a significant person, entity, or event that occurred or existed in the past.
For the purposes of this policy, the following are not considered Artwork:
• Donor bricks, plaques, trees, or standard mass-produced benches not designed and created by
an artist.
• Educational plaques unless an integral part of a work of art designed by an artist.
• Directional elements, signage, and way -finding elements, unless designed by an artist as an
integral part of the work of art.
• Artwork murals and/or signage that serves as an advertisement for a product, service, or
business.
• Objects that are mass-produced in a standard design, such as playground equipment, park
furniture, or fountains.
• Holiday and other decor unless designed by an artist.
• Non -original reproductions/copies of original works of art, except in cases of film, video,
photography, printmaking, and sculpture editions.
• Public improvements for safety, such as area or path lighting, protective railings, etc., unless
designed by an artist.
• Landscape design or gardens when used for decoration, unless designed by/with an artist, and
are integral to the artwork.
• Decorative, ornamental, or functional architectural elements unless designed by an artist.
• Any other work or elements not designed by or in collaboration with an artist.
Collection: Artwork that has been acquired and approved through the City's acquisition process and is
owned by the City. It refers to artwork that is placed in a public setting and accessible to the community,
in storage, or undergoing repairs. Unless the artwork is a loaned work of art on display on a temporary
basis, to remove a work of art from the City's collection, a deaccession process is required. It is the
responsibility of the City to maintain, restore, and repair the art collection according to its Public Art
Policies.
Commission refers to artwork created at the request of the City and/or its Public Art Committee in
which the funds to design and produce the artwork are provided by the City (in part or entirely) and
acquired through a process as outlined in the City's Public Art Policy.
Conservation means preservation, repair, and prevention of deterioration of public artworks and
artifacts.
Deaccession is the process by which a work of art can be removed from the City's public art collection in
accordance with the City's Public Art Policies.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 2
Donation means artwork that has been given to and accepted by the Public Art Committee on behalf of
the City, and approved by the City Council for inclusion in its art collection.
Maintenance is an ongoing approach to regular cleaning, treating, or repairing artwork that has been
adversely affected by negligence, damage, or decay caused by the effects of time and human use on the
materials of which they are made.
Public Art (or Art in Public Places) refers to any artwork acquired (in whole or in part) by public City
funding and sited within a publicly accessible City -owned or leased area, on the exterior of any City -
owned or leased facility, inside of any City -owned or leased facility, or on property that is not owned or
leased by the City if financed whether wholly or in part with City funds or by grants procured by the City.
Public art is artwork that has been donated or loaned to the City's Public Art program, as well as
privately sponsored artwork that is sited on publicly owned land or a public work sited on private
property and maintained by the City according to a legal agreement between the owner and the City of
Fayetteville.
Public Art Policy means all policies and procedures, as approved by the City Council, for the selection,
placement, and presentation of artwork; the maintenance, repair, care, or removal of artwork and the
commissioning, decommissioning, and payment for artwork.
Public Art Plan refers to a document that guides and defines the goals of the public art program and the
use of public art funds.
Public Art Reserve Account refers to a special Public Art Reserve Fund account established for capital
expenditures, large repairs, and other approved expenditures related to public art for the City's
collection. This account can roll over from year to year.
Temporary Public Art means works of art installed in public places for which it is the intention to display
and maintain the artwork for a shortened period of time agreed upon between the artist and the City of
Fayetteville.
SECTION II: GROUPS INVOLVED WITH GOVERNANCE/ ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC ART
The following section defines the groups and responsibilities of those involved in administering the
Public Art Program.
Citv of Favetteville Arts and Culture Division
The City of Fayetteville's Arts and Culture Division, within the Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural
Affairs Department shall oversee and administer the Public Art Program in accordance with the
provisions of these policies. The Arts and Culture Division's duties shall include oversight and
coordination of the Public Art Program, administration of the program's budget, designation and hiring
of staff to administer the Public Art Program, including guidance and oversight of the selection,
acquisition, purchase, commissioning, placement, installation, maintenance, and deaccessioning of all
artwork acquired by the City of Fayetteville that is defined as Public Art in Section I.
Designated staff in the Arts and Culture Division shall serve as staff liaison for the Fayetteville Arts
Council (see below) and as the source of public information regarding the Public Art Program as
required. They will also serve as a liaison for the community, private developers and other external
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 3
partners (BIDS, neighborhood organizations, special districts, etc.) who are considering procurement of
public art on City -owned property or through City incentive programs.
City Arts and Culture Division Staff may adjust or augment these Policies and Procedures as needed or
requested for clarification or to ensure utilization of current best practices within the Public Art
Program.
Fayetteville Arts Council (FAC)
The Fayetteville Arts Council was created by Resolution 60-07 on April 3, 2007 and amended by
Ordinance 5332 on July 6, 2010, Ordinance 6177 on April 16, 2019 and Ordinance 6196 on July 2, 2019.
The purpose of the Arts Council shall be to promote and encourage the appreciation and enhancement
of the arts and culture resources of Fayetteville. The Fayetteville Arts Council advises and makes
recommendations to City staff (or City Council?) regarding public art projects, the acceptance of offers
to donate art to be placed in public areas, and policy, guidelines and budgetary matters pertaining to the
City's Public Art Program. The Arts Council also selects review panels and ensures transparent and open
selection processes.
Or "assists Fayetteville's organizations that are active in the arts and provide leadership on arts related
matters. The Fayetteville arts council shall also oversee the activities and approve expenditures of the
City's public art program".
Terms: Staggered three-year terms.
Members: The Fayetteville Arts Council shall have nine members, appointed by the city's boards and
commissions process as defined by the City Council and managed by the City Clerk's office. . The
members of the Fayetteville Arts Council shall be arts professionals or residents of diverse backgrounds
with strong links to the Fayetteville arts and cultural community. At least four members shall be artists
working professionally in their field. One member shall be a City Council member appointed by the
Mayor at the beginning of each calendar year.
Attendance Requirements: FAC members shall follow attendance requirements in accordance with the
City's board, commission and committee standards as set forth in Ord. No. 5446, 10-4-11.
Public Art Selection Panels
The FAC, in coordination with City staff, may establish separate Public Art Selection Panels for each new
public art commission it undertakes. Public Art Selection Panels enable the City to engage volunteer
community members (outside of the FAC) who may possess specific knowledge or expertise and/or
interest in a particular project or commission. The FAC, along with Arts and Culture Division staff, shall
determine the composition and selection criteria for each selection panel at a FAC meeting.
Selection Panels shall ideally be made up of at least five people. The recommended selection panel
makeup is the following:
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 4
• At least one professional artist or arts professional which may include an artist, art historian,
museum, curator, or arts administrator or coordinator;
• At least one community member interested in the project or someone who either lives or works
near the proposed site for the artwork (that may or may not be involved with the arts);
• At least one FAC member;
• City of Fayetteville department staff or leadership as needed for their knowledge of the project
area, neighborhood, etc.; and
• Additional panelists may be chosen for the selection panel as deemed appropriate including
members of the community in which the art will be sited, subject matter experts, designers or
architects for the project, or other site representatives.
• Non -voting advisors and consultants may be added as needed.
• City representatives and Arts and Culture Division staff shall be considered non -voting members
of all selection panels.
Each Public Art Selection Panel will be specific to a particular site or project for the Public Art Program.
