Wilsonville Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy

The City Council approved Resolution No. 2857 adopting the Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy (ACHS), Nov. 2020 during the City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy (ACHS), November 2020 (5MB)

Appendices for the Draft Arts, Culture and Heritage

Collage of art photos

Purpose and Background Information
Timeline / Outline of the Strategy Development Process
Task Force and Advisory Committees
Consultant and Staff
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES – Background Information
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS for 2020 Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy

Purpose and Background Information

The Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy, a City Council 2019-21 Goal, seeks to provide recommendations to the City Council for cultivating a sustainable, long-term plan that supports community aspirations for a vibrant cultural scene in Wilsonville.

The City seeks a long-term plan that supports community aspirations for a vibrant cultural scene. Previously, in 2018, program managers completed initial fieldwork research, interviews, a community survey and public meeting to yield several preliminary findings:

A strong desire for a central “makers’ space” for artists to create and exhibit to the public.
Increased participation by Library and Parks and Recreation staff in organizing and facilitating cultural events.
Formation of a potential arts commission to advise Council and staff.
Increased collaboration among local governments (City, School District, Community College).

This effort now represents phase two for development of an Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy. The first phase during June – December 2018 conducted initial fieldwork research, interviews and a community survey and meeting. The initial phase of developing an Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy was suspended as two major community proposals advanced:

The West Linn-Wilsonville School District considered and then placed a $206.8 million capital ballot measure for voters’ consideration that included construction of a $25 million, 600-seate auditorium/performing arts center at Wilsonville High School. The bond measure passed and the school district has formed a committee to assist with design of the auditorium.
The City issued and conducted interviews of proposers responding to an RFP for a year-round, multi-purpose public-use facility with potential lodging addition. The City suspended for the foreseeable future the RFP process as the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Phase two of Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy (ACHS) now benefits by recognizing and dealing with these significant realities that have come to pass, especially the COVID-19 pandemic situation that began in March 2020.

A key focus for the ACHS is cultivating greater community support and organizational capacity that results in a more sustainable, long-term set of programs advancing arts, culture and heritage.

Timeline / Outline of the Strategy Development Process

Following is a step-by-step outline with a tentative timeline, recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic situation may impact the rollout timing. As written material is produced, the public and task force is notified, with Supporting Documents appearing at the bottom of this page.

STEP 1: Research and Background Data Review, May – July 2020

Review research, survey data and draft findings from 2018 initial arts, culture and heritage planning process.
Develop a comprehensive inventory of existing arts, culture and heritage resources, programs and events in and close proximity to Wilsonville.
Research and summarize in a consistent fashion how other jurisdictions in Oregon and Washington fund, organize, and operate major arts, culture, heritage programs and facilities; also noting major program results and challenges.
Review, identify and provide citations to current and pending City of Wilsonville master plans, strategies and projects that address or support advancing art, culture and heritage in the community.

STEP 2: Community and Stakeholder Engagement, June – September 2020

Engage community members and arts-culture-heritage stakeholders to assemble a multi-discliplinary, diverse task force to review and provide feedback on components of the Strategy.
- Appoint from the task force a steering committee and other specialized committees as may be needed.
Monthly updates on strategy development for City Council and public.
Conduct a minimum of three milestone meetings with project steering committee/task force.
- Start / Late June 2020: At the commencement of project to discuss project, solicit suggestions for cultural inventory, etc.
- Middle / Late July 2020: Mid-Point check-in to discuss draft findings and recommendations, solicit feedback and suggestions, etc.
- Completion / Late August 2020: End of process to review draft final strategy findings, recommendations and proposed priorities, solicit feedback, etc.
Conduct interviews and/or group meetings with key cultural organizations and community stakeholders (Approximately 20 total interviews/meetings)

STEP 3: Strategy Composition: Writing, Editing and Revising, July – November 2020

Produce a draft version of Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy and, after pubic review, a final version of the strategy document that features findings and recommendations and priorities for implementation, together with an appendices of:
- Comprehensive inventory of existing arts, culture and heritage resources, programs and events in and close proximity to Wilsonville.
- Comparative summary of methods used by jurisdictions in Oregon and Washington to fund, organize, and operate major arts, culture, heritage programs and facilities.
- Citations to current and pending City of Wilsonville master plans, strategies and projects that address or support advancing art, culture and heritage in the community.

Specific strategy components to be considered for recommendation include but are not limited to:
- Creating a City Council-appointed “Arts and Culture Commission” and a description of the goals, objectives and tasks for the commission.
- Creating a City staff position with specific recommended tasks and duties to focus on work related to tourism and cultural affairs and to provide staff support to the Tourism Promotion Committee and potential “Arts and Culture Commission.”
- Developing a sustainable, long-term funding mechanism to support building organizational capacity-building for community organizations engaged in arts, cultural and heritage activities and advancing arts, culture and heritage in Wilsonville.
- Potential consideration of a “community fund” that individuals, organizations and businesses could contribute financial and other forms of support.
- Examining various existing City funding sources, such as the Community Enhancement Program, and/or proposing new funding sources that could provide financial support for implementing strategy.
- Reviewing and suggesting how known existing federal, state, regional or local grant-funding mechanisms—such as the Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon Arts Commission, Regional Arts & Culture Council and Clackamas County Tourism and Cultural Affairs—could be leveraged to support strategy objectives.

STEP 4: City Council Presentations and Adoption, September – November 2020

October 19, 2020: Present draft Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy for discussion at City Council work session, and modify Strategy as requested by City Council.
November 16, 2020: Present final Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy for public hearing and adoption at City Council meeting.

Task Force and Advisory Committees

The City is recruiting a diverse task force to advise on the overall strategy process composed of stakeholders from throughout the greater Wilsonville community who share an interest in advancing arts, culture and heritage. Participation in the task force involves reviewing information and documents prior to a once-a-month meeting over three months to be scheduled at the end of June, July and August 2020. Additional members may be added to the task force as the strategy-development process unfolds.

City Names Task Force Members for Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy, Sets Meeting Dates

Drawn from the task force, a smaller core steering committee provides more specific, immediate feedback to City during strategy development. The City is considering creating additional committees composed of task force members, including a youth advisory group and specialized committees to advise on the cultural inventory.

Consultant and Staff

The City has retained Community Development / Cultural Planning consultant Bill Flood of Portland. Bill holds a Master of Science degree in Community Systems Planning and Development from Pennsylvania State University and was a 2008 recipient of a Fulbright Senior Specialist grant.

Bill possesses extensive experience working with a wide range of public agencies and private organizations to advance cultural programming and development planning. Samples of recent projects that Bill Flood has worked on include Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs strategic planning and resource development for The Museum At Warm Springs, OR, financial sustainability strategies for the Maryhill Museum, WA, and development of Molalla Area Vision and Action Plan for the City of Mollala, OR. Prior positions that Bill has held include Portland Program Coordinator (2014-2017) and Instructor (2007-2018) for the University of Oregon, Arts Administration Program; and previously as Community Development Coordinator (1996-2005) and Arts Education Coordinator (1996-1999) for the Oregon Arts Commission.

Mark Ottenad, City of Wilsonville Public and Government Affairs Director, is acting as Project Manager for the Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy. He may be reached at ottenad@ci.wilsonville.or.us or 503-570-1505.