As the old saying goes, "talk is cheap." If you want something done, you've got to be willing to get your hands dirty and take a little action.

Most everyone seems to know that Richmond is rich in cultural history and tradition. We are also blessed with an abundant art scene. But the promotion of, and attendance for, many of these cultural happenings isn't exactly on par with our awareness.

The city's Downtown Master Plan has everyone's focus geared towards transportation, housing, land use and preservation concerns. But there is another plan gaining momentum, which seeks to capitalize on the benefits of what author Richard Florida refers to and commends as "the creative class."

In his books, "The Rise of the Creative Class" and "Who's Your City," Florida uses extensive research to describe our society as one in which the "creative ethos" is increasingly dominant.

Florida traces the fundamental theme that runs through numerous yet seemingly unrelated changes in American society: the growing role of a creative class in our economy.

But what does all this talk of the creative class have to do with Richmond?

Back in January, a task force of art professionals, including those based in the museum, visual and performing art communities as well as cultural and emerging organizations, came together with leaders of the Arts Council of Richmond and other corporate and government representatives to develop Richmond's first Regional Cultural Action Plan.

"The purpose of the plan is for us to think broadly about the city and its arts and cultural scene," said Bill Martin, task force chair and director of the Valentine Richmond History Center.

"What do we know about other places who have been successful in implementing this type of plan? And how does it differ from the way we have always done it in Richmond?"

Step one of this four part cultural action plan was to establish a partnership between the  aforementioned task force and national consulting and research firm, WolfBrown. They have a successful track record helping other cities develop similar plans, such as those in Abilene, TX, Scottsdale, AZ and Cary, NC, among others.

Per the company's online dedication statement, their primary goal is "engagement -- engaging nonprofit leadership, their funders and stakeholders in honest discussions about effectiveness and value, engaging audiences and visitors in deeper and more meaningful experiences, and whole communities in the bold act of envisioning their future."

Part two of this hope-filled story involved talking to stakeholders in the plan, and engaging the ideas of those who work, plan and invest in the city's arts and cultural communities. This included "exhaustive interviews" with leaders and directors of many local museums and galleries, and others involved in Richmond's arts community. 

But an equally important chapter (and part three of the action plan) is a project to figure out the interests, wants and needs of the people these communities serve.

The result: Richmond's very own Cultural Census Survey. The survey is open to every resident of Richmond City, Henrico, Hanover and Chesterfield County and takes only ten minutes to complete.

"[Using] an internet survey, we're using [what] we provide as a museum [to ask] questions that are relevant to what you like to do, things you're interested in," Martin said.

"We're hoping this will be a clear way for people to actually help Richmond's arts and cultural organizations plan their future by using what people's current interests are to decide what their future interests might be."

Knowing that not everyone has access to the Web, the task force is also sending people "to the streets," delivering surveys to senior centers, churches, libraries and other community centers to ensure they collect a broad range of data.

"Our questions are: how do we effectively communicate to the public the excitement of these places; but also, how do we fund and sustain the great things happening here?" Martin said.

"It's about nurturing the organizations that are already here, the rich cultural community we have. Not about finding and funding something new, necessarily, but creating a better understanding of what we already have."

That said, there are questions to be asked here regarding how this plan would go about nurturing the grass root, nonprofit efforts generated by organizations such as Curated Culture.

Curated Culture's First Fridays event, which occurs only one night per month, is credited as a resounding success. Other forms of nightlife in downtown are practically non-existent. So, how does the tax-payer funded (and still incomplete) CenterStage performing arts center fit in?

"It's been shown ... that street level arts and culture is what drives economic impact [in a city]," said Don Harrison, writer of the blog Save Richmond, echoing Richard Florida's ethos of the creative class.

"Richmond has always allowed big business groups to be arbitrators to determine what art is," Harrison said.

"But one thing we can hope is that the art professionals running this thing will do something about that. This doesn't have to be dynamic [and] business driven, but rather, it should recognize the [institutions and efforts] that are doing well and do right by them."

The fourth piece of the puzzle, arguably one of the most important, is investing in the relationship between the ways our art and cultural institutions operate and the opportunities they then deliver to public schools.

"When we first started, I didn’t really know much about cultural planning, and there are in fact a number of communities who have been successful that have participated in projects like this," Martin said.

"From Portland, Oregon, to a place like Charlotte, from Birmingham, Alabama to the Tidewater Area, it's really about getting everyone together in one place, to begin these conversations about how we bring those types of things to Richmond, and what it can look like."

The debate between those who favor a big, bold plan and those who hope for a more local and organic approach, will no doubt continue. But for now at least, it is starting to sound less like an argument and more like a dialogue.

If you are a resident of Richmond City, Hanover, Henrico or Chesterfield County, take ten minutes to fill out the Cultural Census Survey before Thursday, Oct. 30, and pass it along to others you know. A series of public meetings will be held, not only in the city, but in those surrounding counties as well, throughout October and November. Check back with Richmond.com for a schedule of these meetings once they are announced.