Explore a variety of the projects we have worked on over the years.
Please contact us for rates to work with your business, organization or department on your upcoming projects and facilitation needs.
Community Outreach and engagement
Cultural Asset Mapping
Research and resource development
Networking
The purpose of the strategic plan is to advance the culture and arts of the communities of Morongo Basin, while strengthening the economic impact of these treasured resources. Planning focused on identifying the goals of the artistic and cultural people and organizations in the communities of Morongo Valley, Pioneertown, Yucca Valley, Yucca Mesa, Flamingo Heights, Landers, Joshua Tree, Twentynine Palms and Wonder Valley. Planning encompassed a full range of artists and artistic work present in the region. Artists include the visual artists, musicians, theater artists, dancers, writers, media artists, designers, arts entrepreneurs, arts educators, technicians and other production people, and more.
A Communities Committee guided development of this plan. It is composed of 20 leaders representing the diversity of the region, in several different dimensions. Diversity means representation from the demographic and cultural diversity of the people in Morongo Basin’s communities. Diversity also means geographic representation as well as representation from the arts, education, business, local government, military, National Park and other sectors. The diversity of the group is an essential way of informing the plan and of devising strategies rooted in the region’s communities. The Communities Committee was assisted by a team of consultants and supported by the County staff members.
The plan is informed by community engagement and supplementary research conducted between September 2017 and April 2018. A total of more than 500 people in the region participated directly in planning.
Work sessions of the Communities Committee and sub-committees, or Strategy Teams, which included additional community members
Stakeholder interviews and discussion groups
Public community activities and discussions, including the Joshua Tree Farmers Market, Saturday Art Walk, Beatnik Lounge and Palms Restaurant
Community survey, conducted online and via intercepts at locations throughout Morongo Basin
Inventory and mapping of arts and cultural assets
Market study
Existing conditions analysis
SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)
Case studies of organizations and programs relevant to the strategic plan
Research into potential funding sources
Review of relevant plans and studies
A key characteristic of this strategic plan is that the community will be the lead in its implementation. This aligns with the practice of the Land Use Services Department, which has assisted in the development of many local community plans, created by community members. These are designed for local stakeholders to take charge of issues of immediate importance, within the overall framework of the County’s planning.
One objective of this strategic plan is to build capacity for Morongo Basin’s arts community and its partners to take the next steps in cultural development for themselves and their communities. It is envisioned this Morongo Basin Strategic Plan for Culture and the Arts will serve as an exemplar and motivation for other arts communities in the County to assume leadership for their cultural development.
This plan is now a living, breathing document and is evolving alongside the present community efforts. Leading the way for project implementation is Joshua Tree Living Arts, a local non profit agency whose mission is strengthening our community through the arts. See more about JTLA here : joshuatreelivingarts.org
Economic Planning and Development Award
Public Outreach Awards
Call for Artists – Request for Qualifications
Publicity and editing
Technical assistance
Contracts and agreements
Proposal preparation
Artist consultation
Arts Connection works with businesses, organizations and civic agencies to develop and facilitate calls for artists and requests for proposals.
This is just one example of a project we worked on with St. John’s Episcopal Church in San Bernardino in 2019.
Outreach and Engagement
Project planning
Surveys and Reporting
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P.O. Box 1181
San Bernardino, CA 92402