Cultural planning began in September of 2008 and was completed in June of 2009 with the creation of a comprehensive cultural plan for the creative sector.  The plan includes six (6) goal areas and will be accompanied by a detailed implementation plan. 

Mayor Cicilline has identified the following action items as his first priorities for action in the next 18 months:

1. The Department of Art, Culture + Tourism reorganizes to focus on economic development initiatives set forth by the mayor for the creative sector in collaboration with the Providence Economic Development Partnership. 

2. The City integrates branding as the Creative Capital into messaging and overall marketing of Providence and assures that support to the creative sector matches the message.  The successful BUY ART program is further developed into a comprehensive marketing campaign to support business and artists.

3. A Greater Providence Cultural Authority strengthens, centralizes and effectively markets current creative activity and public space.
   

Update: The Department of Art, Culture +Tourism received $30,000 from the Rhode Island Foundation to undertake a feasibility study.  (November 2009)

4. The City strengthens neighborhood vitality by increasing public access to the arts, culture and creativity by collaboratively cultivating a network of community and cultural leaders.

5. The City develops policies governing decisions about the construction, renovation, or restoration of public artworks.

6. The City works to coordinate and strengthen high quality arts learning opportunities and efforts already underway and strengthen connections & resources between schools, high quality arts providers, youth and families.

7. AC+T works in collaboration to develop a robust summer youth employment program that delivers workforce development skills to young people while providing high quality arts learning experience.

8. The City works to foster sustainable cultural organizations by networking with local and national stakeholders, creating collaborative funding opportunities, aligning marketing efforts, and convening organizations to shared best practices.  AC+T works with elected officials, advocacy organizations, foundations and organizations to cultivate sustained public and private sources of funding and deliver the message of economic impact to stakeholders.

9. AC+T facilitates connections between creative workers and artists in order to stimulate and develop a more formal network of creativity.

10.  The Mayor appoints a Creative Providence Leadership Council to act as community stewards for the implementation of Creative Providence and guide the work of the Deptartment of Art, Culture + Tourism.