Olympia ad hoc cultural access committee deliberates vision statement, community survey plans

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Olympia’s Cultural Access Ad Hoc Committee held a virtual meeting on Thursday, December 20, to discuss its potential program structure and survey.

Part of the meeting is the presentation of proposed vision statements that would reflect the committee’s direction.

The following are the three proposed vision statements that were deliberated during the meeting:

  • “Foster a creative culture of learning, expression, and belonging throughout the city of Olympia.”
  • “Olympia city of belonging, culture, creativity, innovation, and learning.”
  • “Olympia, city of arts, culture, heritage, and science.”

“I don't actually think that we're a city of belonging yet. I would love for us to feel that way in the future, but we're not there yet, so I like the third version,” committee member Mariella Luz commented.

The committee also discussed conducting a survey to community stakeholders to identify who the people are and what types of organizations are in the area.

“The survey can serve as both a little bit of an asset mapper and a little bit of a survey to understand who's out there,” ArtsWA Program Manager Miguel Guillen stated.

Committee member Jean Mandeberg pointed out the multipurpose nature of the survey, which, according to her, can be used as a tool for public information.

“I put in the chat a question about how to use the survey as a public relations tool. The majority of people in Olympia don't know about the Cultural Access Program,” Mandeberg said.

“Those that do know are working from big misconceptions about the percentage of money and when it's allocated and who's available,” Mandeberg added. “The survey is a really important moment to put out what this program is really about.”

ArtsWA Program Specialist Britt Madsen added that the survey “can kill two birds with one stone.”

“I feel like not doing the survey is just a lost opportunity,” Madsen said, “You can ask them to complete the survey and if they'd rather undo the survey, make yourself available for a phone call. I think you can do it all.”

The ad hoc committee exists to lay out a framework for supporting nonprofit cultural organizations in Olympia that offer arts, sciences, heritage and cultural programs and events for the public.

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