Background of the Cultural Action Plan

As of summer 2008, substantial progress has been made to create a Cultural Action Plan for the Richmond Region. Reaction to the development of the plan has received very broad support from the cultural community, corporations and foundations, and local governments.

The following steps have been taken to move this important initiative forward:

The Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond & Central Virginia agreed to serve as the fiscal agent for the process.

ConnectRichmond has agreed to serve as the clearinghouse for communications for the process. To assure transparency, a special e-mail group has been established for all who are interested in the process. This site will permit any interested group or individual to sign up for updates on the process and to submit ideas. Connect Richmond will alert all of those organizations that get its Weekly Update to the creation of the new group, to encourage broad participation in the process. The “Cultural Plan” group is active and a description of the proposed process is now available at the site.

Based on the structure in the initial plan proposal, a Regional Cultural Action Plan Task Force was established to provide collaborative leadership and to give direction to the project. The Task Force held its first meeting in April. The Task Force’s structure and composition follows that originally suggested in the original Plan document.

The Task Force members as of this date are:

o Charlie Agee – Altria
o Janine Bell - Elegba Folklore Society
o John Bryan – Arts Council of Richmond (Steering Committee)
o Mary Ann Curtin – Chesterfield County
o Linda Dalch Jones – CenterStage Foundation (Steering Committee)
o George Drumwright - Henrico County
o Mike Falzone - Arts Council of Richmond
o David Fisk – Richmond Symphony (Steering Committee)
o Rachel O’Dwyer Flynn - City of Richmond
o Mike Gooding – Richmond Triangle Players & Richmond Alliance of Professional Theatres
o Marjorie Grier – Dominion
o John Hodges – Hanover County
o Jo Kennedy - Visual Arts Center of Richmond (Steering Committee)
o Ana Ines King – Latin Ballet of Virginia
o Brian Little – City of Richmond
o Bill Martin - Valentine Richmond History Center (Chairman & Steering Committee)
o Christina Newton - Curated Culture (Steering Committee)
o Amy Nisenson - Wachovia & Wachovia Securities
o Kathryn Strawn – MeadWestvaco
o Peter Wagner – Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
o Phil Whiteway – Theatre IV/Barksdale (Steering Committee)

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was developed and was mailed in April 2008 to over 30 individuals and consulting firms that have experience with similar projects in other cities, to secure an independent, credible expert to lead and facilitate the process. The consultant list was provided by Americans for the Arts and others in the cultural community.

A smaller Selection Committee was established to review proposals and to recommend to the Task Force the selection of a proposed consultant. The members of the committee were:
o Victor Branch - Bank of America
o Mary Flynn - New Virginia Review
o Bob Halbruner - Richmond Symphony
o Bill Martin - Valentine Richmond History Center
o Keith Martin - Richmond Ballet
o Alan Rudnick - Arts Council of Richmond

By the end of April 2008, bids had been received, and consultants were shortlisted and interviewed by the Selection Committee. The Connecticut-based firm of Wolf Brown was selected and approved by the Task Force.

Initial conversations had been held by this stage with potential funders for the planning process, and it was clear that there was broad-based support for the initiative among corporations, foundations and individuals. Full funding for the project of $125,000 has now almost entirely been secured from diverse funders consisting of Altria, Bank of America, The Community Foundation, Dominion, First Market Bank, Genworth, MWV, SunTrust, the University of Richmond and the Wachovia Foundation. A contract is in place between The Community Foundation and Wolf Brown to cover the scope of work.

Additionally, individual meetings have occurred with major institutions and stakeholders in the cultural life of the region such as Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, Virginia Union University, Venture Richmond, and the Mayor’s office of the City of Richmond, to build high-level support for the Plan.

The scope of work and schedule of the plan is as follows (to date):

Phase 1: Pre-planning May 2008
Phase 2: Initial Public Process June 2008
Phase 3: Comprehensive Research Summer 2008
Phase 4: On-going Public Visioning Sessions
Phase 5: Data Analysis and Draft Planning Report Submission late Fall 2008
Phase 6: Review and Revision December 2008
Phase 7: Presentation of Revised Report February 2009

These are all important steps in creating a new vision for the Richmond region’s arts and cultural community. This new vision must encourage improved awareness, and participation in the diverse programs and educational opportunities offered by our museums and arts and cultural organizations. It must also provide a strategy to increase the support needed to sustain and grow this vital element in the life of the region. I have been very gratified by the support this project has received from cultural, corporate and foundation communities. I would like to particularly thank my Steering Committee colleagues David Fisk at the Richmond Symphony, Jo Kennedy at the Visual Arts Center, and Phil Whiteway of Theatre IV / Barksdale for their dedication to moving this project forward.

Please contact me at wjmartin@richmondhistorycenter.com or (804) 649-0711 ext. 340 if you have any questions or suggestions. I would also encourage adding your name to our group list on www.ConnectRichmond.org


William Martin
Director, Valentine Richmond History Center
Chairman, Cultural Action Plan Task Force
October 2008