The group is charged with discussion and determination of the public art parameters, consideration of
appropriate public art locations and public art opportunities for the site. The group shall establish
consensus to determine artist criteria, selection methods and other information needed for the
solicitation of artists for the commission (see Section xxx). Other activities of the Selection Panel shall
include, but are not limited, to the review of artist applications and proposals, conducting interviews,
and other activities needed for the selection of artists for each commission. A record of the selection
process will be recorded by staff or a member of the panel for future reference.
City Council
Any purchases or commissions for artwork shall adhere to City Purchasing policies. City Council shall
review and approve FAC contracts and donations more than $35,000.
Conflict of Interest
It is expected that members of the FAC, Arts and Cultural Staff and Liaisons, Selection Panels, members
of subcommittees, or any other ad hoc groups or individuals working with the Public Art Program may
be aware of the work of some artists and arts organizations who submit their work for consideration for
public art projects. Such awareness alone does not constitute a conflict of interest, nor does owning a
piece of work by a submitting artist. A conflict of interest is deemed to exist if a member/panelist is
related to an artist, either through family, marriage, or domestic partnership, or any other relationship
of economic interdependence, a business relationship such as representing the work of an artist as a
gallery owner, or if a member stands to gain direct benefit, whether financial or otherwise, from the
selection of an artist. If a member is affiliated with an artist under consideration in any of the ways
mentioned above, they shall state that they have a conflict of interest, and the committee will vote on
whether a conflict exists and whether that member shall recuse themself from voting or further
discussion on the project in question.
SECTION III: FUNDING AND CONTRACTING FOR PUBLIC ART
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 5
Public Art Funding
All public art funding shall be determined and set aside for use by the Public Art Program in accordance
with Ordinance xxx.
Identification of Qualified CIP Projects:
CIP department staff, project managers, designated representatives from the Department of
Parks, Natural Resources and Cultural Affairs, the Division of Arts and Culture Division, and the
Chief of Staff or Mayor (or their designee) will annually review the updated CIP projects list to
identify qualifying projects for funding the public art program.
Questions to be answered: What are the qualifying projects? When is public art triggered? They
may change between departments and funding sources. There might need to be a cheat sheet
or flow chart eventually for this section
• Types of projects that qualify: roads, facilities, renovations, parks
• Types of projects that don't qualify: routine maintenance, sewer and drainage
• Departments who have qualifying projects are:
• Types of funding that is qualified
Identification of Public Art Budget
Once it is decided which projects qualify, this will be a description of when and how the funding
is set aside, and where it goes.
• Triggered at the design phase and set budget? Triggered at the budgeting phase?
• Set aside at Phase I of a multiphase project?
• Set aside in the project budget or moved to a public art budget (or both?)
• If going into a public art fund, can it roll over? Can the funds be used for just capital
expenditures or maintenance and staffing as well?
This will need to be determined by staff etc.
Designated Account for Public Art Funds
Dedicated public art funds shall be pooled and placed in the Public Art Fund account that can
roll over from year to year, as many projects can be multi -year projects or phased.
• This is what we recommend so that the artwork can be distributed around the city and
not have to be attached or adjacent to the project that generated the funds. There may
be cases where integrated art is desirable, but best practice is to always maintain the
capability and flexibility to move the funding for a project elsewhere or use part of it at
the site and the rest somewhere else.
Mixed Funding
The Public Art Program may combine any of the funding sources from the Public Art Account
with donated or granted funds from various outside sources for the acquisition, fabrication, or
installation of artwork. The combined donated funds shall be used according to donor or grantor
designation or, if undesignated, at the discretion of the City.
Limited Use of Funds
The Public Art Fund account shall be used to commission (including contingency funding),
acquire, prepare and develop sites, engineer, install, and maintain/repair any of the types of
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 6
"public art" as defined above as well as structural elements related to the artwork, events and
promotion related to the artwork or the program, and shall not be used for any of the items
listed in "not considered art" above.
Contracts & License Agreements
Following the final selection of an artwork or artist, regardless of funding source or acquisition method,
a written contract or license agreement shall be prepared and authorized by the appropriate City staff
and reviewed by the Fayetteville City Attorney or designee. Each contract will be drafted on a case -by -
case basis, but usually outlines the following items:
• Project scope and deliverables;
• Description of artwork to be acquired;
• Insurance requirements for all parties;
• Contract amount and payment schedule;
• Project milestones;
• Artists' rights, including copyright;
• City of Fayetteville's rights vis-a-vis the artwork;
• Warranties and maintenance/restoration agreements;
• Provisions for making changes to the contract or contract amount;
• Provisions for cancellation of the contract by any party; and
• Other legal requirements as requested by the City's Attorney.
Collection Insurance
The City's Arts and Culture Division will maintain a Master Public Art Inventory database. Once a new
piece of art has been acquired, it will be added to the Master Public Art Inventory database. Information
to be added includes the Title, Artist's Name, Medium, Location (including GIS coordinates), Acquisition
Date, Acquisition Price, and Replacement Cost. This information will then be forwarded regularly to the
City's Risk Management team, to add the artwork to the City's insurance coverage (if not already
covered by the City's umbrella policy).
SECTION IV: PUBLIC ART SITE SELECTION
Location and Site Prioritization
The FAC and Arts and Culture Division staff, in accordance with the City's Arts and Culture Plan and any
future Public Art Plans, shall identify potential sites for public art installation and integration. Input
should also be sought from appropriate City Departments and Divisions and other community advisors.
Arts and Culture Division staff shall create and periodically update a list of prioritized sites within the city
of Fayetteville for consideration for the public art program. This prioritized list of sites will serve as a
guide for installation of art for a specific term or budget amount. Other criteria and guidelines to
consider for the priority site list includes:
• Upcoming capital improvement projects
• Areas that are under development or redevelopment
• areas being impacted by transportation or other infrastructure projects (including grant -funded
projects)
• Areas in Fayetteville that are lacking in public art
• Priority areas for economic development or placemaking
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 7
• Priority projects as determined by other criteria
Site Criteria
To ensure public art is safe, accessible, and properly sited, the Public Art Program shall also evaluate
sites according to, but not limited to, the criteria below to guide the placement of art projects. City Staff
from related Departments will provide support, professional expertise, and advice as needed.
Criteria shall include:
• Overall budget and staff capacity;
• Levels of complexity involved and interdepartmental cooperation needed;
• External constituents and partnerships required;
• Equitable distribution of public art throughout the community;
• Compatibility of the design, scale and location with the character of the site;
• Relationship of proposed artwork to existing artworks in the vicinity;
• Accessibility to the general public, with particular attention paid to Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA);
• Visibility and free access for the public at least during normal building or park operating hours,
where relevant;
• Vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian access, visibility and traffic patterns, including ingress/egress;
• Public safety;
• Environmental impacts;
• Impacts on adjacent property owners;
• Sightline obstruction and traffic impacts/distractions;
• Maintenance requirements created by the installation, such as landscaping, lighting,
underground utilities and accessibility for maintenance;
• Ease of site access for public art maintenance
• Future development of the site; and
• Any other criteria deemed by the Arts and Culture Division Staff, FAC or the City to be
important.
SECTION V: ART ACQUISITION METHODS AND GUIDELINES FOR PERMANENT COMMISSIONS.
Acquisition Policies
All public art shall be commissioned through a fair and transparent process. The Public Art Program may
revise or adopt new policies and procedures at any time to guide the process.
