Specifications include, but are not limited to: Plan1.Assemble a Steering Committee to guide the work of the Bennington County Cultural Plan. The Steering Committee will comprise individuals involved in arts and culture, local officials, and other community leaders from both the northern and southern parts of the county to generate a broader understanding of the issues and opportunities across the region. 2.Review, analyze, and synthesize information hitherto developed by arts and culture professionals in the county, as well as other existing planning documents (such as, but not limited to, Bennington Strategic Economic Development Plan and NEDS) to develop a comprehensive list of the current assets in the region, including current cultural planning and collaborative groups or resources working independently to promote the arts in the region, as well structures, individuals, or practices that can allow for greater collaboration, modeling national successful trends in creative placemaking. 3.Facilitate up to three public meetings that foster creative and constructive dialogue with the community about current practices in and future vision for the arts and culture. Special attention should be paid towards securing the participation and buy-in of arts related entities in the region. 4.Identify local artists to collaborate in the creation of a multimedia/audio-visual map of Bennington County's artistic and cultural assets. 5.Research and summarize pertinent cultural planning documents from other communities. Best effort will be made to source plans from communities of similar size and demographics, or asset base similar to Bennington County. 6.Work with the Steering Committee to identify a vision for Bennington County's cultural future, and to establish goals and measures likely to bring this future to bear.
