Orange County and the City of Orlando are proud to announce the development of a comprehensive cultural plan aimed at harnessing the power of the region's diverse cultural assets and creating a roadmap for the future. This initiative, titled "Canvas: A Cultural Plan for the City of Orlando and Orange County," seeks to align and celebrate the area's unique and robust creative sector while fostering greater opportunity and sustainability.

A cultural plan is a long-term strategy to advance arts, culture, and creativity for the benefit of both residents and visitors. The plan will be based on inclusive listening, public engagement, and thorough research into current conditions and opportunities within Orange County.

Throughout the planning process, Orange County residents will have multiple opportunities to contribute their ideas and help shape the plan's aspirations and goals.

The project will unfold in four phases:

1. Project Initiation: May-July 2024
2. Engagement and Research: July 2024 - January 2025
3. Findings and Results: February - March 2025
4. Plan Development: April - August 2025

The planning process, scheduled to take place countywide during 2024 and 2025, is a collaborative effort led by the City of Orlando and Orange County. The Cultural Planning Group, a national firm specializing in arts and culture planning, has been engaged to lead the process.

Planning Activities

• CANVAS is currently in the Engagement and Research Phase of planning, extending through January 2025. To date, the planning team has conducted numerous stakeholder interviews and discussion groups, with more to come. They have also reviewed background plans and studies relevant to the cultural plan and are reviewing various City-County related plans and studies relevant to the overall planning effort.

Opportunities to Participate: We want to hear from you!

• Take the CANVAS community survey
• Contribute to Our Vision Board

Upcoming Meetings - Scheduled

• CFHLA Members – January 7th, 2025 (invitation only)
• Pine Hills Community Council – January 8th, 2025 – 6:00 PM
• Main Street Directors – January 8th, 2025 (invitation only)
• Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District –
  January 9th, 2025 – 6:00 PM
• Virtual Town Hall (Zoom) –
  January 14, 2025 – 6:00 PM (advance registration required)

Upcoming Meetings - To be Scheduled

• Teaching Artists Discussion Group
• Youth/Student Discussion Group
• Municipalities in Orange County Discussion Group
• Interfaith Leaders Discussion Group

Steering Committee

• CANVAS is guided by a Steering Committee of diverse community leaders from multiple sectors. Having representation from arts and culture, plus tourism, education, healthcare, philanthropy, social services, and more better reflects the many roles arts and culture play in the community. It also expands the thinking that will inform the cultural plan. Click here for a list of Steering Committee Members.

Completed Meetings and Discussion Groups (as of December 2024)

• Orange County and Mayor Jerry Demings
• Commissioner Maribel Gomez-Cordero
• Commissioner Christine Moore
• Commissioner Mayra Uribe
• Commissioner Nicole Wilson
• City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
• Commissioner Bakari Burns
• Commissioner Jim Gray
• Commissioner Tony Ortiz
• Commissioner Shaniqua Rose
• Commissioner Patty Sheehan
• Commissioner Robert Stuart
• Steering Committee Meetings (4)
• City and County Planning Staff Discussion Group (Orlando City Hall)
• Cross-Sector Planning Workshop Orlando (Orlando City Hall)
• South Orange County Discussion Group (Taft Community Center)
• United Arts of Central Florida (2)
• Haitian Embassy Discussion Group
• OCLS Library Managers Discussion Group
• Social Service Nonprofits Discussion Group (2)
• Arts and Cultural Board Members Discussion Group
• Individual Artist Sessions (2)
• Central Florida Funders Discussion Group
• Arts and Cultural Executive Directors Discussion Group

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Jan 14, 2025 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting: Meeting Register
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

For more information about the cultural plan or to learn how you can participate, please contact:

Vicki Landon, Administrator
Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs
Mailing address: P.O. Box 1393
Orlando, Florida, 32802-1393
Offices: 450 E. South St., Suite 345
Orlando, Florida, 32801

Email: ArtsandCulturalAffairs@ocfl.net
Phone: (407) 836-5540
Fax: (407) 836-5554

All e-mail sent to this address becomes part of Orange County public record. Comments received by our e-mail subsystem can be read by anyone who requests that privilege. In compliance with "Government in the Sunshine" laws, Orange County Government must make available, at request, any and all information not deemed a threat to the security of law enforcement agencies and personnel.