Public Art Planning and Acauisition Criteria
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 8
The City of Fayetteville seeks to build a robust permanent public art collection to help fulfill its vision of
making Fayetteville a memorable and vibrant cultural destination. As the permanent artwork selected
for the public art collection will be appreciated by the community now and for generations to come, the
City may develop periodic Public Art Plans to guide acquisitions, collection maintenance and other
program elements. These plans can be done yearly, every five years, and/or produced as longer -range
plans with a longer planning window.
Generally, the following criteria shall be used when selecting artwork for the public art collection. The
FAC may revise or increase the criteria for specific projects or update these criteria in the future as
needed.
Artwork selected for the Fayetteville Public Art Collection shall:
• Demonstrate the highest quality.
• Contribute to Fayetteville's distinct identity and reputation as a cultural hub.
• Reflect Fayetteville's unique character, diversity, heritage, culture, and natural
environment.
• Be a unique and original work of art and not a duplicate of themes or styles already
represented in the collection or collections in nearby communities, unless it is done
purposefully and with intention.
• Diversify the collection in terms of artists, perspectives, materials/media, scale, and
sites.
• Be selected through a fair and transparent process.
• Be complete, in good physical condition, of excellent workmanship, and able to
withstand the environment in which it is to be placed (unless considered temporary
work). The collection should not require excessive, expensive, or continual maintenance
or repairs.
• Be of a size, scale, and theme that is compatible with an available, suitable public site in
Fayetteville.
• Not present a danger or safety concerns to the public or those working with the
artwork.
• Be accessible to the general public.
Art Selection Methods
Solicitations will occur through a fair and transparent process, as determined by the FAC and Public Art
Selection Panels.
Artwork may be acquired by a variety of methods:
• Open Competition via Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
The FAC Selection Panel may use an "Open -Call" or "Request for Qualifications" open to all
artists. A RFQ is sent to artist lists, media lists, and art organizations to publicize the
competition/project, requirements, schedule, and budget. All interested and qualified artists
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 9
may submit their qualifications (usually images of past work, biography, artist statement, etc.)
for consideration. Artists may be selected for a commission based on qualifications only. One
artist may be selected based on their qualifications, or one or more artists may be selected to
move on to a proposal or interview phase. Artists are paid an honorarium to cover the cost of a
proposal and/or travel to the site. Artists may be selected for commission based on their
proposal or interview. If no proposal or artist is deemed suitable, the project can be suspended
or re -called using any selection method. Records of the selection process are filed in a meeting
of the FAC.
• Limited Competition via Request for Qualifications or Invitational
The FAC or Selection Panel may decide that a certain set of criteria is needed for a call to artists
(e.g. Fayetteville or Arkansas artists only, muralists, etc.). A select number of artists are either
directly invited to submit qualifications or an RFQ is issued with the stated selection criteria.
Only artists invited or artists that fit the established criteria shall be considered eligible for the
competition. One artist may be selected based on their qualifications, or one or more artists
may be selected to move on to a proposal phase or interview phase. Artists are paid an
honorarium to cover the cost of their proposal and/or travel to the site. Artists may be selected
for commission based on their proposal or interview. If no proposal or artist is deemed suitable,
the project can be suspended or re -called using any selection method. Records of the selection
process are reviewed and certified in a public meeting of the FAC.
• Direct Purchase (with or without competition)
Direct purchases are feasible but subject to the standard policies and procedures established by
the City's Procurement Services department.
• Request for Proposals
Although best practices dictate that artists should be paid to develop an artwork proposal for
consideration, there may be special circumstances when the FAC issues a Request for Proposals
(RFP) or a Request for Information (ROI) without paying a fee.
• Unsolicited Acquisition via Donation (solicited or unsolicited)
Donations of artwork to the City of Fayetteville are feasible but subject to the policies and
procedures established below (see Permanent Donation Policies and Procedures.
• Artists Roster
The Public Art Program may develop an artist roster (and other arts professionals) to help
facilitate art projects that may be small in scale or budget, are on private property, require
specific skills or materials, or have a tight timeline that makes an open call not feasible. This
would be a standing roster of local, national, or international candidates that are pre -qualified
through an open Request for Qualifications. The roster can be renewed on an on -going basis,
generally biennially, through an open Request for Qualifications.
SECTION VI: Policies and Procedures for Donated or Temoorary Artwork
Permanent Donation Policies and Procedures
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 10
The City of Fayetteville seeks to acquire works of art that will further the objectives of the Public Art
Program. Many gifts are offered to the City for inclusion in the public art collection; however, not all
gifts offered can be accepted.
All proposed donations of artwork, memorials, and other unsolicited art items to be sited on City
property must be first approved by the Fayetteville Arts Council and Fayetteville City Council. Following
the donation procedures below does not guarantee that a piece will be accepted. Any donated artwork
accepted by the City becomes part of the permanent collection and is subject to our standard
deaccession policy (see xxx). Donation requests may be reviewed annually or at another regular interval,
as determined by the FAC.
Proposals to donate works of art to the City of Fayetteville must be submitted to the FAC through a
Donation Application. A Donation Application may contain the following:
• A cover letter explaining what the artwork is and that it is offered to the City as a gift and the donor
has the authority to transfer ownership to the City, and a short explanation as to why the work
should be added to the City's collection.
• Program Alignment: A statement indicating how the donation contributes to Fayetteville's Arts and
Culture or Public Art Program goals, selection criteria, mission, and vision.
• For memorial donations: Memorial proposals honoring individuals or events will be considered if
they are of broad community interest or marks an event that has affected the community. The
memorial must have timeless qualities and should represent the values of the community and
future generations.
• Artwork and Artist Information: A statement describing the physical attributes of the
artwork/proposed artwork and biographical information on the artist. The donor may be required
to submit a report from a conservator or the artist confirming the good condition of the artwork. If
available, maquettes, models, images, or the actual work will be reviewed to show the condition
and proper scale of the work.
• Provenance: If the artwork is pre-existing, provide proof of the artwork's ownership history,
conservation history, exhibition history, a letter of authenticity, and documentation of donor's
ownership and/or authority to transfer of ownership;
• Value: A current estimate of value (provided by the donor or outside appraiser).
• Maintenance Recommendations: All pending donations shall be required to include maintenance
recommendations and associated costs; most donations will require a financial donation for the
future maintenance of the piece. Complex or large memorials that require significant and costly
maintenance may require insurance, a bond or an endowment fund, and a maintenance schedule
by the donor to ensure the project's condition is satisfactory to the City, as well as the donor. The
posted insurance or bond should cover costs of installation and/or removal.
• Site: All proposed donations of public art, monuments or memorials must include three (3)
feasible sites for their project along with an explanation of the significance and relationship to
each site. Providing site suggestions in no way obligates the City to locate a donation on that site.
The FAC will follow the site criteria in Section IV of this policy in finalizing a site.
• Community Feedback: The Donor may be asked to gather and submit community feedback about
the proposed donation and site. If a site is proposed, the community feedback must represent the
views of residents adjacent to the site or other stakeholders affiliated with the site. Depending on
the nature of the project, further public engagement may be required according to the specific
requirements for a permit application or development review.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 11
Budget and Funding Strategy: All associated costs of the project including, but not limited to, cost
of design, fabrication, plaques, transportation, installation, site preparation work, foundation,
lighting, electrical, insurance and permits must be financed by the requesting party. Please provide
a plan for funding these elements as well as cover future maintenance of the work.
Additional information as requested.
