The City of Raleigh announced a five-to-10-year plan to strengthen arts and culture in the city of Raleigh. The final plan will be adopted this fall.

“Arts Plan is a five-to-10-year strategic plan for the development of the arts throughout the city,” said Jerry Bolas, executive director of the Office of Raleigh Arts. “It will guide city investment, policy and guide city partnerships to grow the arts throughout the city of Raleigh.”

Although the arts plan is still in development, the city of Raleigh is encouraging citizens to participate in the plan development.

“People can offer ideas for the plan by visiting our website www.raleighartsplan.com,” Bolas said. “We are looking for all kinds of ideas. You can see other people’s ideas and comment on them and build on them. When there is a draft plan in the late summer, you can comment on that because we will need feedback on that.”

The plan will help extend the arts beyond downtown Raleigh into areas around the city, Bolas said. In addition, it will provide benefits to NC State.

“One impact on NC State could include increasing partnerships,” Bolas said. “The city of Raleigh funds through my office grants to the NC State University Theatre. So this could lead to increased funding or more grants and partnerships with other parts of NC State to increase the arts.”

Hillsborough Street will also see improvements as part of the plan.

“We have strategies to increase the presence of arts along Hillsborough Street that would impact the quality of life in the neighborhood,” Bolas said. “For example, right now my office is working on having public art as part of the Hillsborough Street improvements.”

 Hillsborough Street is undergoing improvements, which include expanding it out further west and adding new roundabouts, and the Arts Plan intends to add to the improvements, according to Bolas.  

Students see the Arts Plan as a positive change to Hillsborough Street and NC State.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity to bring the community together by showcasing art from local artists,” said Hannah Carraway, a sophomore studying arts studies.

Although the plan is not fully complete, there are ideas on where to go with it.

 “We don’t have a plan yet, but there are areas that we are looking specifically at,” Bolas said. “One of our biggest issues is figuring out how can we take or expand the arts beyond downtown and reach the entire 144 square miles of the city.”