Rochester Arts and Culture Collaborative April 2015

Things are moving quickly in Rochester on many fronts, including arts and culture, indicating the time was ripe for the formation of a body such as RACC.  The Collaborative strives to offer a conduit for the voices of this varied community to come together and speak in a unified voice, and it is making a difference!

Some examples since the birth of RACC last September:

• The Policy team has in the last week begun the process of developing a relationship with the Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust. Until recently, the Trust has been spending time out of the public eye developing their own vision to meet their own mission statement, and they are now bringing forth their first initiative: a Public Art Master Plan, beginning with a study conducted by an outside consultant.  In a recent meeting the RACC steering committee had with Brad Jones, Chair of the Trust Board, the Collaborative learned of this effort, and a conversation with our Policy team and members of the Trust has begun in order to formulate ways the Trust can collaborate and connect through this initiative and beyond with members of the Collaborative and the wider Rochester community.  A first priority is to ensure an open and inclusive process in crafting this Public Art Master Plan, a plan which has implications for the entire city of Rochester as it grows in size and vitality. Further details and opportunities for input coming in a follow-up post.

• When the news hit of the potential purchase of the Chateau Theater, the Spaces team, because of work already done, was prepared with a document to share with interested parties, including DMC and the City Council – a document that pulled together visions of creative uses for the space. A similar document is well underway for proposed uses of the current Senior Center (aka the Armory) as an Arts and Cultural Center.

• The Public Art/Programming team hit the ground running last fall with an idea for activating the bike trails with art, and it has brought together a group of  collaborators including We Bike Rochester, the RDA, and the organizers of ArtBlitz.  The team is still hopeful this will be unveiled the summer of 2016.

• The Communication team and the Finance team are also going about their business of assaying needs and developing processes that artists and arts and culture organizations can access to their advantage.

The constant refrain of  “the arts community doesn’t get along” was the impetus for Audrey Betcher to call people together last summer to brainstorm how to dispel that myth and also to facilitate communication. From that quickly grew a dedicated cohort and since then many passionate and committed people have come forward to join in what has become the Rochester Arts and Culture Collaborative.  All are welcome and encouraged to be a part of this journey. Connect with RACC through Facebook, Twitter, or email and add your voice to the conversation!