Situational Analysis
This SWOT was developed through the feedback of approximately 500 community participants of focus groups, surveys, an open house event, a Wailuku arts leadership huaka'i and District Plan Advisory Committee meetings from Feb 3 - June 23, 2022. Trends are in bold and will be addressed in the Plan's goals & objectives as our work continues. A Wailuku Arts District Management Plan draft will be submitted to the County of Maui by the end of calendar year 2022, per our project timetable.
STRENGTHS
- The area hosts a core concentration of performing arts that have already organized as Wailuku Performing Arts Alliance
- Exciting collection of place-based public art created through community consultations/ storytelling
- Its central location promotes accessibility
- Strong sense of identity, community, and collaboration
- Concentration of well-established, well-known, and well-loved arts organizations, artists, and studios
- Pre-existing national investment (MAPA + ST*BA) of vision and merit-based arts advancement
- An established, well-coordinated community event that was very well attended (proof of concept): First Friday
- Presence of food & beverage establishments with which to coordinate pre-and post-event patronage
- Clean & Safe
- Diversity, both within our community and through the diversity of art offerings
- Strong momentum (e.g. parking structure)
- District size accommodates a walkable, friendly area
- Wailuku's history as a gathering place for the islands. We're just one link in a long chain of arts experiences that come from Wailuku
WEAKNESSES
- Uncoordinated scheduling (Bursts of activity vs. consistency)
- Uncoordinated marketing
- No central hub of communications for Wailuku players (e.g. grassroots Mother's Day planning)
- Similar donor base may create competition
- No common long-term vision yet for the future of arts in Wailuku
- Unofficial coordinated interaction with public sector (including police, government services, elected officials) for things like: emptying and maintaining trash cans, sweeping, banner installation and maintenance, event lighting maintenance and timers, landscaping and irrigation timers, weeding, occasional graffiti removal, removing handbills from light poles, power washing.
- Funding for the arts is not prioritized (in general)
- Safety
- No venue geared toward orchestra or dance performance (e.g. acoustics, lack of piano/ logistics to move one in and out, no wings)
- No communal art gallery (for music + visual arts pop-up opportunities)
- Parking
OPPORTUNITIES
- Amplify Wailuku's unique story and identity as it relates to Island/ County/ State/ County/ Globe
- Infusion of co-branded/ District marketing exposure
- Maui attracts art buyers & audience members that can benefit from increased promotion
- New H.O.A. complex (amphitheater, space rental, parking)
- Improved infrastructure
- Increased economic stimulation and interest in the area following Wailuku Redevelopment Area improvements (i.e. more opportunities for coordination with businesses, restaurants, and potential purveyors of the arts)
- Expand/ develop First Friday ("make every day First Friday") with additional neighborhood events and quarterly themes for all tenants to interpret/ celebrate, as well as a "Signature" annual Wailuku event
- Centralized information hub & point-of-contact ("District Coordinator/ Manager") for Wailuku activities, events, specials, news
- Cross-pollination amongst art forms and programs throughout Wailuku
- "Opportunity Zone" benefits (ending soon!)
- More arts opportunities = more jobs created
- Spaces for more food & beverage establishments
- Community demand for safe, affordable, locally-driven events and spaces and support for local artists
- Opportunities to honor and preserve culture and history in Wailuku/ community demand to uplift and support culturally significant art forms
THREATS
- Sustainable funding
- Economic downturns
- Tourism impacts/mitigation
- Frequently changing political climate (elections every two (County Council) & four (Mayor) yrs.)
- Gentrification
- Commercialization (I would love to flesh this one out with the group)
- Cost of safety needs (tax payer impacts)
- Cultural exploitation/ insensitivity
- Competition for limited space (and associated price impacts)
- Exclusivity