Once all materials have been submitted, Arts and Culture division staff (and other department
representatives as needed) will schedule an internal feasibility review and a consultation with the
applicant. Proposed donations that are substantial or significant in size or scope may be referred directly
to the Fayetteville Arts Council for their approval of the project's initial concepts before embarking on
further costly planning and study. Applicants may be required to modify their proposal and provide
additional information at any time during the approval process.
The FAC will review donations and will recommend approval, approval with modification, or rejection of
the project. Fayetteville Arts Council's recommendation to reject the proposal is final unless the City
Council requests a review.
The Fayetteville Arts Council and the Fayetteville City Council will reject display works of art that are
obscene (as defined by A.C.A.§ 5-68-302 et seq.) or violate other local, state or federal laws. Once
approved by the FAC, the City Council must approve any donations of art.
Once approved, the donor will enter a contract with the City of Fayetteville according to contracting
policies. (See Contracts & License Agreements above)
Temoorary Loan Policies and Procedures
To increase the variety and artistic quality of public art for the community, the City of Fayetteville will
occasionally display art loaned to the City by artists, institutions, or organizations. This allows for
rotating exhibitions of artwork and assures that the art displayed within the City remains fresh. To
ensure the quality of the works displayed, the City designates the FAC as the entity to review such loans.
The FAC shall use the following guidelines to decide whether a proposed loan is appropriate, the
duration of the loan, and where it should be located.
• Solicitation of Loaned Artwork: The FAC may solicit artwork (using selection methods similar to Art
Acquisition Methods in Section V above) for loans or engage in temporary loan programs
• Unsolicited Loans of Artwork: individuals or entities interested in loaning artwork follow the steps in
the Permanent Donation section above. In addition to the items listed on the Donation Application,
the lender must indicate that the loan is offered on a temporary basis, the duration of the loan, and
any other terms for the loan. Other items may be requested including:
• Precise terms of loan offer (terms, cost, siting, duration, etc.);
• Details on installation and de -installation;
• Terms for any required maintenance during the term of the loan;
• Terms of repair agreement if the artwork is damaged during the loan term; and
• Insurance requirements.
• No permanent loans will be accepted.
Special Temporary Artwork, Exhibitions & Murals
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 12
"Special Temporary artwork" is defined separately from temporary loaned artwork above. Temporary
artwork is proposed for a site as a semi -permanent work that will be destroyed, weathered away, or
removed after a period of time. Examples of temporary artwork include environmental works of art,
installations, event -based artwork, or murals.
• Temporary Art Acquisition: Acquiring Temporary Art shall follow the appropriate acquisition
method outlined in Section V.
• FAC and Staff Approval: All temporary works of art will be reviewed by the FAC in consultation
with appropriate City departments. Their recommendations will be considered before approval
by the FAC.
• Temporary Art Agreements: A Temporary Art Agreement outlining the terms of the temporary
exhibition, installation, or mural shall be created. Information that must be included:
o Expected short-term maintenance costs and procedures;
o Expected term or lifespan of art installation;
o Value of artwork (for insurance purposes);
o Proposed site;
o Proposed disposal of the artwork (if applicable) or deaccession procedure and
disposition; and
o Insurance & Maintenance: The City of Fayetteville shall maintain appropriate insurance
for the work of art for the duration of the temporary display period. The City shall
maintain and conserve the loaned artwork during its term of installation or according to
the Temporary Art Agreement.
SECTION VII: SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE
Public Art Safety Considerations
Maintaining a safe, welcoming environment for the city and its visitors is key when considering public
art. All art accepted into the City's public art collection is evaluated regularly to ensure it is not damaged
or does not become a safety hazard. The City of Fayetteville through the Arts and Culture Division and
FAC should endeavor to follow safety precautions provided by the City's Risk Management department
when considering acquiring art and its placement. When an artist is commissioned to create artwork for
inclusion in the collection, the artist may be requested to have all elements of the finished artwork
reviewed and approved by a structural engineer licensed to work in Arkansas. All artwork on display in
the collection should be constructed with consideration given to public safety and the durability of the
artwork.
• FAC and Staff Review
Arts and Culture Division Staff, City staff (as needed), and FAC members shall be responsible for
reviewing and evaluating the safety and stability of each art piece before it is acquired for the
collection. The FAC shall recommend approval of the acquisition only if the installation does not
pose any foreseeable physical hazards, is not easily damaged, and has been reviewed and
approved by a licensed engineer.
The FAC and Arts and Culture Division Staff in conjunction with City Staff shall also consider the
placement of the artwork for safety and assurance that placement near paths does not obstruct
traffic lines of sight, risk being struck by traffic, or block City services.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 13
Removal & Repair of Damaged or Unsafe Art
Once art is on display, it will be reviewed regularly by Arts and Culture Division Staff or their
designee for damage or deterioration. If a piece is damaged and/or declared a safety hazard, it
will be repaired or removed immediately by City Staff.
Public Art Maintenance and Re
The works of art in the collection are assets of the City of Fayetteville. As such, it is the responsibility of
the City to maintain the collection of publicly -owned artwork to ensure the long-term value of these
assets and that the collection can be enjoyed for generations to come. The following section outlines the
documentation, preservation, and maintenance processes that will support this goal. The Public Art
Program will not maintain artwork outside of its collection without prior legal agreement between the
City and the owner of the artwork.
• Documentation of Collection
Moving forward, each work of art in the collection shall be properly and regularly documented
with the following:
• Artwork information —title, artist, year of commission, materials, location of artwork
(including GIS location coordinates);
• Photo of artwork in its current location;
• Periodic condition reports;
• Records and photos of actual maintenance performed and an assessment of those efforts;
• Artist's maintenance recommendations, methods and materials information, potential
problems with the work, finishes information (e.g., painter's name; when, where, what, and
how the piece was finished), quality of materials used, installation information, warranties,
professional and/or other knowledgeable opinions regarding preservation and maintenance;
• Artist's resume, artwork history, estimated value, purchase amount/replacement cost,
where the work has been exhibited, and any transcriptions or recordings of personal
interviews with the artist;
• Each artwork will be accounted for on the Public Art Master Inventory list;
• Risk Management will be notified of new public art acquisitions so it can be added to the
City's insurance policy.
• Artist Involvement
Installation, maintenance, alteration, refinishing, and moving of artwork shall be done in consultation
with the artist whenever feasible. So far as practical, if repair of any artwork is required, the City shall
give the artist the opportunity to perform such repair work for a reasonable fee. If the artist refuses to
make the repair for such a fee, the City may proceed to solicit bids in accordance with the City's
competitive bidding procedures.
• Emergency Maintenance or Repairs
When emergency repairs are necessary to prevent the loss of or further damage to the artwork or
assure public safety, such repairs may be approved by the Arts and Cultural Director. Every effort shall
be made to contact the artist for emergency repairs. Repairs shall not be deemed to constitute an
artistic alteration. If a work of art has been deemed unsafe to the public, it shall be removed from its site
and stored until repairs can be made or considered for deaccession.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 14
• Inspection and Condition Reports
The Arts and Culture Division Staff will conduct regular condition reports and periodic
conservation/preservation assessments of the public art collection. This reporting will be used in
creating maintenance plans and appropriating funding. Paid professional condition
appraisers/conservators and/or knowledgeable volunteers, art professionals, or industry experts may
perform the inspection for each piece. An inspection and/or condition report for each piece will become
part of the permanent documentation of the specific piece and will reside with the Public Art Program.
• Maintenance Plan
Based on the inspection and condition reports, conservator recommendations, and/or the artist
maintenance recommendations, a maintenance plan will be developed and updated periodically to
schedule, budget, and perform cleaning, repair, and other required maintenance to preserve each
piece in the public collection. This plan is initiated and coordinated by the Arts and Culture Division
Staff.
