Staunton Establishes Arts and Culture District
The Business of Culture: Growing the Arts Community

The City of Staunton, in conjunction with the Arts and Culture Council of Staunton, announce the formation of a new overlay district ordinance - designed to recognize, strengthen and promote the local arts community. The district will officially launch October 17th, with a new name and a kick-off series of events.

Over the last decade, Staunton has become home to a growing cluster of arts, historic and cultural organizations. Recognizing that the identity of a branded district is stronger than any of its individual components, leaders of these groups initiated a grassroots campaign to form a coordinated local art and culture district. The creation of a local arts district was made possible when the General Assembly passed, and the Governor signed, enabling legislation earlier this year.

Passage of the local ordinance followed months of discussions between city officials and the local arts and culture community, with the support of the Staunton Downtown Development Association (SDDA) and the Staunton Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (CVB.)

While the ordinance does not specify any economic incentives for cultural groups to locate or expand inside the district boundaries, these may be added in the future. No public funds were allocated to start or manage the district.

For now, the district will serve as a marketing tool for the arts community to attract locals and visitors to cultural events. Goals of the district include:

• Increase community awareness, knowledge, and support of arts and culture
• Stabilize and expand existing arts organizations
• Enable and encourage collaboration within the cultural community
• Recruit new organizations to relocate to or start up in the area of the district
• Encourage the opening of complementary businesses
  

A marketing brochure including a district map is being printed this week and will soo be available at area arts locations, retail shops, hotels and visitor centers in the next few weeks. The City, along with the Arts and Culture Council, will announce further details as they become available, such as a Web site address and an online arts calendar.

Economic Development Asset

The new arts and culture district will serve as both an economic development and tourism tool. Although a relatively untapped resource in Virginia, arts and cultural districts are an increasingly popular economic development catalyst for local governments across the country.

Experts suggest that cities with thriving cultural hubs attract more residents and more desirable businesses over the long term. “There is growing recognition of a synergy between economic and creative forces, and we want to be on the forward edge of this movement,” says Amanda Huffman, Assistant Director of Economic Development.

Staunton’s Arts and Culture District will be used in conjunction with the Main Street District, the city’s Historic Districts, and the Enterprise Zone District as part of Staunton’s overall revitalization strategy. The districts roughly correlate geographically.

Quotes

“Establishing the Arts and Culture District helps continue Staunton’s leadership in promoting culture to improve residents’ lives, attract tourists and make a positive economic impact. In today’s economy, the new district will be an even more valuable tool to help local residents and businesses to thrive.”

- Erik Curren, Chairman of the Arts and Culture Council; and Director of
Marketing at the American Shakespeare Center

“Through the creation of the district overlay, we want to encourage economic sustainability, reinforce our unique artistic identity, provide community building through participation in the arts and culture, and enhance overall quality of life.”

- Bill Hamilton, Director of Economic Development

“Staunton’s growing cultural momentum is gaining the respect of both residents and visitors. Cultural tourists stay longer and spend more, and we’ve historically had a strong interest from this group. We anticipate that the formation of the new district will help drive even more traffic to Staunton.”

- Sheryl Wagner, Director of Tourism

Note to Media

A list of participating stakeholders is attached.

Arts and Culture Council of Staunton | Participating Stakeholders

Established in 2008, the Arts and Culture Council of Staunton is dedicated to supporting the fine and performing arts as well as cultural offerings in the city. The group led the successful effort to establish Staunton’s Arts and Culture District, one of the first active cultural districts in Virginia.

Members of the council include groups performing live theatre and music; galleries and artists offering painting, sculpture, and crafts; and museums and historic sites. These stakeholders are united in their desire to preserve and enhance Staunton’s unique arts and entertainment offerings:

• American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse
• Augusta County Historical Society
• Beverley Street Studio School Gallery
• Center Stage!
• Co-Art Gallery
• Gallery 234
• Mary Baldwin College Fine Arts
• Historic Staunton Foundation
• ShenanArts
• Staunton Augusta Art Center
• Staunton Music Festival
• Staunton Performing Arts Center
• Stuart Hall School
• Sunspots Studios
• Valley Symphonic Concerts
• Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum
• Wysiwyg Gallery