Public encouraged to ‘vote’ on St. Pete’s arts future

The public is invited – and encouraged – to attend a virtual arts planning meeting Tuesday (Dec. 15), part of the Comprehensive Arts Strategy (CAS), a planning effort spearheaded by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, with support from the Downtown Partnership and City of St. Petersburg.

The meeting, from 1 to 2:15 p.m., “will solicit comments and ask the attendees to ‘vote’ on what they think is most important,” according to Arts Alliance executive director John Collins.

Since its implementation in October, CAS has conducted six focus groups (artists/gallerists, the Arts Advisory Committee, the Public Arts Committee, and arts district and arts enclave leaders, Business and education leaders and arts organization and institution leaders) and researched other arts-centric cities including San Diego, Asheville, Pittsburgh, and Seattle.

The CAS goal, Collins says, “is to develop tangible recommendations for building on St. Petersburg’s existing arts infrastructure to create economic growth for the entire community.  We expect to have recommendations ready for implementation in the spring of 2021.”

The steering committee includes Paul Carder, Liz Dimmitt, Bob Glaser, Stephanie Gularte, Alex Harris, Dr. Kimberly Jackson, Duncan McClellan, Chuck Prather, David Ramsey and Dr. Kanika Tomalin.

Free registration for Tuesday’s meeting is here.