Arts and Culture are important and fundamental components of a thriving urban environment. They provide economic impact, contribute to the local market by generating jobs and spending, bringing visitors, and make urban places attractive to businesses and their employees. They also contribute to quality of life, building local identity, connecting people, preserving history, and providing memorable experiences. Moreover, they foster individual development, spur creativity and imagination, expand perspective and generally improve communities. As Downtown Orlando continues to evolve, developing its identity and character, it should also strive to have arts and cultural offerings for everyone.
In 2019-2020, Terry Olson, Director of Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs approached City and CRA staff to discuss potential collaboration and cost-sharing of a joint City-County Cultural Arts Plan (Cultural Arts Plan). The need for a such a cultural arts plan is clearly identified in Chapter 4-D. Art and Culture of the 2015 Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area Plan, the DTOutlook, stating that the CRA should support creation of a downtown arts and cultural master plan to ensure that future arts efforts are coordinated and provide for a balanced array of artistic offerings.
The attached Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Orange County, the City of Orlando, and the CRA, identifies the parties’ desire to create a County/City-wide Cultural Arts Plan to, amongst other things, establish a process for sustainable development and growth of the arts, conduct a comprehensive arts inventory and analysis, determine suitable sites for art and art venues, determine ways to enhance diverse and inclusive participation and representation, create a local and regional framework for arts funding, and develop a process for building strategic partnerships. The parties also agree that the Cultural Arts Plan will have a focus on the downtown CRA and include a stand-alone downtown component, with a downtown specific arts inventory and downtown specific recommendations.
It is anticipated that the cost of the plan will be $250,000. As detailed in the MOU, the City of Orlando will contribute $25,000 and the CRA will contribute $100,000. Orange County will fund $125,000 and assume any costs in excess of the jointly funded $250,000. The City and CRA will also be able provide RFP development input, and if not accepted, the City and CRA can withdraw from the MOU without penalty. The CRA’s Executive Director will also appoint two (2) persons to serve as RFP procurement committee members and the City and CRA shall also have the opportunity to provide input into the negotiation of the contract with the selected consultant.