A maintenance plan can include the following elements:
• Materials, fabrication methods, and other recommendations needed to maintain or repair
the artwork;
• Installation specifications and engineering documentation;
• Method and frequency of required maintenance; and
• Additional contacts or information for maintenance issues, as needed.
• Funding for Maintenance
Costs for repair and maintenance of artwork in the City's collection shall be funded from the Cultural
Fund's Public Art account or the Public Art Reserve account, depending on the total cost.
Emergency Relocation and Removal of Art
No public art shall be permanently removed, altered, or changed without the review and approval of the
FAC except that review and approval of the FAC shall not be required for temporary removal of public
art by City personnel as approved by the Arts and Culture Director for maintenance or repair, or for
temporary or permanent removal of public art that, in the sole discretion of the Arts and Culture
Director, poses a public health or safety hazard.
SECTION Vill: DEACCESSION and RELOCATION POLICIES
Occasionally, public art needs to be refreshed, moved, and/or removed from the collection.
Deaccessioning is a procedure for withdrawing a work of art from the City of Fayetteville's permanent
public art collection. Deaccession requests can come from anyone in the community. All artwork in the
collection will be considered permanent parts of the collection unless these artworks were created as
temporary, semi -permanent art or the art is on loan. Works of art may be considered for removal from
the collection with a majority vote of the FAC. No public artwork shall be removed, re -sited, or altered
by any other City department, public or private entity, or individual without the prior review and
approval of the Arts and Culture Director, with inputs from the FAC.
Criteria for Deaccession
The FAC may consider deaccession of artwork for any one or more of the following reasons:
o The art has been damaged or deteriorated beyond the point where repair is practical or
feasible.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 15
o The artwork requires excessive maintenance or has faults of design, material, or
workmanship, and repair or remedy is impractical or unfeasible.
o Significant changes in the use, character, or design of the site have occurred, which affect
the integrity of the work.
o The artwork endangers public safety, whether structurally or in its current
condition/location; and an alternate site is not currently suitable or available, and/or it is
cost -prohibitive to properly restore or relocate the artwork.
o The condition and security of the artwork cannot be reasonably guaranteed.
o The piece was stolen from its location and cannot be retrieved.
o The artist legally exercises the right of disassociation granted by VARA, preventing the use of
his/her/their name as the creator of the public art.
o The artist requests the removal from the collection.
o The artwork is incompatible with the rest of the collection or is not aligned with the current
Public Art Policies or Goals.
o The artwork is a memorial or monument that is out-of-date or has lost significance to the
community.
o The artwork is fraudulent or not authentic.
o The City or FAC wishes to replace the artwork with a piece of more significance.
o The artwork is an environmental hazard or is causing damage to the site or location.
o The artwork is a maquette/scale model or other item for which there is no longer storage.
o An emergency necessitates deaccessioning the artwork.
o The artwork has caused significant adverse public reactions towards artwork and has
continued unabated over an extended period of time (five years).
o For any other significant reason articulated by the FAC, at its discretion. Under these
circumstances, the recommendation to deaccession a piece should be reviewed by the FAC
and/or City Council or Mayor.
Artist Involvement
The FAC and Public Art Staff will make reasonable effort to involve the artist (or artist's estate) in the
decision to deaccession a work of art and in some cases, the FAC may require formal permission of the
artist before considering removal from the collection. Before deaccessioning any artwork, the City shall
comply with all terms and conditions relating to deaccession which are found in the acquisition contract
or any other agreement which may exist between the artist and the City of Fayetteville.
Deaccession Request
A deaccessioning process must take place during a regular FAC meeting. During this meeting, a
deaccession request will be considered. The deaccession request shall contain the following
information:
o The reason for deaccession.
o The estimated current value of the artwork.
o The acquisition method and cost, including a summary of any terms of the gift agreement,
will, contract, or other relevant document(s) relating to the deaccessioning.
o Details of the artist's (or artist's estate) involvement and/or approval.
o For artwork acquired as a gift/donation, a statement that the donor has been notified or an
explanation of why that was not possible.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 16
o If needed, a written evaluation from disinterested and qualified professionals, such as an
engineer, conservator, architect, safety expert, or art historian may be considered.
o Photographs that depict the current condition of the artwork.
o Artist's contract or any other relevant agreement concerning the artist's rights.
o When deemed necessary, written recommendations of other concerned parties, including
Fayetteville community members, the artist, or an outside party.
o Estimated timeframe and cost to deinstalling the artwork and identification of the funding
source for deaccessioning.
o Review by the City attorney outlining any legal issues related to the request (as needed).
o Means of disposal or disposition of the artwork.
o If artwork is to be sold or auctioned, any proceeds should be deposited in the Public Art
Account.
Public Input and Deaccession
The Arts and Culture Division Staff shall also submit the deaccession report to City departments so that
they may provide any feedback on the deaccession. This deaccession report will be made public as part
of the FAC agenda materials posted prior to the official meeting where a deaccession vote will occur.
• The public shall be encouraged to attend and comment on the deaccession. Written
correspondence concerning the artwork can also be submitted for consideration by the FAC.
• Discussion of the recommendation with the artist if he/she/they can be notified by reasonable
means.
After public input, the FAC, by a majority vote of its members will have the final decision on the
deaccession of the artwork and removal from the collection. If a decision is controversial or appealed,
the decision to relocate or decommission public art may be deferred to the Mayor. The Mayor may
decide to: a) accept the recommendations; b) reject the recommendations; or c) delay the decision and
request more information.
Disposition/Removal from the Collection
Upon approval of the deaccession, the artwork will be removed and relocated to its final disposition.
Any contractual agreements between the artist and the City regarding removal or resale will be
honored. To the extent removal is not addressed by a contract, the City may choose to use any of the
following methods to remove public art that was deaccessioned, in accordance with City policy:
o Return of the artwork to the artist, including all ownership of the material and copyright of
the artwork. This method is preferred, and the artist shall have the first right to refuse this
offer. Other methods of removal from the collection, as described below, will be considered
after notice of refusal by the artist is received or it has been determined the artist is unable
to do so.
o Return to the donor.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 17
o Gift the artwork to another cultural, scientific, educational or government institution or a
non-profit organization wherein the artwork may serve the purpose for which it was
originally acquired by the City.
o Trade or exchange the artwork through an artist, gallery, museum, or other institutions for
one or more other public artwork(s) of comparable value.
o Offer the artwork for sale through a public auction or public sale that will best protect the
interest, objectives, and legal status of the City. Proceeds from such sales will be designated
for the exclusive purpose of acquisition or preservation and conservation of the City's public
art collection.
o Artwork will not be given or sold privately to present or former City of Fayetteville
employees, FAC members, committee members, volunteers or current elected officials or to
their representatives or immediate family members.
o Destruction or recycling of materials that the public art was constructed with should only be
used as a last resort after considering all other possible methods, or if the artwork has been
damaged or deteriorated to the point of not being useful for disposition in any of the above
methods. Artwork that has been deemed harmful and presents a clear danger to human
contact will be destroyed according to local laws.
o Any other option deemed appropriate by the FAC and City Staff.
