MAPC worked with the Town of Arlington’s Department of Planning and Community Development, the Arlington Commission on Arts and Culture (ACAC), and others to launch a town-wide cultural planning process in September 2016.

The project deliverable, published in August 2017, was an arts and culture action plan that aims to strengthen and grow arts and cultural opportunities in Arlington, leading to a thriving arts and cultural life for all. Other goals of the project were to help the Town implement the historic and cultural resource area goals outlined in the Master Plan and bolster efforts to create a Cultural District from Arlington Center to East Arlington.

PARTNER ROLES

MAPC partered with Arlington planning staff and the Arlington Commission on Arts and Culture (ACAC) to produce the project deliverables.

• MAPC staff with expertise in land use, data analysis, and community engagement collected, analyzed, and synthesized data about the arts and cultural assets and needs in Arlington. MAPC staff planned and facilitated ACAC working group meetings and public meetings over the course of the project.
• The Town of Arlington Department of Planning and Community Development oversaw all MAPC work and was a lead partner in promoting ACAC working group meetings and public meetings.
• The ACAC provided lead support with outreach and engagement for focus groups with different segments of the Arlington community, and provided input on the draft Arts and Culture Action Plan.

The Action Plan draws on public feedback collected from the town-wide arts and cultural assets and needs survey, focus groups with members of Arlington’s arts and cultural community, and two town-wide public events.