Wednesday September 3, 2008
This blog and list is a work in progress, periodically updated and revised. By its very nature, it is a rough document, and we apologize for this unavoidable fact. We welcome your input and/or corrections.
At least 105 municipalities in the US have planned or implemented cultural districts, positioning the arts and culture as the center of revitalization efforts. (*See bottom of this posting for list of all 105) Although many municipalities may indeed have more than one cultural district – be they official or not – this blog is most interested in cases concerning the past 30 years. We are specifically concerned with cases wherein there was some concerted effort – whether by a government entity, a business community or a civic group – to create some kind of cultural district in a specific area, which was organized around pre-existing institutions and, in other cases, around an emerging district of galleries, theaters etc. In some situations, they were organized around a specific historic cultural theme such as Birmingham’s Civil Rights Heritage district. In nearly all instances, there is a hope that such a center of cultural activity will enhance the desirability of an urban area and attract more investment as well as tax paying citizenry to inhabit the municipality. The impact of cultural districts is measurable. The arts and areas with historic structures attract residents and tourists, who also support adjacent businesses such as restaurants, lodging, retail and entertainment. The presence of the arts and cultural opportunities enhances property values, the tax base of the region and the profitability of surrounding businesses. These districts attract a diverse and well-educated workforce—a key incentive for new and relocating businesses. These districts contribute to the creativity and innovation of a community.
Eight states have programs and policies in place, leading to the establishment of 58 local districts.
BELOW IS A LIST OF THE EIGHT STATES AND THEIR RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY FOR THE PROGRAMS:
Indiana: Indiana Arts Commission: http://www.in.gov/arts/
Iowa: Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs: http://www.culturalaffairs.org/
Louisiana: Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism: http://www.crt.state.la.us/
Maryland: Maryland State Arts Council: http://www.msac.org/
New Mexico: New Mexico Main Street Program: http://www.nmmainstreet.org/
Rhode Island: Rhode Island State Council on the Arts: http://www.arts.ri.gov/
Texas: Texas Commission on the Arts: http://www.arts.state.tx.us/
West Virginia: West Virginia Commission on the Arts: http://www.wvculture.org/arts/index.html
AT THIS TIME, FOUR OTHER STATES ARE CONSIDERING SUCH PROGRAMS AND RELATED LEGISLATION IS PENDING:
Illinois: Illinois Arts Council: http://www.state.il.us/agency/iac/
Michigan: Department of Labor and Economic Growth: http://www.michigan.gov/dleg
New York: N/A
Pennsylvania: N/A
No further information about these four states is currently available.
IN TERMS OF STATE PROGRAMS FOR TAX CREDITS:
Admissions & Amusement Tax Exemption for Maryland
Income Tax Credit for Maryland New Mexico and Rhode Island
Preservation Tax Credit for Iowa Louisiana and New Mexico
Property Tax Credit for Iowa and Maryland
Sales Tax Credit for Louisiana and Rhode Island
* LIST OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE PLANNED OR IMPLEMENTED CULTURAL DISTRICTS:
Aimes, IA:
http://www.mainstreetculturaldistrict.com/
Albeuqueque, NM:
http://albuquerque.clubhouseinn.com/apg_1136849999.php
Anchorage, AK:
http://www.artsculture.org/what.asp
Annapolis, MD:
http://authenticart.blogspot.com/2008/01/annapolis-plans-for-new-arts-district.html
Augusta, GA:
http://www.augustaarts.com/
Austin, TX:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/call_ca.htm
Baltimore, MD:
http://baltimore.org/visitors/tour-baltimore/self-guided-tours/mount-vernon-cultural-district
Bellingham, WA:
http://www.newwhatcom.org/
Birmingham, AL:
http://www.proseandphotos.com/birmingham.htm
Boston, MA:
http://www.fenwayculture.org/
Buffalo, NY:
http://allenstreet.com/
Burlington, NJ:
http://www.tourburlington.org/DoArts.html
Cambridge, MA:
http://www.harvardsquare.com/ae.aspx
Camden, NJ:
http://www.camdenwaterfront.com/cooper.asp
Charlotte, NC:
http://www.noda.org/
Chattanooga, TN:
http://www.bluffviewartdistrict.com/
Cincinattie, OH:
http://www.irhine.com/index.jsp
Cleaveland, OH:
http://www.universitycircle.org/
Columbia, OH:
http://www.columbiastation.com/index2.shtml
Columbus, OH:
http://www.shortnorth.org/
Covington, KY:
http://www.covingtonarts.com/
Dallas, TX:
http://www.artsdistrict.org/
Decorah, IA:
http://www.covingtonarts.com/
Deland, FL:
http://www.deland.org/commdev/develop.htm
Denison, TX:
http://www.denisontx.com/quality/recreation.htm
Denver, CO:
http://www.tscd.org/
Des Moines, IA:
http://www.rooseveltculturaldistrict.com/links.html
Detroit, MI:
http://outside.in/Cultural_District_Detroit_MI
Eureka, CA:
http://www.ci.eureka.ca.gov/default.asp
Evansville, IN:
http://www.bsu.edu/capic/culturalindy/districts/indiana/rfp/inave_blueprint_history.pdf
Flint, MI:
http://www.mott.org/Home/publications/Mott%20Mosaic/December2007/flint%20December%202007.aspx
Fort Worth, TX:
http://www.fwculture.com/
Ft Lauderdale, FL:
http://www.goriverwalk.com/
Gainesville, FL:
http://www.cityofgainesville.org/comdev/plan/histpres.shtml
Grinnel, IA:
http://www.poweshiekcountyiowa.com/blog/?p=36
Hartford, CT:
http://www.cceda.state.ct.us/adriaen/index.htm
Houma, LA:
http://www.discoverourtown.com/LA/Houma/Organizations-34.html
Houston, TX:
http://www.ccculturaldistrict.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18
Indianapolis, IN: http://www.indydt.com/culturaldistricts.html
Iowa City, IA:
http://icdowntown.com/
Jersey City, NJ:
http://www.jcedc.org/new/waldofaqnew.html
Kettering, OH:
http://www.ci.kettering.oh.us/
Lafayette, LA:
http://www.acadianacenterforthearts.org/
Long Beach, CA:
http://www.visitlongbeach.com/listings/index.cfm?catid=41&navID=30
Louisville, KY:
http://www.downtowndevelopmentcorp.org/
Lubbock, TX:
http://www.lubbockarts.org/socd.asp
Lynn, MA:
http://www.lynndevelopment.com/NEWS2004/12_07_04_dei.htm
Manchester, NH: http://www.offbeattravel.com/tji-manchester-new-hampshire.html
Marion, IL:
http://www.cityofmarionil.gov/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=2
Miami, Fl:
http://www.miamiartspace.com/?p=5
Miami Beach, FL:
http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/CANDO/
Minneapolis, MN:
http://northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.com/
Mobile, AL:
http://www.mobilearts.org/
Mount Vernon, NY:
http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/urban/ccpd/districtgroup.pdf
Newark, NJ:
http://www.lpccd.org/
New Brunswick, NJ:
http://www.newbrunswick.com/content.php?content=Board%20Of%20Directors_block
New Haven, CT:
http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/economicdevelopment/culturalaffairs.asp
New Orleans, LA:
http://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/neighborhoodguide/artsdistrict.html
New York City, NY: Currently, there are four such projects, two with official status and two that are being developed. See below.
1) http://fabnyc.org/
2) http://www.dbpartnership.org/lookingahead/bamcd/
3) http://www.bronxarts.org/southbronxculturalcorridor.asp
4) http://www.jamaicafunk.org/djcd/jamaica/
North Hollywood, CA:
http://www.nohoartsdistrict.com/default.asp
Oakland, CA:
http://www.jingletown.org/
Peekskill NY:
http://www.peekskillartscouncil.org/art_.php See
Philadelphia, PA:
http://www.avenueofthearts.org/index.php
Phoenix, AZ:
http://www.phoenixartspace.com/articles/144
Pittsburgh, PA:
http://www.pgharts.org/
Portland, ME:
http://www.portlandmaine.com/index.php?sec=3Portland,OR
Providence, RI:
http://www.providenceri.com/ArtCultureTourism/tax_incentives-local.html
Quincy, IL:
http://www.ci.quincy.il.us/PD/Preservation/QLLDD.htm
Racine, WI:
http://racine.wi.net/tourfp.php3
Raleigh, NC:
http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_306_203_0_43/http%3B/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/project/public/livable_streets/cultural_convention.htm
Riverhead, NY:
http://www.riverheadli.com/planning.html
Rochester, NY:
http://www.artsrochester.org/
Rockford, IL:
http://www.riverdistrict.com/about.htm
Rock Island, IL:
http://www.ridistrict.com/
Sacramento, CA:
http://www.sacforart.com/nsac.html
San Diego, CA:
http://www.foothillcd.com/
San Jose, CA:
http://www.sjdowntown.com/sofa/
Santa Barbara, CA:
http://www.santabarbaradowntown.com/
Santa Fe, NM:
http://www.canyonroadarts.com/
Sarasota, FL:
http://www.sarasotagov.com/Planning/ProjectsPrograms/CulturalDistrictMP/CulturalDistrictHP.html
Savannah, GA:
http://www.savannahvisit.com/visitors_artsculture.asp?0=3
Scottsdale, AZ:
http://www.scottsdalegalleries.com/
Seattle, WA:
http://www.nwculture.com/NWC/CityDistricts/Fremont/1HP/1FS/1FhpFS.html
Sedalia, MO:
http://ci.sedalia.mo.us/filestorage/190/196/GIS_Map_DowntownDistricts.pdf
St. Louis, MO:
http://www.grandcenter.org
St. Paul, MN:
http://www.stpaul.gov/index.asp?NID=1166
Tacoma, WA:
http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=562 See
Tampa, FL:
http://www.tampachamber.com/ti_arts.asp
Temecula, CA:
http://www.cityoftemecula.org/Temecula/Residents/Arts/
Trenton, NJ:
http://www.trentonnj.org/documents/planning_downtownmasterplan/ch_4_Capital_District.pdf
Troy, NY:
http://www.uncle-sams-home.com/ush_rsrc.html
Tuscon, AZ:
http://www.homeandabroad.com/c/85/Site/116403_Tucson_Arts_District_visit.html
Van Buren, AR:
http://www.vanburen.org/
Ventura, CA:
http://www.cityofventura.net/community_services/cultural_affairs/
Washington, DC: http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/information2546/information_show.htm?doc_id=337121
Willimantic, CT: http://www.willimanticstreetfest.com/wri.htm
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
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