Appendix - Sample Public Art Policies and Procedures - 18
Public Art Ordinance Worksheet
Fayetteville CIP Totals $213,479,000 Total CIP 2025-28
2025 $ 56,428,000
2026 $ 57,206,000
2027 $ 63,764,000
2028 $ 36,081,000
1 % for art = $2,134,790 ; 2% for art = $4,269,580 (if just off the top of all CIP listings; which is unusual*)
*Golden, CO: Construction project means the construction, substantial renovation or addition to any public
building, facility, park or other public improvement by the city or its agents, including, without limitation, all
landscaping, parking areas and similar areas and facilities associated with such improvement, with an
estimated total construction cost of $50,000.00 or more.
*Denver, CO: CIP include new construction or improvements to a public space, such as a park, road, or
pedestrian mall over $1 M (routine maintenance and non-public spaces are excluded; land acquisition is
included)
*Fort Collins: "construction, rehabilitation, renovation, remodeling or improvement of any building,
structure, street, sidewalk, park, utility or other public improvement by or for the City, including all
associated landscaping, parking, design, engineering, equipment or furnishings for such improvement, and
all other costs, but excluding the cost of real property acquisition, vehicles, equipment not affixed to public
property and any improvements made by any special improvement district." Over $250,000.
*Boise: Exclusions: "Major repair, renovation, and maintenance projects that would not be capitalized under
the City's Capital Asset Management and Accounting Regulation", "Capital Improvement Project or cost
components for which Cultural Asset funding is prohibited by federal or state statute, law, or regulation"
and "Capital Improvement Project or cost component excluded explicitly by the City Council."
Lawrence:
The Lawrence, Kansas, City Commission may annually set aside through bond or other normal budgetary
procedures an amount not to exceed 2% of the cost of all capital improvements constructed/acquired or
contracted for construction/acquisition during the previous fiscal year for the acquisition, purchase, and
installation of art in public places.
*Capital Improvements: City buildings, (including renovation), parking facilities, (including parking lots),
park improvements, park land, and recreational facilities, all of which will require city funds in excess
of $10,000 and are listed in the annual capital improvements plan.
Cost = estimated amount of the city's contribution for public buildings construction or renovation,
including land acquisition in the case of park land and parking facilities.
DescTotal
CIP per
division
Columnl
Parks and
$ 2,330,000
$ 2,632,000
$ 3,367,000
$ 3,395,000
$11,724,000.00
Rec
Trails
$1,550,000
$1,600,000
$1,750,000
$1,900,000
$6,800,000.00
Facility
Improvements
$ 846,000
$ 827,000
$ 945,000
$ 671,000
$3,289,000.00
Library
$ 935,000
$ 968,000
$ 851,000
$ 949,000
$3,703,000.00
Other
$1,087,000
$ 668,000
$ 509,000
$ 520,000
$2,784,000.00
Appendix - Public Art Ordinance Worksheet - 1
Public Art Ordinance Worksheet
Bridge &
$ 400,000
$ 420,000
$ 440,000
$ 460,000
$1,720,000.00
Drainage
Parking
$ 90,000
$ 90,000
$ 90,000
$ 90,000
$360,000.00
Paving and
restripin
Street
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$ 100,000
$400,000.00
Rotomill/
Pave?
total
$7,338,000.
$7,305,000.
$8,052,000.
$8,085,000.
$30,780,000.00
"qualifying"
CIP
$73,380.
$73,050.
$80,520.
$80,850.
$307,800.00
1% for art
$146,760.
$146,100.
$161,040.
$161,700
$615,600.00
2%for art
total public art funds by year
4year total
$61,560.00
Mainten-
ance Set -
aside 10%
Recommendation
Cost: 1.2-1.5% of qualified Capital Improvement Projects
Qualified Capital Improvement Projects: construction, rehabilitation, renovation, remodeling or
improvement of any building, structure, street, sidewalk, park, utility, parking facility, parking lots or other
public improvement by or for the City, including all associated landscaping, parking, design, engineering,
equipment or furnishings for such improvement, and all other costs, including cost of real property
acquisition. Disqualified Projects: are routine maintenance and construction of facilities that are not
considered "public places" (in this case: Water & Sewer, Vehicles & Equipment, Transportation, Public
Safety, Recycling/Trash, Information Technology, Media Services)
Qualified Expenditures: Public Art; public art programming, public art maintenance and conservation,
public art program management?
Pool Funds: No adjacency; an annual Public Art Plan will guide your expenditures
Appendix - Public Art Ordinance Worksheet - 2
Fayetteville Potential Funding Mechanisms for Arts and Culture
2024
Funding
How It Works
Possible Applications
Mechanism
Central
—Enabled by Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) Title 14, Subtitle
—Establish a CBID utilizing
Business
11, Chapter 184
the same boundary as the
Improvement
CBIDs are special district assessment tools that are created
current Fayetteville Cultural
District (CBID)
by stakeholders in a defined area to deliver special services
Arts Corridor
in that area, as defined by Code
—Funding can be utilized for
—CBIDs are formed when a petition signed by property
a variety of investments, to
owners constituting two-thirds (2/3) of the assessed value
infrastructure,
of a district is submitted to City Council, and an ordinance is
programming, services and
established forming the district
cultural and creative
—CBIDs are governed by those who represent the area
investments
overlaid by the district
—CBIDs have the authority
to issue bonds/debt to fund
larger projects up front and
pay for them overtime
Community
—Enabled by 2019 Arkansas Code Title 14, Subtitle 10,
—CRDs are utilized to
Redevelopmen
Chapter 168
support development
t District (CRD)
—CRDs utilize the power of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to
and/or redevelopment in
fund improvements to areas that are focused in
blighted or
reinvestment and redevelopment of blighted or
underperforming areas, or
underutilized areas
areas at risk of becoming so
—TIF is not a new tax, but rather a ringfencing of future
—The CRD could be a useful
incremental increases in tax revenue which must be
tool in developing specific
reinvested within the boundaries of the CRD
spaces and facilities for
—City Council may create these districts by ordinance; a
creative uses and/or to
petition process is not required
create a program to
upgrade older spaces or
those in need of
rehabilitation for use by
artists and creatives
—CRDs have the authority to
issue bonds/debt to fund
larger projects up front and
pay for them overtime
Special Sales
—Many states have enabling legislation to allow for the
—A localized sales tax could
Tax Districts
formation of special sales tax districts to fund specific
be created utilizing the
improvements or investments in that same area.
same boundary as the
—In Colorado, for example, such districts are known as a
current Fayetteville Cultural
Public Improvement Fee (or PIF) district.
Arts Corridor
—A PIF is a fee that is added to the cost of a sale, usually as a
—The funding could be
percentage of the total. It is not a sales tax, and is collected
targeted towards arts -based
Appendix - Potential Funding Mechanisms - 1
by the business on behalf of the property owner or
developer.
—PIFs are used to pay for public improvements like
sidewalks, street lights, parking lots, and roads. They can
also be used to repay bonds.
