New Bedford 2020 - VHB.com

A City Master Plan New Bedford 2020Goals and ObjectivesIn order to ensure the continued health and growth of cultural life and the creative economy of New Bedford, itis critical to acknowledge and promote our cultural assets, cultivate the next generation of creative thinkers, andencourage community building through the arts. Being mindful of these factors, the following goals andobjectives are suggested to shepherd the next ten years of cultural prosperity in our city.1. Strengthen our community and enhance neighborhood vitality by recognizing the city’s cultural diversity andincreasing public participation in arts and culturea. Create strong partnerships among all entities, including City government, non-profits, cultural venues, theschool system, and higher education establishmentsb. Encourage the development of creative programs in neighborhoods and increase access to cultural programsby investing in the city’s infrastructurec. Invest in a citywide public art program to coincide with the redevelopment of neighborhoods and fund theseby public/private sector collaboration partners, percent-for-art ordinances, and solicit participation fromdevelopers2. Establish an economic strategy for the creative economy and tourism functions that is aligned with overall citydevelopment activitiesa. Establish a City-funded umbrella entity in concert with the vested partners to coordinate and advance thecreative economy and tourism related functionsb. Provide a central point of contact for citywide cultural programs and events through planning and logisticliaison services between local organizations and the Cityc. Create a Culture and Tourism Advisory Council that is comprised of stakeholders and serves as the centralagent to advise and engage in strategic planning related to the creative economy and tourism sectorsd. Attract creative individuals to the city by aggressively promoting the city’s abundant and affordable mill space,and inspiring setting for artists and creative enterprisese. Provide artist and creative enterprises with the resources and tools they need to grow and prosper3. Foster sustainable cultural organizationsa. Encourage collaborations and restructure for programs, marketing, and development among cultural intuitionsto allow them to share resources and joint marketing opportunitiesb. Create a New Bedford Arts and Culture Council that will spark creative initiatives, undertake arts advocacy,and provide funding and cultural facilitation4. Promote and market the cultural and historical assets of New Bedford to transform the city’s image for bothtourists and residentsa. Use the creative economy as the leading edge of marketing for New Bedford’s resurgence internally and to aregional tourism marketb. Brand and promote the Downtown overlay district as an “arts overlay district”c. Educate city residents, city leaders and departments, and the general public on the economic, environmental,cultural, and social benefits of the creative economy, tourism, and historic preservation as well as the city’sexisting historic, cultural, and creative assetsCulture and Creativity9-4