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Building on the success of the 2009 Big Ideas Community Cultural Plan, The City of Salina, Kansas, has engaged Keen Independent Research to conduct a new cultural assessment and create a plan that will guide the City’s development of arts and culture for a new era.

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The Big Picture: Salina’s Cultural Strategic Plan will:

• Engage cultural partners, residents, creatives, arts and culture users and non-users alike to build a shared understanding of key issues, challenges and opportunities in Salina’s cultural ecosystem and economy;
• Reflect the community’s unique assets and voices;
• Guide future priorities and investments; and
• Create a realistic phased implementation plan for taking action on recommended programs, policies and practices.

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The assessment will provide an evidence-based plan built on market analysis, stakeholder and community engagement, benchmarking and a cultural needs assessment.

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Study Team

Keen Independent is a national research firm with expertise in arts and culture, equity and economics. Alex Keen, Managing Principal, and Heather Calvin, Associate Principal are leading the project.

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Schedule

The study launched in February 2026 and will be completed in January 2027.

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How to Get Involved

Public feedback will inform this project throughout its duration including a community meeting, interviews and small group discussions and a virtual workshop survey. Input may also be submitted anytime during the study by:

• Calling the study hotline: (602) 767-7067
• Emailing the study team: SalinaBigPictureCulturalPlan@keenindependent.com

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_{Banner image: Boom Mural Sunflowers; Photo credit: Martha Cooper}