In 2011, the Bastrop Arts In Public Places (BAIPP) Board was created and was instrumental in creating a strong display of public art in the downtown area. Bastrop was designated by the Texas Commission on the Arts as a Cultural Arts District in 2012, because of its immense wealth of arts and culture institutions and offerings.
City Council adopted the CAMP as presented by the BAIPP Board in September 2019. The purpose of the CAMP is to harness the ideas and energy of local residents and combine them with national best practices. As a result, Bastrop can support the development of authentic environments and vibrant experiences for everyone. It provides a roadmap for harnessing partnerships with local artists and arts and culture organizations.
A Cultural Arts Master Plan Ad Hoc Working Group was created shortly after City Council adopted the CAMP in February 2020. The group was assigned the task of making recommendations to the City Council regarding the approach to implement the CAMP. The CAMP Working Group identified the following priorities: diversity and inclusivity; partnerships and collaboration; political, social, and economic stability of the arts; accountability and transparency; effective management of the CAMP; and promotion of Bastrop as an Arts Destination. From this recommendation, the Cultural Arts Commission was formed in January 2021.