Redlands adopts first-ever Arts and Culture Master Plan

REDLANDS, Calif. — The City Council unanimously approved the city’s first Arts and Culture Master Plan on April 21, adopting a long-awaited roadmap aimed at expanding public art, strengthening creative spaces and positioning the arts as a driver of economic growth and community connection.

Why it matters: The plan formalizes Redlands’ vision for arts and culture, giving city leaders and community organizations a shared framework. It also highlights the arts as both a quality-of-life investment and an economic engine.

The arts in Redlands already generate more than $100 million annually, which is nearly 25% higher than the national average, and support more than 2,300 jobs. 

Details: City officials began the process in 2023, commissioning a consultant team led by Cultural Planning Group to assess the city’s arts landscape and develop recommendations. The resulting plan is based on two years of research and community engagement, including surveys, workshops and interviews with residents, artists, business leaders and city officials.

The findings show Redlands has a long-established arts ecosystem anchored by institutions like the Redlands Bowl, A.K. Smiley Public Library and the Museum of Redlands, alongside a growing network of artists and creative businesses. 

The city’s top creative industries include architecture, food trucks and working artists, writers and performers. 

Nonprofit arts organizations alone contributed more than $14 million in expenditures, supported 416 jobs and generated $609,000 in local government revenue.

Still, the plan identifies key gaps. While residents value the arts, many said access is uneven across neighborhoods and that cultural representation does not always reflect the city’s diversity. 

To address those needs, the plan outlines seven core goals, including expanding public art, developing creative spaces, strengthening community connections and integrating arts into economic development strategies. It also calls for increased arts education, preservation of local heritage and stronger coordination between the city and arts organizations.

Funding remains a central challenge. Proposed strategies include leveraging tourism revenue, pursuing grants, encouraging developer contributions and exploring the creation of a nonprofit fundraising partner.

What they’re saying: Council members and staff emphasized that the plan builds on work already underway while offering a clearer structure for expansion.

“I think this is a good start,” Mayor Mario Saucedo said, noting that the plan helps align existing efforts and identify ways to scale them.

Council member Denise Davis praised the plan’s broader impact beyond economics, pointing to its role in community identity and well-being. She cited the city’s Umbrella Alley as an example of how art can transform public perception and attract attention beyond Redlands.

Moving forward: With the plan now adopted, the city will begin early implementation steps over the next one to two years, focusing on program development, funding mechanisms and partnerships with local artists and organizations.

“We at least have a roadmap,” Saucedo said during the meeting — one city officials hope will guide Redlands’ arts and cultural growth for years to come.

Read the full plan here: