Community Cultural Arts Plan

In the recent Arts and Economic Prosperity Study 6, Ocala and Marion County showed a $2.35 return for each $1 spent on cultural arts activities in our community. This speaks to the economic impact the cultural arts have on our community post-pandemic.

In 2019, Ocala City Council adopted the Community Cultural Arts Master Plan prepared by Francis Cauffman Architects (FCA) and consultant Martinez & Johnson Architecture with Webb Management Services. With funding support from the Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Community Cultural Arts Plan brings together stakeholders, community members, and City leaders to implement an overarching coordinated, 10-year strategic arts and culture plan consistent with the Ocala 2035 Vision Master Plan, 2010 Recreation and Parks Master Plan, and Tuscawilla Master Plan.

The Community Cultural Arts Plan:

• Identifies existing cultural resources throughout Ocala and Marion County
• Includes an evaluation and recognition of progress made to date
• Determines the “State of the Ocala/Marion County Arts”
• Identifies our community’s and arts organizations’ needs
• And provides recommendations and strategies for planning, accessibility, area activation, economic development, and implementation

Community Cultural Arts Implementation Plan

From 2017-2019, cultural development strategies and recommendations were developed through a collaborative, inclusive process to create the Community Cultural Arts Master Plan under the direction of consultant, Martinez & Johnson Architecture, P.C. and through follow-up stakeholder meetings. The Community Cultural Arts Plan provides a framework for advancing arts and culture in Ocala over ten years. A timeline and strategies to implement and realize the recommendations outlined in the Community Cultural Arts Plan are elaborated upon in the 2021 Community Cultural Arts Implementation Plan. The collection of next steps in this Community Cultural Arts Implementation Plan was a collaborative effort of the City of Ocala, Ocala Municipal Arts Commission (OMAC), and the Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA).  

2021 Community Cultural Arts Implementation Plan Strategies:

• Improving the long-term sustainability of arts and culture in Ocala
• Transitioning City from event provider to a policy maker and technical resource
• Creating signature places and programs that celebrate the authentic past, present, and future of Ocala