One Columbia and City of Columbia launch “Amplify: A Cultural Plan for the Columbia Area”

At a media event on Monday, January 29 at the Township Auditorium, One Columbia for Arts & History, the City of Columbia, artists, and area cultural and thought leaders announced the launch of “Amplify: A Cultural Plan for the Columbia Area.”

Speakers including Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, Columbia City Councilman Sam Davis, One Columbia board member Heather Mitchell, poet Ed Madden and performance artist Terrance Henderson all spoke about Amplify and the cultural planning process, which will take place over 12 to 18 months. Indigo Soul also performed.

Amplify will:

• result in a plan that takes into consideration current trends in the development of arts and culture at a national level.
• advance the growth of the local and regional creative community.
• consider ways to expand access to the arts for the region’s culturally diverse and growing population.
• seek to create economic prosperity for the region.
• align with the City of Columbia’s planning efforts.
• highlight existing arts, cultural and heritage resources of Columbia and recommend ways to strengthen these valuable assets in our community.

“We have one of the most creative and talented artistic communities in the entire country right here in Columbia, S.C. I am so thankful that all of us can be part of amplifying something special to help direct the cultural path of this city for the next generation. Amplify will make sure that we are the most talented, educated most entrepreneurial city with the most cultural opportunities,” said Mayor Benjamin at the Amplify launch.

With direction from a robust steering committee of community leaders and a group of local thought leaders, One Columbia and Margie Reese, a renowned arts advocate and arts management professional, will lead a series of community conversations where arts and history advocates and enthusiasts can participate in the planning process. Interested members of the public are invited to get involved and attend Amplify’s first Community Engagement Session March 14 – 17.

Indigo Soul performs at Amplify Columbia from MidlandsBiz on Vimeo.

Amplify represents a key component of the City of Columbia’s Comprehensive Plan, which is updated every 10 years. In addition to cultural resources the Comprehensive Plan addresses population, economic development, natural resources, community facilities, housing, land use, transportation and priority investment. The City of Columbia anticipates that the Comprehensive Plan will achieve the goals put forward in Envision Columbia, the City’s vision statement.

For more information about Envision Columbia, click here.