Arlington 'Lacks in Color': Artists Respond to Survey

More than 100 people attended a Town Hall forum last Wednesday held by the Town of Arlington Department of Planning and Community Development and the Arlington Commission on Arts and Culture working with Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Officials spoke on the Arlington's art and and its importance to the town's culture.

Jenn Erickson, Manager of Technical Assistance Programs from MAPC, spoke on the findings from nine focus groups and a town-wide survey that got over 900 respondents.

"We need WAY more public art outdoors," a response on the survey said. "The town lacks color."

Another response said "Many of the events in Arlington are children-focused which is why I tend to go to Somerville or Cambridge where the arts are adult focused."

Roughly two-thirds of the respondents currently living and working in Arlington said they primarily work from their home. About a third of the respondents said "lack space needed that would allow them to more fully pursue creative interests."

You can see the rest of the survey here:

There were also small groups touching on the following topics:

Arlington’s Arts and Cultural Assets and Vision: What’s your personal hope/vision for Arlington’s arts and cultural life?; Engaging with Arts and Culture and Expressing Creativity; Creative Community Needs and Opportunities; Desired Arts and Cultural Events, Offerings, Opportunities in Public and Private Space.

Arlington's draft Arts and Culture Action Plan will be unveiled at a community meeting June 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium.

For more information contact Ali Carter, Economic Development Coordinator, at (781) 316-3090, acarter@town.arlington.ma.us, or visit the Cultural Planning page.

Photo by Dan JV via Flickr