Draft Vision and Values Statement:
Current as of March 11, 2013
By 2023, Long Beach Island is a year-round destination for arts and culture. It has an active and influential arts council that will be an information and networking hub for artists and cultural professionals, and the main source of information for residents and tourists interested in arts and culture. The Sandpaper has significantly
expanded its coverage, and the municipalities on the island are collaborating to promote to support the efforts recommended by the Culture and Arts of Long Beach Island team (working title) in 2013. Since the team began its work in November 2012, there have been more visitors from the New York and Philadelphia metro areas. They, along with residents, have been enjoying more public art throughout the island, arts and music festivals, a week-long film festival, and an artists studio tour. There is more art because more artists have moved to the island. Though the arts are spread out from Beach Haven to Barnegat Light, residents and visitors don't have to worry about finding parking; there's a trolley that brings them from district to district. The people who made this happen have also been working on attracting more museums and at least one movie theater; developing a Main Street organization, a "First Friday"-type event and a Plein Air art competition; and attracting more long-term visitors who enjoy arts and culture. In achieving these results, leaders put a high priority on three guiding principles:
-Value all forms of arts
-Involve resident and business owners in making choices
-Promote benefits to the entire island, not just to specific municipalities. In making choices, leaders also worked hard to value many kinds of diversity (age, income, and cultural), be collaborative, and promote habits of collaboration among municipalities and celebrate the island's history. Leaders are also concerned that choices provide year-round benefits to communities, are realistic, and protect the environment. When possible, leaders also work to promote the island's musical and culinary heritage and provide clear guidance to anyone engaged in creative placemaking on LBI.
