In a joint statement the National Governors Association and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) states, “The non-profit arts industry... ...is a potent force in economic development nationwide. States and communities have integrated the arts into their economic development arsenal to achieve a wide range of direct and indirect economic goals.” Additional data shows how the arts can improve a community by...

•Leveraging human capital and cultural resources to generate economic vitality in under-performing regions through tourism, crafts, and cultural attractions;•Restoring and revitalizing communities by serving as a centerpiece for downtown redevelopment and cultural renewal;•Creating vibrant public spaces integrated with natural amenities, resulting in improved urban quality of life, expanded business and tax revenue base, and positive regional and community image; and•Contributing to a region's "innovation habitat" by simultaneously improving regional quality of life -- making communities more attractive to highly desirable, knowledge-based employees -- and permitting new forms of knowledge-intensive production to flourish.

Consider…

Real Estate Working Group…Strategic Goal: Product Development

• Develop the physical and organizational structures needed to establish Downtown Rockford as an attractive destination for creative talent to live, work and play.• Facilitate real estate development that provides the necessary infrastructure and space to achieve the mission of The Element.

Strategic Goal: Marketing and Promotion

• To implement marketing programs locally, regionally and nationally to create awareness of Downtown Rockford housing artist’s housing opportunities.

Strategic Goal: Product Development

Strategic Goal: Marketing and Promotion

• Arts and Creativity Zoning Overlay District

• Great Downtown Open House Group

• 3rd and Prairie Project

• Project ARTSPACE Rockford

• www.theelementconnections.com

“Preparing the Canvas”Incentives for Downtown “Arts and Creativity” Development

•Zoning - COMPLETED•Building Codes – Task List

Time saved equals money saved…

Arts and Creativity Zoning Overlay District…

Define Customer, Product, Boundaries…

• Who is the “Artist”

• What is the “Product”

• Where is “The District”

Arts and Creativity Zoning Overlay District…

Zoning

• Artists defined as… “An individual who practices in the creation, manufacture, exposition, display, sale, teaching, instruction, or assemblage of art in any form or media, including but not limited to persons engaged in: culinary arts (except as would qualify as a restaurant); painters (excluding painting contractors); sculptors; authors; screenwriters; playwrights; film makers; dancers; potters; weavers; jewelers; exhibitors; printers; costumers; musicians; photographers; architects; engineers; designers; computer programmers; video game developers; and other similar or related uses as approved by the Zoning Officer…

• Creative career professionals• Retailers – traditional and specialty• Restaurant and Bar Entrepreneurs

Arts and Creativity Zoning Overlay District…

WHO - The “Customer”

• Artist work/sales space • Artisan Shops• Galleries

• Artist live/work space• Lofts

• Cultural facilities• Schools• Venues - Music, Multi-Art, Presentation…

Arts and Creativity Zoning Overlay District…

WHAT – The “Product”

Arts and Creativity Zoning Overlay District…

WHERE - “The District”

• The purpose of the Arts and Creativity District Overlay is to facilitate improvements to land and structures within the district, and to encourage artistic, cultural and creative resources therein. This district will overlay properties in areas already classified in other districts.

• The overlay is designed to achieve the following objectives:• To promote development and interest in the district;• To allow a mix of artistic, cultural and creative uses;• To allow a flexibility of uses and development standards;• To implement and compliment the River District Framework Plan.

Arts and Creativity Zoning Overlay District…

Purpose

• Incentives• Permitted Uses• Special Uses• Parking• Signage• TIME by the reduction of “red tape”• Assistance via The ELEMENT

Arts and Creativity Zoning Overlay District…

The Anticipated Results…

The collaboration between The ELEMENT,The River District, The City of Rockford and property owners and representatives is intended to heighten awareness of opportunities to live downtown both now and in the near future.

The Great Downtown Open House Collective…

The Great Downtown Open House Collective…

3 Collaborative Events…

The Great Downtown Open House Collective…

14 participating properties…

Arts and Creativity Zoning Overlay District…

3rd and Prairie project concept

The Artspace Mission:Artspace’s mission is to create, foster, and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations.

Project ARTSPACE - Rockford

Project ARTSPACE - Timeline

Were do we go from here…

1. COMMUNICATION….2. The ELEMENT Artist Survey

a. Help us get to know youb. Continued name collection…

3. Continued Fund Development4. The ARTSPACE Survey

a. RELEASE Mid-Februaryb. Results and conclusion…

WWW.THEELEMENTCONNECTIONS.COM

Survey close date January 31, 2010!

Change Creativity is thinking up new things,

Innovation is doing new things.A powerful idea can kick around unused ...for years,

not because its merits are not recognized,but because nobody has assumed the responsibility

for converting it from words into action. Ideas are useless, unless used.

The proof of their value is only in their implementation

Theodore Leavitt , from INC magazine