Region 9 Cultural Plan
The Regional Partnership Initiative exists to promote participation in and advocacy for the arts in Indiana. The goals of the Regional Partnership Initiative are to provide broad local access to services and funding opportunities for the arts throughout the State of Indiana. Services include, but are not limited to, information and referral, technical assistance, cultural planning and regranting of state and federal funds.

Arts Education
Objective
Integrate arts education into life-long learning. Strategies include:

• Promote continuing educational programs for all ages and cultures through appropriate local arts agencies, arts institutions, colleges and the media.
• Create artist residencies for which the costs are shared.
• Develop a network of artists, administrators, parents and educators to advocate for increased and improved arts education.
• Conduct arts education workshops for teachers, aides and parents to encourage teacher support for using the arts as a teaching tool.
• Investigate creative models that use the arts and humanities to teach non-art subjects.
• Develop support programs for arts in the schools to conduct arts education advocacy at all levels of the public school system and advocate for increased arts funding in education budgets.
• Help arts organizations to develop ongoing, collaborative programs of guest artists that could be offered both in the schools and in the community in the form of public events or workshops.

Collaboration
Objective
Create an environment within the nine counties that strengthens interaction between organizations and artists to develop and share a common cultural vision. Strategies include:

• Create a master calendar among cultural and arts organizations.
• Develop a common resource to share opportunities and ideas and to create opportunities for joint programming, services and marketing among cultural organizations.

Advocacy
Objective
Develop a strong collective voice for the importance and need of creating and sustaining the arts and culture in Region Nine. Strategies include:

• Keep an open dialog with legislators through conversations, letters, telephone calls, e-mail, etc. about arts and cultural activities and about the value of public support for these activities.
• Encourage artists and members of cultural organizations to participate in municipal commissions, in business and civic clubs, chambers of commerce, economic development agencies and other community development groups where there needs to be a cultural voice or presence.
• Lobby the media to initiate, expand or improve the quality of coverage of local cultural activity by building personal contacts with reporters and editors.
• Identify a regional liaison to Indiana Advocates for the Arts (link).
• Provide a directory of advocacy organizations and government contacts throughout the region.

Regional Marketing
Objective
Establish regional network and communication tools to promote arts and cultural activities in the Region. Utilize the network to assist community-based groups and individuals in developing a systematic approach to sharing information. Strategies include:

• Assist and train cultural organizations to develop cooperative programs and promotions that can be targeted to visitors as well as residents.
• Improve signage leading visitors to cultural attractions.
• Distribute the calendar to the media and tourism groups for inclusion in activity listings.
• Develop a partnership with local and regional media.
• Organize annual workshops with the media.

Funding
Objective
Create an environment in the nine-county area where financial resources are identified and giving is encouraged. Strategies include:

• Develop and implement grant-making processes that are responsive to the cultural needs of the nine-county region.
• Document the direct and indirect economic benefits of arts activities on local businesses.
• Coordinate fundraising events for charitable organizations through a planning calendar, negotiate timing and type of event.
• Conduct technical assistance workshops on fundraising techniques.
• Develop a partnership with other organizations to collaborate on funding for projects.
• Seek out and apply for funds that support the regionalization process in our service area.

Facilities
Objective
Foster the development of a system to identify locations where arts and cultural activities can occur.
Strategies

• Create and maintain a cultural facilities resource list, including information on location, seating capacity, stage size, lighting, storage/dressing room space, cost, existing and needed equipment, parking, handicap access and person to contact.
• Create a space registry to assist artists and organizations in finding rehearsal, performance, exhibit and work space.
• Investigate possible public/private partnerships for facilities use.

Volunteers
Objective
Create a plan to develop and revitalize volunteer corps throughout Region Nine.
Strategies

• Expand volunteer recruiting to include all age groups and backgrounds.
• Encourage sharing of volunteers between community groups.
• Offer technical assistance workshops for attracting and maintaining a volunteer base.