Cultural District Project

Cultural District Project is sponsored by Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA). This program provides project assistance grants for initiatives that use the arts to diversify local economies, generate revenue, and attract visitors and investment within TCA Designated Cultural Districts. It may include administrative costs directly related to the project.

Cultural Districts Program | Texas Commission on the Arts Cultural Districts Program Home 5 Initiatives 5 Cultural Districts Program As authorized by H. B. 2208 of the 79th Legislature, the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) can designate cultural districts in cities across Texas.

Cultural districts are special zones that harness the power of cultural resources to stimulate economic development and community vitality. These districts can become focal points for generating businesses, attracting tourists, stimulating cultural development and fostering civic pride. Cultural districts can be part of creative placemaking or placekeeping efforts.

It’s important to remember that TCA cultural district designation is most likely to be awarded to a district that is already defined in terms of leadership, geographic boundaries, branding, and current assets. If you are interested in applying for this program, we recommend you read this page and review our training materials about this program.

Goals of cultural districts TCA recognizes that a thriving creative sector is a powerful economic development asset. Cultural district designation is one strategy that helps a community boost their economies while realizing other cultural and civic benefits. The outcomes of cultural districts extend beyond the arts and can benefit all members of a community.

Goals may include: Attracting artists and cultural enterprises to the community . Artists, cultural institutions and creative enterprises all contribute to a community’s economic potential. Not only do they generate direct economic activity, but artists and creative entrepreneurs infuse communities with energy and innovation.

Encouraging business and job development . Cultural districts can create a hub of economic activity that contributes to the community being an appealing place to live, visit and conduct business. A thriving cultural scene helps an area to prosper when consumers drawn to cultural attractions patronize other nearby businesses.

This can result in the creation of new economic opportunities and jobs. Addressing specific needs of a community. Cultural districts are a highly adaptable economic development approach that allows a community to make use of unique conditions, assets and opportunities.

Establishing tourism destinations. Cultural districts are marketable tourism assets that highlight the distinct identity of a community and encourage in-state, out-of-state, and international visitors. Preserving and reusing historic buildings.

Some cultural districts are very involved in historic preservation. Adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of older buildings through preservation tax credits can result in structural and façade improvements. These rehabilitated buildings provide opportunities for affordable artist live/work space and new homes for cultural organizations.

Enhancing property values. Successful districts combine improvements to public spaces (such as parks, waterfronts and pedestrian corridors) along with property development. The redevelopment of abandoned properties, historic sites, and recruiting businesses to occupy vacant spaces can contribute to reduced vacancy rates and enhanced property values.

Fostering local cultural development . The establishment of a cultural district provides a focal point for celebrating and strengthening a community’s cultural identity. Cultural districts highlight existing cultural amenities and work to recruit and establish new artists, cultural industries and organizations.

Every cultural district is unique, but the following challenges can occur in districts large and small and in rural, urban and suburban areas: Gentrification is an unintended consequence of increasing property values. Displacement of existing residents can lead to the loss of a region’s unique and authentic identity and diminish local support. Staffing and administration prove to be one of the most common challenges for local districts.

Many districts are staffed as part-time or volunteer positions. Financing and securing funding for districts is one of the most difficult challenges a local district administrator faces. Even when creative partnerships are used to augment resources, funds for planning and promoting local districts can be difficult to secure.

Relevance to local residents needs to be considered with equal respect to efforts that attract tourism. Districts face hardship when they do not have the support of their own community. Long-term planning contributes to the success of districts.

Planning and evaluation of local efforts can be time consuming and demand extra resources but are crucial to sustaining a local district. Success factors for cultural districts The ideas below have been identified as common success factors among cultural districts, and may serve as indicators for potential success: A unique and authentic identity that highlights what is special about the district and the community is in place.

Community support of the district is in place to ensure continued success. Artists are partners , not products, and are valued as members of the community. Strategic partnerships have been brokered that result in a variety of resources.

A district has sustainable artist live/work spaces that provide artists with a productive environment. A local developer has committed to the cultural district and understands the power of arts and culture in community and economic development. Anchor institutions and special events are in place and they are the cornerstones of the community and the district.

Artist recruitment is an organized effort that shows how a community is willing to welcome new artists and facilitate their establishment. Events and venues are accessible to ensure that participation is available to all of the community and visitors. Clear signage is in place so visitors and the community can recognize the boundaries.

The signage can be enhanced with distinctive logos, maps and other visual materials. A user-friendly website with comprehensive information about the district is available for the community and for visitors. Marketing and promotion efforts are in place to attract visitors, potential residents and new businesses.

Strong amenities such as restaurants, lodging and recreation bolster the efforts of the cultural district. TCA’s guidelines for Cultural District Designation requires districts to report annually on activities in order to maintain their designation status. Reports are due in June of each year.

Please click here to access the report form. Click on download , then open with Adobe Acrobat , save to your computer, fill it in, save your work, and email it to TCA at the address below. For more information, please contact districts@arts.

texas. gov .

List & Map of TCA Cultural Districts Cultural District Program Cultural District Guidelines Cultural District Letter of Intent Cultural District Application Form TCA Cultural Districts Annual Report Form Measuring Success of Cultural Districts Impact of Cultural District Grants NEA -Creative Placemaking Resources To Email (split by comma for multiple emails) Select Catalog Select Catalog Category Catalog (PDF) Complete Catalog (PDF) Sale Catalog (PDF) Cart Catalog (PDF) Export Wishlist as PDF