Frankfort Arts Master Plan Adopted Unanimously by City Council

On Monday, March 22, the Frankfort City Council unanimously adopted the Frankfort Arts Master Plan. In embarking on this Arts Master Plan, a document meant to guide the development of arts and culture at the municipal level for the next five to ten years, the city joins hundreds of cities in recognizing how valuable arts and culture is to economic and community development. The global pandemic has presented cities with the most vexing challenges, and many of the economic effects are yet to be realized. Some have asked if this is the right time to complete an Arts Master Plan. The answer is a clear yes, as this plan is thoughtfully conceived and in full awareness of the economic challenges ahead. This plan recognizes short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to reach some broad and bold visions. By following the strategies outlined in this document, Frankfort will be able to phase in the proposed projects and programs in an orderly way as the economy recovers. 

WHAT’S IN THE PLAN?

Aspirations for Cultural Development 

Strategy 1: Hire an arts professional to join City Staff to be responsible for the Cultural programming in Frankfort including managing the Creativity and Culture Department, the Frankfort Public Art Program, and staffing the Creativity and Culture Commission.

Strategy 2: Establish the voice of the community within the Creativity and Culture Department through seating the Creativity and Culture Commission. 

Strategy 3: Complete a Cultural Facilities Master Plan. 

Strategy 4: Apply to the state of Kentucky’s Creative District Designation Program. 

Strategy 5: Establish a Creativity Grant Program that supports artists of all kinds, special events, and cultural organizations in partnership with the County. 

Strategy 6: Determine what festivals or special events can become signature arts and culture events for the City of Frankfort. 

Strategy 7: Integrate artists into the everyday workflow of the City and deliver innovative, artist-driven placemaking projects to the community through an artist in residence program. 

Strategy 8: Explore the viability of a Creativity Incentive Program. 

Aspirations for Public Art

Strategy 1: Formally establish the Frankfort Public Art Program through an ordinance that adopts this plan and the Frankfort Public Art Policy. 

Strategy 2: Hire the Creativity and Cultural Department Manager to oversee the Public Art Program.

Strategy 3: Adopt funding mechanisms to provide dedicated sustainable funding to the Frankfort Public Art Program. 

Strategy 4: Expand the City of Frankfort Mural Program through the establishment of a grant program that utilizes money generated through special event permitting to partially fund new murals on private property.