Lexington, KY - What’s a cultural district? The questions of what, where, why and how were answered in a meeting that took place in Frankfort on Thursday, May 3rd in the newly expanded Kentucky Chamber of Commerce building.
Kentucky community leaders involved in tourism, agriculture, arts, historic preservation and business from all over the state were invited to attend. The theme for the meeting - how art impacts local economies and the creation of cultural districts throughout the state - was nicely complemented by the state’s art collection on display throughout the building. Pieces include a large four panel landscape depicting Kentucky’s four seasons by Lexington artist, John Lackey and a large, round, cherry wood conference table where the meeting’s round table discussion took place made by artist, Shawn Strevels of Faulkner Fain furniture makers.
Through its new Cultural District Certification program, the Kentucky Arts Council is committed to creating opportunities for Kentucky communities through the arts. The initiative is supported by Governor Beshear and is designed to help Kentucky communities cultivate broad economic development by leveraging their arts and cultural assets to promote tourism, community development, revitalization and historic preservation, and to celebrate what is unique and individual in each community.
Governor Beshear said of the program, ”This will create benefits that extend far beyond the arts and cultural sector to benefit the Commonwealth as a whole, including national recognition for the program, the use of Kentucky’s existing assets and infrastructure to generate economic activity, encourage business and job development and facilitate community development.”
Kentucky Arts Council executive director, Lori Meadows believes the time to launch the program has never been better than now when there is strong data to support the value of such plans and also at a time when creative energy has never been more productive throughout the state. “Kentucky communities are working very hard to put the arts at the center of downtown revitalization efforts and to explore ways to grow new economic development,” says Meadows. “Through the cultural district certification program we can discuss the supports and structures needed to develop successful programs tailored for individual communities,” Meadows further explained.
The relevance of arts production to local economic development is outlined in a National Governors Association report, New Engines of Growth: Five Roles for Arts, Culture and Design. ”The arts, culture and design can be important components of a comprehensive strategy for growth,” the report states. “They touch the economy at crucial leverage points, including innovation, entrepreneurship, employment, and revitalization in five important ways: It can provide high growth and a dynamic industry cluster as well as helping mature industries become more competitive. Additionally the arts provide innovative places and encourage civic enrichment and can deliver a better prepared workforce.”
Kentucky’s innovative program is cited in the report.
Capitalizing on the positive energy and enthusiasm for the plan, the Kentucky Arts Council hosted the May 3rd gathering and presented a program lead by Dr. Jonathan Katz, CEO of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) which serves as a clearinghouse for data and research about public funding for the arts. Dr. Katz, a leader in the field of cultural issues and trends, strategic planning, cultural policy development, advocacy and leadership, discussed examples he has found in his research from other states where cultural districts and innovative approaches have played important roles in revitalization. Exploring some of the common success factors that have been identified in established programs, Katz provided numerous examples of astounding results in bringing job creation and economic growth to cities both large and small.
“The idea is to enhance and redefine an area’s message,” explained Katz. “Some of these communities have had dramatic turn-arounds in economic development by merely inventorying their cultural assets and promoting what is unique about their area. The point is to sell out rooms and restaurants and to bring people in to the area. With culturally rich environments people are more likely to stay longer and buy more. Travelers want authenticity so communities can be true to themselves and benefit. By being a destination and a culturally rich community, people tend to stay and invest in the community.”
Katz went on to say, “The Kentucky Arts Council’s Cultural District program is designed to yield great returns on investment. It promotes an effective process to draw out the distinctive artistic and cultural aspects of Kentucky’s communities as resources for revitalization, economic development and tourism.” He added, “State governments are challenged all over the US. People look at a state and its communities and try to decide, ‘Do I want to live there, raise my family there, retire there, start my business there?’ People are picking places above jobs. As state’s look at resources to make growth happen, the arts are a great resource."
Katz provided data on a Maryland community with a successful outcome with its cultural districting program. The small community created 1621 jobs in the cultural district and gained 37 million dollars in tax revenues.
The state’s role is to provide certification, technical assistance and incentives such as loan credits, promotion of partnerships, advocacy and resources. The benefits for a community include business and job development, addressing urban and rural needs, establishing tourism destinations, preserving and reusing historic buildings, enhancing property values, and fostering local cultural development. “Programs like this can help prepare artists and designers as entrepreneurs, help local industry be more competitive with creativity standards and provide critical ingredients for innovative spaces and creative practices to attract new businesses encourage innovation and create hubs of development across the Bluegrass,” Katz concluded.
To learn more about the Kentucky Cultural District Certification Program and other news about the Kentucky Arts Council or to read the National Governors Association published report, New Engines of Growth: Five Roles for Arts, Culture and Design, see the website, www.artscouncil.ky.gov.