Several years ago, the Yellow Springs Center for the Arts Steering Committee took on the mission to “build and operate an artistically, architecturally, and programmatically distinctive arts center that draws the community together.” A three-day community workshop in 2007 brought more than 300 people together to envision an arts center for Yellow Springs, and a new idea began to emerge: rather than focus only on creating a single structure or new organization, there was a need for a community-wide strategic investment in creative people, organizations, and the spaces in which they work. The Steering Committee expanded its mission to:

• Strengthen Yellow Springs' identity as a center for creativity, innovation, and the arts
• Build organizational capacity to produce, manage, and promote cultural and artistic work in the public arena
• Improve facilities for the creation, presentation, learning, and enjoyment of the arts

This plan has already begun to yield successes with the revitalization of the Yellow Springs Arts Council, development of a public art plan, support for stabilizing the Little Art Theatre, and business planning for the year-round operation of YS Kids Playhouse.