From October 2025-January 2026, Ruby and the Steering Committee incorporated multiple engagement methods and included 464 participants through:
Public convenings and community conversations
Monthly steering committee meetings
Targeted conversations with stakeholders, artists, and arts workers
A bilingual (English and Spanish) community-wide needs assessment
This planning process also included a review of available documentation of existing infrastructure, peer city benchmarking, funding models, operational models and asset mapping. The goal was to create a plan to activate a local arts coalition to support our region, after identifying potential growth opportunities for the purpose of supporting the arts and developing useful tools to aid our region in agency implementation and organization.
Community Kick-Off & Steering Committee Welcome
at McGuffey Art Center on October 15, 2025 | 📸 The Smiths
Community Conversation: Shaping a Future Arts Council
at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center on October 16, 2025 | 📸 Alisa Foytik
Presentation by Ruby Lopez Harper
Recording from December 2025 Community Conversation (Virtual)
Past Events & Opportunities
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Charlottesville Area Arts Community Needs Assessment & Input Survey
Open from 11.24-12.26
This survey took about 4–5 minutes to complete. All responses were anonymous. Artists, creative workers, and residents across the area were invited to participate:
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Infrastructure, Affordable Space, Artist Wellbeing: What We’ve Learned So Far
12.21 - 12.22
Free, virtual discussion with Ruby Lopez Harper to learn about the outcomes from our first Community Conversation and participate in the Arts Council Planning Process.
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Arts Workers Breakfast & Social
12.11 from 8:30AM-9:30AM
Bodo’s and coffee with arts workers and an opportunity to share more information about the Needs Assessment (due 12.16)
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Donuts & Discussion: Sharing Key Findings
12.6 from 9:00-10:00AM
Ruby Lopez Harper shared Progress on the Charlottesville Area Arts Council Planning Process following October events.
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Updates for Community Partners
12.5 from 11:30AM-1:00PM
Presentation from project facilitator, Ruby Lopez Harper, who shared key findings from the planning process so far.
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Community Conversation: Shaping a Future Arts Council
10.16 from 9:00AM-3:00PM
Participants learned more about the planning process, joined others in community imagination, and identified ideas for what an Arts Council could do for the Charlottesville area.
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Community Kick-Off & Steering Committee Welcome
10.15 from 4:30-6:30PM
Celebratory kick off event at McGuffey Arts Center for committee members, project partners, and community stakeholders.
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Steering Committee Foundation
07.30-08.25
Artists, arts workers, cultural organizers, arts educators, arts lovers, and arts grantmakers from Charlottesville and the surrounding counties were invited to self-nominate to steer this planning process.
