Alliance Day 07: Culture As Catalyst

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