Atlanta Contemporary Strategic Plan FAQ

Q: Why does AC need a strategic plan?

A: A strategic plan provides Atlanta Contemporary with a clear roadmap for the next 3 years, helping us make informed decisions about programming, partnerships and resource allocation. It ensures we're working toward shared goals, communicates our vision to stakeholders and funders, and helps us measure our impact on the community we serve.

Q: Shouldn't you wait until you have a new executive director?

A: A robust strategic plan will help the search committee and the board identify and select an executive director who will meet the needs of the organization and whose vision is aligned with the future of the organization. Additionally, a new executive director can then take off running when they start their role. Instead of trying to figure out their goals, they're laid out, but there's still room in the objectives (the way the work gets done) for the new executive director to bring their ideas and approaches.

Q: Who helped put this strategic plan together?

A: A steering committee made up of the executive director, 6 board members, 2 community members, and supported by professional strategy consultants. The list of names is at the end of the plan.

Q: Why does the plan have so few details?

A: Strategic plans are intentionally high-level documents that focus on the "what" and "why" rather than the "how" and "when." This allows for flexibility in implementation and adaptation as circumstances change. The detailed "how-to" information you're looking for lives in our operational plan, which breaks down each strategic goal into specific tasks, timelines, budgets and responsibilities. This approach ensures our strategic vision remains clear and enduring while our tactics can evolve as needed.

Q: How will you know if this plan works?

A: Each of the strategic goals and objectives has key performance indicators that will allow us to measure our performance.

Q: How will Atlanta Contemporary use this plan?

A: The plan guides the organization leadership and staff to prioritize programs and initiatives in line with the plan's vision and direction. 

Q: Why didn't you describe AC's artistic/curatorial direction in this document?

A: The purpose of the strategic plan is to set goals in line with the organizations mission and values, and then outline what should be done to reach our goals. In this case, there will be a curatorial board made up of experts, curators and others who will draft the artistic vision along with community input. Community members will be asked to provide feedback during the development of the curatorial vision.

Q: How can I give feedback on the strategic plan?

A: There is a link to an online suggestion box on the Atlanta Contemporary “About” page.

Q: Does the strategic plan leave room for community participation?

A: The strategic plan leaves lots of space for community participation. The plan outlines our goals and priorities–the community gets to help with how we do it. If there's a part of the plan that interests you, we welcome volunteers.