2026-2028 Strategic Plan
A Foundation for the Future
The 2026–2028 Strategic Plan serves as Create Gwinnett's roadmap for implementing the Gwinnett County Creative Economy Plan and advancing creativity as a driver of economic opportunity, community identity, and quality of life throughout Gwinnett County.
This Strategic Plan was developed by the Create Gwinnett Board of Directors following more than 45 stakeholder meetings and conversations with artists, local governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and community leaders from across the county. These discussions helped identify the most significant opportunities, challenges, and priorities facing Gwinnett's creative economy today.
The result is a focused three-year action plan designed to strengthen partnerships, attract new investment, support artists and creative businesses, leverage data and research, and expand access to creative opportunities for Gwinnett County's more than one million residents.
As the lead implementation partner for the Gwinnett County Creative Economy Plan, Create Gwinnett is committed to turning strategy into measurable action through collaboration, innovation, and sustained investment in the people, places, and ideas that shape our community.
Current Priorities
The Gwinnett County Creative Economy Plan established a shared vision for the future. The 2026–2028 Strategic Plan outlines how Create Gwinnett and its partners will lay the foundation for the future:
Create Gwinnett will position Gwinnett County to compete for external resources by serving as a nonprofit vehicle for arts and creative grants for projects throughout the entire county.
What to expect:
-
Establishing an Annual Creative Economy Resource Development Plan with funding targets.
-
Securing external grants to leverage existing funding for new or expanded projects or programs.
-
We’re building a clearer, stronger voice. A countywide creative movement needs a cohesive message and we’re setting the tone.
What to expect:
-
Launching a new website and brand messaging
-
Growing a social media and storytelling strategy
-
Launch tools to help artists, partners, and supporters amplify their work
-
We will open new doors for local artists, cultural workers, and small firms to participate in County projects by lowering barriers and creating fair pathways.
What to expect:
-
Publishing an Annual Roster of Pre-Qualified Creatives
-
Hosting a Creative Business Accelerator cohort annually to create new pathways towards employment.
-
Serving as a partner to increase participation of underrepresented individuals and businesses in the arts & creatives in public placemaking contracts.
-
We will collect, analyze, and share data to guide County planning, advocacy, and resource allocation.
What to expect:
-
Launching an updated Creative Economy Dashboard.
-
Publishing a Creative Directory.
-
Providing data briefs and an Annual Creative Economy Report.
-
Embedding creative sector data in the countywide long-range planning.
-
We will convene and connect leaders across sectors to sustain investment and drive policy innovation.
What to expect:
-
Convening a Creative Economy Roundtable.
-
Producing annual policy briefs on planning, workforce, or economic development.
-
Hosting an Annual Gwinnett Creative Economy Summit.
-
Our Initiatives
The Creative Economy Master Plan and our 2026-2028 Strategic Plan provide the roadmap.
Our initiatives turn that vision into action across Gwinnett County. Explore our initiatives to see creativity in action across Gwinnett County: