Draft of Cultural Plan lays out ambitious campaign

- Develop expanded funding options for arts education programs.

- Link neighborhoods to each other and to downtown.

- Sustain funding for neighborhood cultural planning.

- Expand the number of spaces for culture in every neighborhood.

- Encourage and maintain vibrant cultural districts citywide.

- Build capacity among cultural organizations across all budget levels.

- Streamline city processes to simplify achievement of cultural initiatives.

- Establish and market Chicago as a cultural destination with extensive global reach.

- Develop a comprehensive cultural tourism plan to reach Chicago's potential as a global cultural destination.

The draft Cultural Plan was created by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in partnership with Lord Cultural Resources. The department conducted a series of Town Hall meetings earlier this year to gather civic input on the plan, and another round of public meetings will gather feedback: 6 p.m. July 24 at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren St.; 6 p.m. July 25 at South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.; 10 a.m. July 28 at Augustine College-Essanay Studios, 1345 W. Argyle St.; and 6 p.m. July 31 at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

In addition, National Endowment for the Arts chairman Rocco Landesman will participate in a panel discussion on the draft Cultural Plan at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Chicago Cultural Center.

For details, visit chicagoculturalplan2012.com.