The Power of Partnership: Co-Designing an Evaluation Strategy for the Arts

Evaluators can play a critical role in shaping the future of community-driven initiatives by fostering shared leadership and co-learning. Houston's seven Cultural Districts represent the vitality and history of the local arts ecosystem—from long-standing, world-class institutions to emerging, genre-diverse, and neighborhood-bound organizations. Over the past few years Houston Endowment has supported the Districts in building infrastructural capacity and acting collectively to increase regional vibrancy. Hatch Creative Strategy led the development of an evaluation framework that balances learning and evaluation priorities of each district with the collective impact of the group. This panel brings together the evaluator, community arts leaders, and foundation representatives to discuss the collaborative process of designing an evaluation strategy that serves multiple stakeholders. Panelists will share insights on co-creating evaluation plans that reflect diverse perspectives, foster shared leadership, and build sustainable infrastructure for long-term impact. Participants will gain practical strategies for structuring inclusive, community-centered evaluation initiatives.
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