We, the undersigned residents, artists, cultural workers, educators, business owners, and community members of Rockland County, respectfully urge our County Government to prioritize the creation of a Comprehensive Arts and Culture Plan that reflects the diverse creative voices and cultural assets of our region.

Why This Matters:

Arts and culture are essential to the economic, educational, and social well-being of Rockland County. A countywide plan would:

• Inventory resources: Identify and catalog creative resources in the community
• Analyze economic impact: Gather and analyze data on the economic impact of the arts and creative industries
• Set goals: Establish goals for programming, access, services, and cultural economic development
• Develop strategies: Create strategies to address programming opportunities and cultural economic development
• Explore funding: Identify funding sources for public art, performance, and education programming
• Identify cultural assets: Identify the cultural assets that are most important to the community
• Advance equity and inclusion: Promote equitable access to resources and representation across all artistic disciplines, communities, and cultural traditions
• Guide public policy and investment: Inform county policies and planning efforts to support long-term investment in arts, culture, and creative infrastructure

Many counties across New York State have successfully adopted similar plans, resulting in more strategic funding, stronger partnerships, and vibrant cultural landscapes. Rockland County deserves no less.

We believe a county-led cultural planning process—conducted with transparency and community input—will lay the foundation for a thriving, sustainable creative sector that serves all who live, work, and create here.

We urge Rockland County officials to:

• Allocate resources to support a formal cultural planning process.
• Engage local artists, arts organizations, cultural leaders, and community stakeholders.
• Develop a forward-thinking plan with measurable goals, inclusive engagement, and a long-term vision.

Let us work together to ensure that arts and culture remain a vital part of Rockland County’s future.