alliance day 07: culture as catalyst
DESCRIPTION
Culture as Catalyst: Arts as a Tool for Community DevelopmentA forward-looking report on work in the suburbs including recent work in Media, Chester, Kennett Square, and seven other towns and neighborhoods.TRANSCRIPT
Culture As
Catalyst
DAYCulture as Catalyst
DAY
• Creative Sector as Catalyst is a bettertitle for this session
Culture as Catalyst
• The Creative Sector more inclusive but difficult todescribe…thanks to the quirky nature of thecreators and the products
DAY“A comparative definitional approach to
clarify taxonomic issues”
Culture as Catalyst
DAYCulture as Catalyst
In words…
The “creative sector” is comprised of a cluster of industries:
• non profit organizations and for profit businesses
• all arts and culture disciplines
• high technology industries such as software development andweb design
• a broad range of related and interconnected industries thathave their origin in individual creativity
DAYCulture as Catalyst
Why is the Creative Sector Important?
• Intrinsic Value
• Economic Impact
• Community Development
• Regional Image
DAYCulture as Catalyst
Why is the creative sector becoming animportant policy tool?
A confluence of events
• Anti Sprawl Efforts
• Sprawl Embraced
• Loss of Manufacturing andRetail
• We are moving to a post informationeconomy, creative economy, knowledgeeconomy
DAYCulture as Catalyst
What is happening around the country?
• State Legislated Arts & Cultural Districts – Rhode Island,Maryland, Iowa, Texas, Virginia
• Cool Cities Initiatives - Michigan
• Artist & Arts Business Relocation Programs – Paducah KY,Millville, NJ
• Cultural Anchors – North Adams, St. Paul
DAYCulture as Catalyst
What’s happening in our region?
West Chester
Ambler Doylestown
DAYCulture as Catalyst
New Kensington
Community Development Corporation
DAYCulture as Catalyst
DAYCulture as Catalyst
Architects rendering of proposed Frankford AvenueArts Center – to include a Black Box Theater
DAYCulture as Catalyst
New Hope – Bucks County
A partnership between a localdeveloper, Tom Scannapiecoand a community arts group,New Hope Arts
DAYCulture as Catalyst
The result…a new community cultural center
DAYCulture as Catalyst
Before
After - New Hope Arts AnnualJuried Indoor Sculpture Exhibition
DAYCulture as Catalyst
Lansdale – Montgomery County
The borough bought the local Masonic Hall toconvert to a regional cultural center as part oftheir revitalization strategy
DAYCulture as Catalyst
Rendering of the Lansdale Performing Arts Center Construction tobegin Summer 2007
DAYCulture as Catalyst
Pottstown – Montgomery County
• Village Productions, a regional theater, purchased aformer furniture store with help from the PottstownIndustrial Development Corporation
DAYCulture as Catalyst
Architect’s rendering of the futureTri-County Performing Arts Center
DAYCulture as Catalyst
The Cultural Alliance’s planning and policy workhas expanded over the past five years.
Common characteristics of…
Local government recognizes the potential of arts-based revitalization• Artists/ arts organization actively engaged,• Private sector is interested in incorporating the artsinto development
DAYCulture as Catalyst
PhoenixvilleChesterPottstownNew HopeLansdaleNorristown, Lansdowne
Local Arts Councils formingGBCA –MAC –ACCBC –NPRAC
Festivals – Monthly events - First, second, thirds
DAYCulture as Catalyst
• Identify public policy goals –• Improve business district• Improve community image• Increase population• Increase tax base• Provide entertainment for the
community• Use existing cultural resources to attract more
businesses, tourists, patrons, customers• Use incentives to draw elements of the creative
sector to the community to provide creativesector jobs and bring ancillary businessesalong.
• Identify policy tools available and create a plan• Working together, regional thinking will
provide strength
Using the Creative Sector to in economic and communitydevelopment:
DAYCulture as Catalyst
“Cultural development and economic development…shareone salient characteristic…they are both in the business ofmaking reality rather than accepting reality.”
--- Joseph Thompson -Founding Director of MASS MoCA
DAYCulture as Catalyst
DAYCulture as Catalyst