WHY DOES PEORIA NEED AN ARTS MASTER PLAN?
The City of Peoria has a long history of successfully delivering arts and culture to its residents. As with all long established programs regular reevaluation is needed to ensure that the City is meeting the needs of its residents and to ensure Peoria is effectively investing in the arts.
In addition to evaluating existing programing, events, facilities, and public art the Peoria Arts Master Plan will work to broaden access to the arts and bring our city together. Our plan will work to ensure we are providing world class arts and cultural offerings to residents and visitors while also celebrating our community’s spirit and artistic expressions.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE PLAN
Anyone who lives, works, or visits the City of Peoria is encouraged to be involved in shaping the Peoria Arts Master Plan. Here’s how:
1. Take the survey. Take our Survey and tell us about arts and culture in Peoria
2. Join a focus group. Focus groups will meet via Zoom with the Designing Local planning team. Groups will be limited to 20 participants Please use the button below to schedule via Calendly. If you would like to set up a focus group for a specific organization or group, please contact Josh Lapp at josh@designinglocal.com.
PERFORMING ARTS IN PEORIA
PEORIA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
In 2007 the City of Peoria completed construction of the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA). The $13 million facility was designed by the architectural firm Westlake Reed Leskosky, and is the hub for arts and cultural activities in Old Town.
TheaterWorks, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, serves as the managing tenant and creates engaging theatrical and educational experiences, and manages the 20,000 square foot facility. The Peoria Center for the Performing Arts consists of a 274 seat main stage proscenium stage auditorium, a flexible 60 seat black box theater, two classrooms, an elegant lobby, dressing rooms, backstage support areas, and office space. The staff of TheaterWorks provides support through Front of House operations such as Box Office and Ticketing, as well as all backstage and performance support such as lighting, sound, and stage management.
The Peoria Center for the Performing Arts brings award winning theater to Old Town, as well as a variety of arts experiences and programming such as: youth classes and workshops, summer camps, concerts, dance, storytelling events, improvisational theater, comedians, and community events and festivals. The PCPA and TheaterWorks showcase local artists and serves as a community resource for those seeking to participate in the performing arts. The facility is also available for rentals and offers non-profit organizations a discounted rate.
THEATERWORKS
The 2020-21 season marks the 35th season for TheaterWorks, which produces full seasons of theater, theater for youth (YouthWorks), puppet theater (PuppetWorks), and youth education camps and classes (Kids Alive! and SummerWorks Academy) as well as adaptive programming (AdaptiveWorks) and creative aging programming for adults over 50 (Broadway Senior).
TheaterWorks welcomes thousands of school-aged youth to field trip performances, hundreds of young people to its YouthWorks Academy classes, camps, and performances, and draws patrons of all ages and interests with the variety of programming offered.
TheaterWorks has received numerous awards, including the West Valley Arts Council 2015 Champion of the Arts Award, the Uniquely Peorian Award from the Peoria Chamber of Commerce, the Not-for Profit Partner of the Year from the Peoria Unified School District, and the 2014 Nonprofit Collaboration Award from the Peoria Education Foundation. TheaterWorks has been honored with many ariZoni Awards for Theatre Excellence over the years of producing quality theater in the Peoria.
Arizona Foothills Magazine Best of Our Valley 2017 named TheaterWorks Best Theatre!
TheaterWorks was honored to be selected as the 2019 recipient of the Arts Advocate Organization Award by the National Society of Arts & Letters, Greater Arizona Chapter for the outstanding work TheaterWorks has done with the creation and continuation of its AdaptiveWorks program.
PUBLIC ART IN PEORIA
WHY PUBLIC ART IN PEORIA?
Art in public places adds meaning and context to our public spaces, reflects the history of our city, adds uniqueness to our neighborhoods, and humanizes our built environment. Public art provides the intersection between our past, present, and future, and also has the power to transform our city because an investment in public art creates a gain in social, economic, and cultural value.
Social Value: When people see themselves reflected in their civic spaces, they have a sense of attachment that allows them to feel ownership and respect.
Economic Value: Enhancing the identity and character of Peoria through public art directly supports cultural tourism and economic development strategies, which can attract and retain residents.
Cultural Value: Public Art has the power to create uniqueness through the reflection of the local history and culture which gives communities a sense of place and identity.
PLACEMAKING IN PEORIA
Creative placemaking is a process that places arts at the center of shaping the character and vitality of neighborhoods, cities, towns, and regions. It is an innovative approach to advancing objectives of livability and equity. Creative placemaking occurs when people from all throughout the community come together to deliberately integrate art and culture into community revitalization work- placing arts at the table with land use, transportation, economic development, education, housing, infrastructure, and public safety strategies.
The Peoria Arts Master Plan will work to integrate the fundamentals of placemaking into all aspects of the arts and culture program as well as other city initiatives.
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THE ARTS MASTER PLAN?
October 2020 - January 2021: Information Gathering and Research, Project Planning
January 2021 - May 2021: Community Engagement
May 2021 - July 2021: Master Plan Draft Development
August 2021: Community Review of Recommendations
September: Community Presentation of Final Public Art Master Plan
FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS
Focus Group Discussions
Focus groups will meet via Zoom with the Designing Local planning team. Groups will be limited to 20 participants Please use the button below to schedule via Calendly. If you would like to set up a focus group for a specific organization or group, please contact Josh Lapp at josh@designinglocal.com.
SHARE WITH US
HOW TO SHARE
- Navigate to your selected location in Peoria to drop a pin.
- Click the Green selection button in the top left corner.
- Drop pin where you'd like to mark your selection.
- Choose a type of pin and share a description of it.
COLOR KEY
Orange: Special Stories
Yellow: Special Places
Red: Special People
Blue: Special Art Pieces
Black: Where Public Art Currently Exists
Lavender: Where Public Art Should Exist
RESOURCES
Project Team
For more information on the planning process reach out Josh Lapp with Designing Local at josh@designinglocal.com or 614.607.1557.
ThearterWorks
For more information on Theater Works and other programs at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts go to www.TheaterWorks.org or call the Box Office at (623) 815-7930.
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