During a virtual town hall on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Vanessa Cooksey, President and CEO of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RAC), reflected on RAC’s impact on the St. Louis region’s arts and culture sector over the past 40 years, including progress made during her five-year tenure.
Cooksey also outlined what creatives and nonprofit organizations can expect from RAC’s 2026 grantmaking and shared an update on the Community Arts Training (CAT) Institute. The CAT Institute will begin operating as an independent nonprofit in 2026, with continued support from RAC. Learn more about the future of the CAT Institute.
She then previewed RAC’s strategic roadmap for 2026–2030 – a months-long planning effort that defines RAC’s priorities, goals, and intended outcomes for the next five years.
As the leading public investor in arts and culture experiences that add quality to life in the St. Louis region, RAC is positioning both the organization and the sector to strengthen quality of life across the region – helping establish the region as an outstanding place to live, work, and visit, and advancing St. Louis’ place as a national model of elevating arts and culture as catalyst for placemaking.
View the recorded town hall below to learn more.
Click the strategic roadmap graphic below to view or download.
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