Needs Assessment Survey

The Colorado Springs/Pikes Peak region team just sent out a needs assessment survey this morning. Out of 1300 subjects, we have already received 110 responses since 11:30 a.m.

If you'd like to see the survey, please click here.

We sent the survey through Constant Contact, which I highly recommend - it tracks the results so you don't have to.

How are other teams conducting needs assessment?

Team Summaries To Date - Jul & Aug 2008

Here's a brief summary of what each team is working on to date:

Aurora:

Team is assessing existing community assets and gathering demographic information. A meeting is scheduled for September with community leaders as well as a viewing of DOCA’s 2028 presentation. Team held a discussion about the 1993 Cultural Plan and discussed what needs updating. Some topics of particular importance include accounting for the changes in the community’s ethnic diversity, redefining arts education to include after school and life-long learning, and also allowing for changes in technology. They will seek public input into the process through a variety of means including paper and online surveys.

Colorado Springs:

Working with the city's existing “Dream City” program, they are planning an Arts Summit for October. They are using Dreeszen’s book “Community Cultural Planning Guidebook” as a way to maintain momentum and establish their team's timeline. The team held an in-depth discussion about defining their region, defining what "culture" means to them, who will take ownership of the plan when it's complete, and how can they “come into their own” as a region. The Arts Summit in October will be an important opportunity to gain community feedback, and much planning needs to take place in the next two months to prepare for this event.

Cortez:

The team finally confirmed a facilitator. Two committees need to work in concert – one is CCPP group, other was formed to research feasibility of building a Performing Arts Facility. Team is working on a combined mission statement. Feedback will be solicited from the public to help assess how community values arts and culture, and the team needs to focus on building more support for the arts in the community. Discussions included economic impact of the arts and how it will change in 20 years, and who will take the reins over the plan. The idea of creating artist networking opportunities also was put out to the group.

Englewood:

Connecting with the current plans already underway for a Cultural Arts Facility, the team will produce a community survey to gather feedback on culture in Englewood; they will also plan a one-year trial program.

Glenwood Springs:

Team drafted and mailed letters to Garfield County commission candidates discussing importance of culture in their County; drafted and sent press release to Glenwood Springs Post Independent. The team also met with a city developer to learn more about overall city’s design standards and comprehensive plan. They held discussions about broad-reaching topics including forming citywide cultural district and department, and seeking alternative financing. A public reception will be held in November to introduce residents to the CCPP process.

Lakewood:

Team is currently exploring demographics, audience profiles, and creating a process for gathering community input. Discussions included how they can encourage people to choose Lakewood as their preferred place to live, work & play, as well as how they define their constituents.

Monte Vista:

The team is compiling “wish lists” for creating opportunities for culture in the community to be organized and prioritized; They also prepared a list of the town’s current cultural assets and accomplishments focusing on recent growth as well as past accomplishments. This list will be shared with civic leaders and will help guide their entire team planning process.

Steamboat Springs:

The team looked at past community plans as well as discussed the “Vision 2030” plan (an existing city plan). Team will work with the V2030 group to write the arts and culture section in exchange for the sharing of general information and overall community demographics. A focus group will also be formed to discuss research. The team will hold discussions about the community’s identity and how to engage the most diverse range of people.

What We Mean When We Talk About Culture

As team lead for the Colorado Springs group, I'm deep in research mode and reading a lot about cultural planning. Our consultant is coming next week and in preparation I have been trying to wrap my head around what kind of approach we need to employ to develop a cultural plan for the Pikes Peak region. The following list from the Cultural Planning Toolkit has struck a chord with me, and I'm wondering if anyone has any additions or comments, please add. Some of the items on this list strike me as quite vague, and that they need more clarification.

Visual Arts
Performing Arts
Heritage
Recreation
Music organizations
Historical Societies
Adult Training
Media (print, broadcast, online)
Literary Arts
Business and Tourism Organizations
Recreation departments
libraries, schools, and school districts
colleges and universities
Ethnic and neighborhood organizations
Local government
Other Community Groups

Any insight would be very helpful. How are the other communities coming along?

Colorado Springs community-wide visioning process

The Colorado Springs CCPP team is fortunate to be working with a community-wide visioning process called Dream City 2020. In addition to serving as team lead for the CCPP team, I also serve on the organizing team of Dream City 2020. Our aim is to engage 100,000 residents of the Colorado Springs to get their feedback on where they want our community to be. We will be using the Dream City surveys and summit results to inform our CCPP work. Dream City began its work on Friday morning at an orientation meeting attended by 70 leaders from the private, public, nonprofit, and arts sectors.

If you have a moment, please visit the Dream City website.


Posted by Bettina Swigger, Executive Director, Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region.

I hope some of you had a chance to visit the Arts Town 2028 booth at NPAC. I was frankly too busy to get there after Tuesday. If you did, what was you reaction? Was the information useful? Did you discuss their work with the booth staff?

Jim

De-Brief Comments re NPAC

I will be going to D.C. for a de-briefing meeting on July 23 with the leaders of the national service organizations which put NPAC together. I have my own list of things done well, what we might have done differently, etc., but I'd be interested in hearing any comments from people who participated and weren't "living NPAC" for the last 4 years.... Thanks. Steve Seifert

Next Monday

The Monte Vista team is reading a boatload of materials this week *grin* and we'll meet Monday to debrief from the convention and build our timeline. It's been interesting to exchange reactions as we visit individually in the meantime. I've heard reactions ranging from "this is really good info!" to "this only pertains to larger towns".

I think one of the things we'll face shortly is the limitations that we have internalized about our town vs what is realistic for our future. Dare to dream people. Dare to dream ;)