Danville Arts & Culture Plan

Danville, Virginia

WHY

To build upon the creative energies in the City of Danville a 10-year strategic arts and culture plan to formalize and operationalize the people and organizations already doing arts and culture work in Danville. The plan includes a well-defined vision, analysis, and brand for publicly supported art of all kinds within the City of Danville. The plan is intentional in weaving more opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the arts and Danville’s culture.

HOW

Thirty-five leaders in the sector were interviewed about their vision for the Cultural Arts Program. Stakeholders included arts organization leadership, elected officials, city department heads, and local arts business owners. Focus groups were also held with arts leaders from various organizations. Members of the public were engaged in a number of activities, including sharing their ideas for arts and culture and considering public art types and locations. The public was also given the opportunity to contribute directly to a survey, which received 181 responses.

Strategies were defined to target the needs and desires of specific community profiles to provide city leadership with a roadmap for implementation that serves all creators, consumers, and advocates of arts and culture.

WHAT

While participants shared the overall quality of arts and culture in Danville was average, there was a hunger for more—specifically, live music and theater and community arts events and festivals and iconic public art. Through the implementation of the arts and cultural experiences outlined in the plan, Danville will have a roadmap for how to capitalize on their growing tourism market drawing visitors and artists from the region while supporting creatives and cultural organizers at the local level.