Ventura—The City Council on Tuesday, August 18, reviewed the arts and culture definitions framework and grant program redesign.
ASSISTANT Parks and Recreation Director Emily Fox presented the item. Recreation Manager Rebecca Ellis also joined her, along with David Plettner-Saunders of the Cultural Planning Group, and Fox said the project grew out of two key City Council actions.
“In February 2025, the Council adopted its strategic priorities, which identified the development of Arts and Cultural policies under the Economic Development Priority,” she said. “Later that year, the Council developed the 2050 General Plan, which includes a dedicated arts and culture element.”
Building on that direction, she said in January 2026, the Council approved an agreement with the Cultural Planning Group to lead the project.
“The project formally launched this past March with community and stakeholder engagement, background research, and a review of peer Cities, which resulted in the development of a needs assessment, as well as the three items before you,” she said. “There is an arts and culture policy framework, community-driven definitions of arts and culture, and a redesign of our grant programs.”
She wanted to highlight the community engagement, and since March, she’s conducted two rounds of engagement,…
