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How the Arts and Culture Sector Catalyzes Economic Vitality Page 3 of 5
<br /> important element of economic development
<br /> Recognizing and strengthening existing assets are vital parts of community development and can
<br /> contribute to economic development.Assets Include those related to entertainment(e.g.,theaters,
<br /> performing groups),personal development(e.g.,community centers,bookstores),and education
<br /> (e.g.,schools,museums),as well as more directly to job creation and industry(e.g.,translators,
<br /> designers).Cultural and creative amenities are assets as well as excellent tools for identifying and
<br /> promoting other community assets.Creative-class theory suggests that a high-tech,highly educated
<br /> workforce prefers a location with creative amenities.3 A flourishing arts and culture sector can affect
<br /> where workers In the information economy,especially younger ones,want to live and as such Is
<br /> important for workforce recruitment and retention strategies.*To promote local culture and creativity,
<br /> communities can deem an area or part of town as an arts,cultural,or creative district.A district is
<br /> technically a designation to name and centralize creative assets by locating and drawing attention to
<br /> cultural assets throughout the community.There may be economic incentives to live or work in such a
<br /> district.
<br /> For example,Taos,New Mexico,has a number of designations Intended to promote it as an arts and
<br /> culture magnet.The State of New Mexico has designated Taos an Arts and Cultural Districts The New
<br /> Mexico Arts and Cultural District Resource Team reviews the state of the creative economy and
<br /> emphasizes building upon current assets to develop economic well-being.At the federal level,Taos is
<br /> designated as part of the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area.Additionally,Taos is pursuing
<br /> the New Mexico"Quality of Life"local option tax(a tax incentive to Improve energy and water
<br /> conservation,sustainable building,employment benefits such as job-training programs and employer-
<br /> provided child care,and other quality of life factors)to support the continued formal existence of the
<br /> Arts and Cultural District.It is also considering the construction of an arts-incubator space,to
<br /> complement its affordable housing project,ArtSpace.i Taos's approach to economic development is
<br /> based on asset recognition and directly connected to the arts and culture sector.Another way to
<br /> recognize assets and capitalize on them economically is to find ways to publicize and display the
<br /> community's existing artistic talent and related amenities,such as ethnic foods,costumes,and visual
<br /> arts and crafts.For example,in New Orleans the cultural heritage of Louisiana is celebrated through
<br /> the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.This festival increases tourism through a showcase of
<br /> music of every kind—"jazz,gospel,Cajun,zydeco,blues,R&B,rock,funk,African,Latin,Caribbean,
<br /> and folk to name a few."7
<br /> KEYPOINT S3
<br /> Arts and cultural activities in an area can draw crowds from within
<br /> and around the community
<br /> Arts and cultural activity can Increase attention and foot traffic to an area,Including attracting visitors
<br /> and increasing the length of time and money they spend,thereby contributing to continued
<br /> development.Similarly,the presence of public art and related streetscape amenities such as artist
<br /> designed lighting,signs,and benches is a way to attract pedestrians.
<br /> Arts and cultural activity often attracts attention,whether for casual perusal or artistic investment.
<br /> Such activity can include events at culturally specific facilities such as theaters,museums,music
<br /> clubs,and galleries,as well as cultural activity in venues such as arenas,public parks,community
<br /> centers,and schools.Communities can also develop creative ways to make artistic activity happen in
<br /> vacant or underutilized spaces.Several communities have embraced the practice of promoting
<br /> creative activity in vacant retail windows and storefronts as a revitalization tool.An economic
<br /> redevelopment process can often last several years.In an attempt to temporarily transform a street
<br /> scheduled for redevelopment in Brooklyn,New York,by the local BID,the local arts group Ad Hoc Art
<br /> (http://adhocart.org/site(http://adhocart.org/site))transformed a row of vacant stores into a
<br /> street art gallery.Known as Willoughby Windows,the block of Willoughby Street between Bridge and
<br /> Duffield was turned into a temporary art exhibit,which included a photography-themed screenprint
<br /> where a camera store used to be,woven paper maps,and a large cash register(representative of the
<br /> perceived financial mistakes of Wall Street).*This temporary,creative art exhibit transformed an
<br /> otherwise vacant eyesore into an interesting space for pedestrians.
<br /> Boston Art Windows is a collaboration between the city and local artists aiming to fill vacant
<br /> storefronts in the Downtown Crossing area with exhibits that draw pedestrians.'The space is a
<br /> streetside art gallery incorporating interactive video,lighting,and sound to encourage passersby to
<br /> pause and enjoy the spectacle.One artist's camera records the movements of pedestrians and plays
<br /> them back in time-delayed video loops that eventually cover a screen.The redevelopment authority
<br /> involves curators with the storefront show,seeing the exhibit as an opportunity to facilitate changes to
<br /> Downtown Crossing as economic development continues.
<br /> In Grand Rapids,Michigan,local artists,business owners,and the public engage in an annual creative
<br /> event called Art Prize(www.artprize.org/home(http://www.artprize.org/home)).Art Prize is
<br /> an open contest In which any artist,established or emerging,can show work and any visitor can vote
<br /> on it.In essence,Art Prize is the creation of a context for the city to become a temporary art gallery.
<br /> During this informal creative event,public participation,interaction,and economic development are
<br /> strengthened as more than 100 venues open for it(including local retail and business spaces).More
<br /> than 1,000 people volunteer.The resulting relationships extend beyond the boundaries of the
<br /> competition to strengthen interaction among retail shops,business owners,and the art world.
<br /> Economic benefits of the contest include increased traffic and Improved business.
<br /> KEYPOINT*4
<br /> Planners can make deliberate connections between the arts and
<br /> culture sector and other sectors
<br /> Establishing opportunities for partnerships among various economic sectors and creative professionals
<br /> Is a way to promote economic development.The talents of artists(especially related to design and
<br /> communication)can enhance the value of local products and services and increase their
<br /> dissemination.Partnerships often begin with economic clusters that are closely related to or
<br /> dependent on the design field;examples include marketing,tourism,high-end manufacturing,and
<br /> filmmaking.These economic clusters are groups of organizations with related producers,suppliers,
<br /> distributors,and intermediaries.Proximate organizations can take advantage of shared interests,
<br /> relationships,and economies.10
<br /> Deliberate team building by planners can help artists,designers,and people in related economic
<br /> clusters to their shared advantage.Connecticut,for example,has recently instituted Cultural and
<br /> Tourism Partnership Grants that encourage interdisciplinary collaborations among tourism,historical,
<br /> film,and arts organizations.11 The goal is to help localities develop relationships and strategies to
<br /> improve tourism,an Important goal in economic development.12 The grants support projects such as
<br /> https://www.planning.org/research/arts/briefingpapers/vitality.htm 6/11/2014
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