The city of Chicago today releases a draft version of its 2012 Cultural Plan, after months of public and private meetings. This is the city’s first cultural plan in about 25 years; the last one was created under then-Mayor Harold Washington.

Some proposals are big-ticket items.

A “museum campus south” would see new infrastructure built around the Museum of Science and Industry and the DuSable Museum of African American History.

Despite recent cuts to music festivals, three entirely new festivals are proposed, as well as a dedicated, year-round city festival site.

One of the biggest initiatives involves overhauling arts education at Chicago Public Schools, which would include a district-wide curriculum, new state standards and city funding. There’s also an emphasis on bringing arts and culture to the neighborhoods through proposals such as neighborhood cultural councils and matching funds for cultural districts.

The timeline for implementation ranges from the present to 20 years.

Starting next week the city will convene four town halls across Chicago to gather feedback, before presenting its final plan:

July 24 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Malcolm X College

1900 West Van Buren

July 25 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. - South Shore Cultural Center

7059 S. South Shore Drive 

July 28 - 10 a.m. to noon - St. Augustine College-Essanay Studios

1345 West Argyle St.

July 31 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Chicago Cultural Center

                78 East Washington St.