TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to investigate the feasibility of developing a Long Beach Cultural Vision Plan that can serve as a guide in the City’s investments in its diverse population, and report back to the City Council in 90 days.
DISCUSSION
Long Beach is a diverse and dynamic city, and it is widely recognized for celebrating the diversity of our population, and for embracing and advancing the arts. The City is home to the Museum of Latin American Art, Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum, Homeland Cultural Center, Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center, Latino Cultural Center, African American Cultural Center, and current efforts are underway with and the Long Beach LGBTQ+ Cultural District and Cambodian American Cultural Center. The cultural institutions and district serve as hubs to promote and preserve the arts, history, include signage, historic markers, and other enhancements to honor the efforts of community leaders and activists, support local businesses, and attract visitors.
Presently, the City does not have a Cultural Vision Plan. A Cultural Vision Plan will ensure we have a policy and planning framework that will effectively serve residents and visitors alike. Other large cities with diverse populations, including San Diego, have recently began their city cultural planning process; meanwhile the City of Chicago has already implemented their city’s cultural plan. Chicago’s Cultural Plan provide long-term framework to continue strengthening and expanding its cultural and creative capital and identifies ways to promote culture to build community, stimulate economic development, create jobs, attract tourists, and foster innovation 1. The core value for San Diego’s cultural planning process is equity and includes guiding principles of racial, cultural, economic, and geographic inclusion throughout the process and focuses on critical areas such as workforce development and retention, neighborhood creative hubs, and cultural tourism2.
As we co...
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