—It is not clear if Arkansas has enabling legislation for a
similar tool but such tools are helpful in spurring localized
reinvestment efforts.
programming and cultural
facilities
Federal and
—The federal Historic Tax Credit was created in 1976 and is
—These tax credit programs
State of
for income -producing properties, including apartment
could be leveraged to
Arkansas
complexes, office buildings, commercial properties,
provide necessary funding
Historic Tax
institutional buildings, and industrial sites. Historic Tax
to invest in historically
Credits
Credits can be taken on 20% of the approved expenditures
designated properties for
for renovations and restorations that are listed in the
renovation, restoration or
National Register of Historic Places.
upgrading for use as
—The Arkansas Historic Tax Credit program, created in 2009
cultural or creative spaces
was increased in 2023 with a tiered program to give greater
anywhere in Fayetteville.
incentive, especially in smaller towns. Projects in
—Properties listed on the
incorporated communities of more than 50,000 — including
Arkansas Register of
Fayetteville receive a 30% credit on the rehabilitation of
Historic Places can apply for
historic properties. This program is meant to supplement
the Arkansas Historic Tax
the federal program. The cap per project on the amount
Credit program only.
that can be claimed is $400,000 on income -producing
Properties list on both the
properties. The Arkansas Major Historic Rehabilitation Tax
state and federal register
Credit is for projects with at least $1.5 million in qualified
can tap into both tax credit
expenses.
programs, possibly covering
50% on the approved
expenditures for historic
renovations and
restorations.
Low -Income
—Created by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Low -Income
—LIHTC programs can be
Housing Tax
Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program gives state and local
utilized to develop
Credits (LIHTC)
LIHTC-allocating agencies authority to issue tax credits for
affordable housing
the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of rental
developments and those
housing targeted to lower -income households. This program
featuring live/work space
provides incentives for non-profit and profit motivated
for artists
organizations and businesses to develop housing for low-
—Artspace —the national
income persons and families.
non-profit housing
—Arkansas receives an allocation of approximately $8.5
developer who exclusively
million in Low -Income Housing Tax Credit per year.
does housing projects for
—Tax Credits may be provided to owners of residential rental
artists — utilizes LIHTC, in
developments providing low-income housing units. The
part, to fund their projects
credits are taken annually for a term of ten years beginning
with the tax year in which the development is placed in
service or the following year.
—The maximum allowable annual credits are computed so
that the annual credits equals approximately 9% of the total
development costs, minus the land cost. Developments
Appendix - Potential Funding Mechanisms - 2
must be conventionally financed and reserved for low-
income residents of newly constructed or substantially
rehabilitated developments.
—Tax credits equal to approximately 4% of the total project
cost, minus land cost, are available for new construction or
substantial rehabilitation developments financed with tax-
exempt bond financing and or other federal funds. Acquired
developments must be rehabilitated in an amount
exceeding $25,000 per unit, and acquisition of an existing
development must meet several requirements to be eligible
for tax credits such as not having changed ownership in the
past ten years.
—All developments receiving tax credits must comply with
income and rent limitations for a minimum of 30 years.
% for the Arts
—A "percent for the arts" program requires that a specific
—% for Arts programs
— Public Sector
percentage (usually 1-2%) of the total cost of a taxpayer-
ensure that public art is a
funded construction project be set aside for public art. This
part of every significant
art can be in the form of sculptures, murals, or photo
public sector investment
images.
made in the community
—While % for the Arts programs have become standard
—A program like this for
practice in many cities, Fayetteville has not yet established
Fayetteville would continue
such a program.
to support public art
investments and ensure
that for generations to
come all taxpayer funded
programs would include an
artistic and creative
component.
% for the Arts
—A private sector percent -for -art program is a policy that
—Private sector % for arts
— Private
allows a jurisdiction to secure public art funding from
programs can be a great
Sector
developers in exchange for benefits.
way to encourage the
—These programs are often city ordinances that require a
private sector to tailor their
percentage of the cost of a development project to be set
investments to support
aside for public art. The percentage is typically around 1% of
artists and the local creative
the total budget
economy
—The requirements of participation vary from location to
—A private sector % for arts
location, with some programs mandating the creation of
program could be city-wide
new artworks, some offering incentives in return for
or could be applied just tot
participation (like greater floor -area -ratios or increased
the Fayetteville Cultural
building height limits), and others accepting an alternative
Arts Corridor to ensure
contribution to a general fund used and administered by the
projects developed within
local public art program. In most cases, percent for art laws
supported the larger
include some combination of these factors and are tailored
cultural scene emerging in
to the needs of the community.
the district.
Opportunity
—An Opportunity Zone (OZ) is an economically -distressed
—An OZ can be powerful
Zone (OZ)
community where new investments, under certain
tool to spur investment and
conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatments. —
development in
Locations qualify as an OZ after being nominated by the
Appendix - Potential Funding Mechanisms - 3
state, and the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury has certified
economically -distressed
the nomination through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
communities
OZs are designated based on low-income census tracts.
—An OZ project in
—Fayetteville has a significant OZ area that can be explored
Fayetteville could include
further here.
facilities to support
—Congress created Opportunity Zones in the Tax Cuts and
workforce training, film
Jobs Act of 2017 as economic development and job creation
production and other
tools for distressed communities.
workforce -related uses
—OZs spur economic development by providing tax benefits
to investors in Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs). A QOF is
an investment vehicle organized as a corporation or
partnership with the specific purpose of investing in
opportunity zone assets. The private sector is responsible
for establishing QOFs.
—Investors can defer tax on any prior gains invested in a
QOF until the earlier of the date on which the investment in
a QOF is sold or exchanged, or December 31, 2026. If the
QOF investments is held for longer than five years, there is a
10% exclusion of the deferred gain. If held for more than
seven years, 10% becomes 15%.
HOME Funds
—HOME funds are awarded annually to the City of
—HOME funds could be used
Fayetteville as formula grants from the US Department of
to support affordable
Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City is required
housing (including as part of
to match HOME funds with non federal resources.
an Artspace project) or
—The City must commit and spend their allocated funds
support to artists and
within certain time -frames or they lose the funds. They
creatives in obtaining
must also set aside a minimum of 15% of their HOME funds
affordable living or
for housing to be developed by community housing
live/work space
development organizations (CHDOs).
—The City determines how to spend their HOME funds
through a consolidated planning process that requires
public participation. Full consolidated plans are generally
due to HUD every five years.
