Cultural Planning takes stock of existing cultural resources and asks how they can be developed to improve the vitality, prosperity, and success of our community.
A healthy arts and culture scene improves a city’s livability. The arts are a proven catalyst for economic development, attracting tourists, new residents, and businesses. Art means business!
After receiving grants from the Knight Foundation in December 2007, the Bradenton Cultural and Business Alliance (BCBA) hired nationally-recognized cultural planner Bill Bulick to organize the Realize Bradenton cultural planning process and the Manatee Chamber Foundation commissioned an economic impact study to gauge the financial impact of the arts and culture in Manatee County.
The cultural master planning process in 2008-09 produced a 10-year plan to leverage arts, culture, and heritage to build economic development, cultural tourism, and civic engagement. Realize Bradenton, Inc. was formed in summer 2009 to implement key plan elements in conjunction with the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority and other partners in the business, education, cultural, and civic sectors. In September 2009, Johnette Isham was appointed Executive Director of the nonprofit organization.
PLAN LEADERSHIP
Realize Bradenton Steering Committee Members
PLAN DOCUMENTS
Executive Summary
Final Plan
Strategies Chart
Community Survey Results
Comparable Cities Research Findings Report
Comparison Highlights Grid
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Cultural Development in Creative Communities
Downtown by Design Kick-off
Artisan Avenue by Fawley Bryant Architects
Soul of the Community by Gallup, July 2008
Branding Brings a Place to Life
ARTS & ECONOMY
Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 (2017)
Arts & Prosperity One Page Summary (2017)
Arts & Economic Prosperity 4 (2007)
Arts & Prosperity, Manatee Pamphlet (2007)
Creative Industries, Manatee County
Creative Industries, Bradenton
FOUNDING PARTNERS
Partners who endorsed the Realize Bradenton Cultural Plan
DOWNTOWN ORGANIZATIONS
Manatee Performing Arts Center
ArtCenter Manatee
The Bishop Museum of Science & Nature
Manatee County Historical Commission
Village of the Arts
OTHER PARTNERS
City of Bradenton
Manatee County
Bradenton Downtown Development Authority
Anna Maria Island Cultural Connection
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (BACVB)
Manatee Chamber of Commerce