FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE PLAN AND PROCESS

What is the purpose of developing a Statewide Strategic Plan for The Arts?

A Strategic Plan provides a blue print for the organization that is transparent, measurable and accountable. A plan provides a report card to measure progress through public input, thereby promoting accountability of a state agency. The strategic plan reflects current community input and respect the Arts Council’s goals such as supporting the arts and artists, ensuring access to the arts for all Maryland’s citizens, and promoting a state-wide awareness of the arts. It also mirrors the diversity of Maryland, identifies opportunities and challenges, assists in determining how resources are best invested and determines new initiatives. This strategic plan meets the requirements of best practices for state arts agencies as recommended by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Association of State Arts Agencies.

Who is coordinated this effort?

The Maryland State Arts Council is the state’s official arts agency and spearheaded the Strategic Plan. The agency was founded in 1967, and has a 17 member board appointed by the governor and the legislature. MSAC funds more than 300 grants per year for Maryland arts initiatives.

When was the plan completed?

The strategic plan was introduced to the public at an event on April 15, 2009. The action plan is a flexible document that can be evolve to accommodate the conditions at hand.

How was the planning process organized?

The process was divided in three stages: 1) information gathering; 2) data analysis; and 3) public dissemination. Information was gathered using various types of assessment tools including public opinion polls, constituent surveys, regional meetings, issue-based forums and interviews with key leaders and Maryland youth. The collected data was analyzed by a planning consultant and staff, who then determine a set of goals and strategies and organized into a 5-year strategic plan.

Who is the Advisory Committee?

The Advisory Committee is a 35-member group of Maryland leaders form the arts, economic development, and corporate communities. These individuals worked with the MSAC Consultant and Staff to synthesize information and help develop the Strategic Plan. They provided guidance, offered feedback, responded to assessments and analysis, approved the final documents, as well as championed the process.

What were the Regional Meetings?

The regional forums were meetings, coordinated in partnership with the county arts agencies, in order to gather information from the public regarding their interests and ideas on the Maryland arts community. They were be held in the six different regions of the state: Western, Capital Region, Central, Eastern Shore (upper and lower) and Southern Maryland, during the summer of 2008.

What are Issue Forums?

The issue forums werefocus groups in which members of the Maryland community wereinvited to attend and discuss specific areas of focus within the arts and cultural sector. These meetings targeted such issues and populations as Arts and Education, Seniors and the Arts, Corporate Philanthropy and Foundation Giving, and Emerging Arts. MSAC partnered with organization such as Erickson Retirement Communities, Maryland State Department of Education, and Very Special Arts to host these meetings. We also worked with area schools and interviewrf students in grades K-12, and those from art collges, to learn what type of interests our youth have.

How did the public participate in the Strategic Plan process?

The general public participated by attending a Regional Meeting or completing an on-line survey. MSAC asked what Maryland citizens would like from their arts community and intend on designing new programs and initiatives that meet the public’s interests.

Statewide Survey of the Arts
Statewide_survey.pdf

Full Strategic Plan
STRATEGIC_4-13-10.pdf