Though touted as the quintessential mega-suburb full of corporate offices and “home to posh soccer moms with $1,000 baby strollers,” the cultural arts community has been working for nearly a decade to establish the city as one full of art, culture and entertainment.
The effort gained momentum when Downtown Plano was officially designated by the State of Texas as a cultural arts district in 2016. Since then, organizations like the Collaborative Arts of Plano (CAP) have been advocating for a comprehensive strategy to support artists, expand creative programming and align city development with cultural needs.
Last year, CAP’s efforts started to bear fruit, and a City of Plano Cultural Arts Comprehensive Plan was set in motion.
After 12 months of stakeholder interviews, community surveys and input from artists, institutions and the public, the Cultural Arts Plan was drafted with five strategic goals highlighted for the City to focus on and suggestions for how to go forward.
A drafted plan was released in March, highlighting key areas for future plans to focus on:
Support and retain creative talent through job creation, professional development and equitable funding.
Increase arts access for all by expanding public programming, increasing cultural funding in under-resourced areas and leveraging technology to broaden participation.
Enhance arts education by promoting partnerships with schools, arts organizations and local governments.
Celebrate and preserve cultural heritage by recognizing diversity, lifting up local stories, strengthening infrastructure, adjusting funding mechanisms and zoning policies, and investing in physical and digital long-term cultural spaces.
On March 3, the community gathered in that theater once more – though this time not to watch young ballerinas, but to watch an arts consultant deliver a PowerPoint version of the drafted plan. Those in attendance were able to give input before the final version is submitted to City Council for approval. After a period of input from the public, City Council will deliberate, and funding strategies and pilot programs will be in the beginning stages of creation.
A common concern: the plan doesn’t include concrete steps or timelines. But consultants and commissioners were quick to clarify – that’s intentional. This document isn’t a road map. It’s a vision statement, a manifesto for cultural equity and access. And implementation won’t happen through zoning tweaks or funding alone.
“We plan to extort all of you, to invite you, to encourage you to advocate not only for adoption of this plan but for its implementation,” says Martin Cohen, a consultant on the project. “And when budget items come up to City Council to express your support, reinforcing the idea that it’s not just artists and arts organizations asking for City Council action but rather it now has the imprimatur of the community and of this extensive community process.”
Building an arts ecosystem isn’t just about murals and museums — it’s about creating a city where everyone sees themselves reflected.
“The arts are not a luxury – they’re a lifeline for connection, creativity and community,” the plan says. “The community dreams of a city where creativity thrives in both traditional venues and unexpected places, where public art energizes shared spaces, and where cultural programming mirrors and celebrates diversity.”