—The city can use HOME funds for a variety of housing -
related activities, including:
Construction - New construction, rehabilitation, or
acquisition of housing for rent or ownership
Rental assistance - Tenant -based rental assistance
contracts of up to two years, or other forms of
rental assistance
Financing - Home purchase or rehabilitation
financing assistance to eligible homeowners and
new homebuyers
Other expenses - Relocation expenses, demolition
of dilapidated housing, site acquisition or
improvement, and other reasonable and necessary
expenses
Appendix - Potential Funding Mechanisms - 4
Fayetteville Arts and Culture Inventory
2024
Arts Education
Community Music School (UA*)
Fayetteville Public Library
Folk School of Fayetteville
Lotus Indoor Percussion
Potter's House 98
Sculpture Studio (UA)
Startup Junkie
Suzuki Music School (UA)
University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of
Architecture and Design
University of Arkansas Fine Arts Center
University of Arkansas Library (UA)
University of Arkansas Music
University of Arkansas Theatre
University of Arkansas Windgate Studio and
Design Center in the School of Art
Willow Neighborhood School
Yvonne Richardson Community Center
Creative Businesses
Art Emporium
Block Street Records
Bottoms Up
Buzz Event Planning and Design
Cowboy Cabaret
Crisis Brewing
Dickson Street Bookshop
Dombek Studio & Gallery
Her Set Her Sound
Houndstooth Clothing Co
Huntsville Road Studio
Jammin' Java
KUAF
Marlon Blackwell Architects
Modus Studio
My-T-By-Design
Onyx Coffee Lab
Pearl's Books
Peppermint Hippo
Pink Fern
Pink House Alchemy
Presley Paige
Riffraff
Rockhill Studios
Shindig Paperie
Sleet City Creative
Studio Leilani
Terra Studios
The Tiny "Amp" House
World Treasures
Gallery/Exhibition Spaces
Anne Kittrell Art Gallery (UA)
Bank of Fayetteville - Gallery
Faulkner Museum Gallery (UA)
Fenix Arts
Fine Arts Center Gallery (UA)
Joy Pratt Markham Gallery at WAC
Local Color Studio Gallery
McCoy Gallery at Community Creative Center
Sterling Bank "Dahaus"
Studio 404 (UA)
The Art Gallery at Northwest Arkansas Mall
Theatre Lounge (UA)
Velesero
Museums/Heritage
Arkansas Air & Military Museum
Arkansas Journalism Hall of Fame
Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks
Clinton House Museum
Evergreen Cemetery
Fayetteville National Cemetery
Headquarters House Museum
Appendix - Fayetteville Arts and Culture Inventory - 1
Historic Confederate Cemetery
Mount Nord Neighborhood
Mount Sequoyah Neighborhood
Oaks Cemetery
Pryor Center for Oral and Visual History
University of Arkansas Museum (UA)
University Heights Neighborhood
Walker Stone House
Washington/Willow Neighborhood
Arts and Culture Organizations
American Institute of Graphic Arts
American Society of Landscape
Arkansas Archaeological Society
Arkansas Classical Theatre
Arkansas Historical Association Inc
Arkansas Preservation Foundation inc
Arkansas Winds Inc
Art Amiss, Inc
Art Experience Inc
Art Feeds
Art Libraries Society of North America (Central
Plains)
Art Ventures NW Arkansas
Artists of Northwest Arkansas
Arts and Entertainment Council
Arts Live Theatre
Baum Charitable Foundation Trust
Black Action Collective
Boys & Girls club
Bradberry Family Foundation
Chandler and Paisley Skies
Chinese Association of Northwest Arkansas
City of Fayetteville Arts & Culture Division
Cocoon Collective
Creative Action Network for Youth
(YouthCAN) Experience Fayetteville
Fayetteville Band Boosters Inc
Fayetteville Farmers Market
Fayetteville Film Fest
Fayetteville Gallery Coalition
Fayetteville High School Choir Boosters Inc
Fayetteville Public Access Television (FPTV)
Fayetteville Public Library Foundation
Fayetteville Underground
Folk School Backline Rental Program
Genesis Economic Development (The Art
Exchange)
John Harris Opera Foundation Inc
Kentucky Old Time Music Incorporated
Mashburn Scholarship Foundation
Mount Sequoyah Center Inc
Musicians Inspiring Children Inc
National Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution
Native Expeditions Corp
North Arkansas Symphony Guild
Northwest Arkansas Creative Arts Network
NWA Black Heritage
Open Mouth Reading Series
Opera Fayetteville Inc
Ozark Military Museum Association, Inc.
Ozark Traditional Arts Inc
Photographic Society of Northwest Arkansas
Pilot Arts
Prison Story Project
Society for Preservation & Encouragement of
Barbershop Quarter Singing American
Soldier Songs and Voices Northwest Arkansas
Southwest Performing Arts Presenters
Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SONA)
The Art Experience Inc
Theatre Collective of NWA
Transformation Station
Trendsetters Foundation
Visionairi Foundation
Visual and Performing Arts Center at Fenix
Walton Art Center Council Inc.
Washington County Arkansas Genealogical
Society
Washington County Cemetery Preservation
Group
Washington County Historical Society
Washington County Historical Society Inc
Appendix - Fayetteville Arts and Culture Inventory - 2
Public Parks
Bryce Davis Park
Centennial Park at Millsap Mountain
Greggory Park
Gulley Park
Kessler Mountain Regional Park
Lake Fayetteville
Lake Sequoyah
Lake Wilson
Underwood Park
Walker Park
Wilson Park
AR Events Center
Barnhill Arena (UA)
Chi Omega Greek Theatre (UA)
Community Creative Center
Fayetteville Town Center
George's Majestic Lounge
Global Campus Theatre (UA)
Heartbreak House
The Hopout
JJs Live Music
Jim & Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center
(UA)
Lower Ramble
Malco Razorback Cinema Grill & Imax
Mount Sequoyah Creative Spaces NWA
Prairie Street Live!
Razorback Stadium
Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall @ University of
Arkansas
The Piano Bar
TheatreSquared
Tin Roof
Union Theatre (UA)
University Theater (UA)
Verizon Ballroom (UA)
Walton Art Center
West & Watson
Additional Venues that host Arts and Culture:
Baum -Walker Stadium
Bud Walton Arena (UA)
Bugsy's
Columbus House Brewery
Crown Club
Dickson Street
Fayetteville Beer Works
Fayetteville High School
Flyworks Brewery
Fossil Cove Brewery
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
International Connections Lounge (UA)
Kingfish
Maxine's Tap Room
Mojo's Pints and Pies
Morano's
Nomad's Trail Side
Ozark Natural Foods (ONF)
Pesto's by Lance
Senior Center
Six Twelve Coffee & Bar
Smoke & Barrel
St James Church
St. John's Lutheran Church
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
The Square and Gardens
TheatreSquared Artist Housing
Union Mall (UA)
Wilson Springs Preserve (rivers converge)
*UA = University of Arkansas
Appendix - Fayetteville Arts and Culture Inventory - 3
Photo Credits
All photos are courtesy of the City of Fayetteville or Experience Fayetteville, unless otherwise noted.
Cover: (clockwise) Violinists; Fayetteville is my Favoriteville (2020) by Olivia Trimble; TheatreSquared performance;
Remembrance (2024) by Joelle Storet, Nelson Hackett Boulevard; Dancers; Point Seven (aka Wilson Park Castle)
(1981) by Frank Williams
Page 2: Fayetteville Landscape
Pages 4-5: Fayetteville Roots Festival
Page 6: Point Seven (aka Wilson Park Castle) (1981) by Frank Williams
Page 9: Photo of Na'Tosha De'von, courtesy of the artist
Page 10: Pottery Wheel
Page 11: Art Court (2022) by Love and Rockets, Ecological Design Group, Graham Edwards Art, CDI Contractors
Page 12: The Lower Ramble
Page 13: TheatreSquared
Page 14: George's Majestic; Centennial Celebration; Graduate Student Exhibition at U of A; NWA Pride Festival,
courtesy of NWA Equality; Roller Skating on the Lower Ramble; Fresh Air (2017) by Jason Jones; Fayetteville Public
Library
Page 19: Creative Cartography outreach
Page 24: Outreach at YRCC
Page 25: Outreach at YRCC
Page 26: Creative Convergence outreach
Page 27: Fayetteville Farmers Market
Page 30: Holding On and Letting Go: The Struggles and Strength of the Tsa La Gi (2017) by Stacy Bates
Page 31: Fayetteville Bike path with mist
Page 32: Mount Sequoyah
Page 34: Flowers in The Square
Page 37: Owl and Moon (2017) by Alexis Diaz
Page 40: Film Crew, courtesy of Rockhill Studios
Page 41: Porter Building
Page 43: Studio at Mount Sequoyah; Gulley Park Concert
Page 45: RedBall Art Project (2024) by Kurt Perschke
Page 48: Lead Guitar
Page SO: NWA Pride Parade, courtesy of Todd Gill
Page 51: Wilson Park Scene (2023) by Timothy Smith
Page 52: Fayetteville Farmers Market
Page 53: Jam session, courtesy of the Folk School of Fayetteville
Page 56: The Entity (2022) by Nat Nicholson