The core planning document for the arts and culture community and the City Arts Commission is the Community Cultural Plan (CCP). Last updated in 2014, the CCP is a component of the City Comprehensive Plan. Aspects of cultural planning are also included in the Parks & Open Space Plan (PROS) and the City Streetscape Plan.
First adopted by City Council in 1995, the Community Cultural Plan is a blueprint of Edmonds' cultural resources as community and economic building blocks. Originally produced by the Edmonds Arts Commission in partnership with the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation, the plan is a result of the community’s ongoing commitment to and participation in the arts. The Cultural Services staff facilitates updates of the Community Cultural Plan. The Arts Commission participates in the community input process and assists with implementation where appropriate.
In 2017, a key strategy of the cultural plan was implemented with the completion of the Economic Impact Study of Arts & Culture in Edmonds (see details below). The following year, the arts commission worked with the Economic Development Department to develop a "creative district", as defined by the State of WA. Downtown Edmonds has the distinction of being the state's first certified Creative District, and was recertified in 2023. For information about the district, visit CreativeEdmonds.com.
In other cultural planning efforts, staff and the Arts Commission assist with updates to various other City and arts plans, including:
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ARTS & CULTURE IN EDMONDS
The study's goal was to conduct economic assessments of cultural tourism and the impact of arts and culture in Edmonds. Significant findings in the study included:
- The arts and culture generate an estimated $50 million a year and 440 full-time equivalent positions to the regional economy
- Attendees of arts and culture events in Edmonds spend more money than just the cost of their admission.
- While Edmonds Center for the Arts is an anchor attraction, people come to Edmonds for a variety of arts and cultural attractions, including public, not-for-profit, and for-profit organizations. Diversity in attractions give the Edmonds arts and culture community its strength.
- The primary market is people living within a 30-minute drive of Edmonds, with tourism from beyond a 30-minute drive representing a modest share.
- Edmonds has a firm foundation of arts and culture attendees and participants, particularly among people 65 and older.