GCAC Announces New Strategic Plan, Brand

The Greater Columbus Arts Council has a new strategic vision (link to the strategic plan), thanks to a five-year plan released in August. The plan, which will be reviewed annually, focuses on arts advocacy, education and communication.

"This strategic plan will be a blueprint to help us carry out our renewed mission and vision to support art and advance culture for the region over the next five years, leading up to the city's bicentennial in 2012 and beyond," said President Bryan W. Knicely.

In developing a strategic plan, GCAC sought to balance the divergent responsibilities of serving and leading, Knicely said.

GCAC's new mission statement is reflective of both responsibilities. It reads:

"Through vision and leadership, advocacy and collaboration, the Greater Columbus Arts Council supports art and advances the culture of the region. A catalyst for excellence and innovation, we fund exemplary artists and arts organizations and provide programs, events and services of public value that educate and engage all audiences in our community."

Under the new plan, GCAC will focus on three main goal areas:

• Advocate: GCAC will create an environment where arts and culture thrive resulting in sustained support and appreciation to enrich our entire community culturally, aesthetically, educationally and economically.
• Educate: GCAC will be a catalyst for exemplary artists and arts organizations that provide programs, events and services of public value to educate and engage all audiences in our community.
• Communicate: GCAC will demonstrate vision, leadership excellence and innovation in all of its operations; by fostering synergy, efficiency and transparency GCAC will create the greatest return on the public and private resources invested in the arts and culture.

GCAC developed the plan – the organization's first in over 20 years – during a seven-month process that included focus groups, one-on-one interviews with community members, surveys and other assessments of the needs of the arts citywide.

The GCAC strategic plan is available for download on the GCAC Web site here.

In conjunction with the new strategic plan, GCAC released a new brand strategy for the organization, including a new logo and Web site design. GCAC staff worked with marketing and design firm Ologie and web design firm Grip Technology on the creation of its new brand. To download the new GCAC logo, click here.