Arts & Cultural Districts What? Why? How?

Tour for Elected Officials & CandidatesKingston, NY – October 26, 2015

Many Arts/Cultural Districts started in older industrial and

warehouse areas where “disinvestment” was

advancing….New Orleans, LA

Paducah, KY

Raleigh, NC

Cumberland, MD

In urban retail corridors whose heyday was eclipsed by shopping malls….

Historic Third Ward – Milwaukee, WI

Some arts districts partnered with neighborhood groups to redeploy derelict houses…

Paducah, KY

…and create new uses for corner stores

Cumberland, MD Milwaukee, WI

Embassy TheaterCumberland MD

Some re-deployed great public spaces to anchor a

new heyday….

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

Leaving no asset unexplored in the

search for economic anchors & job generation.

NPS Canal Heritage Area Visitor Center Cumberland MD

Kingston faces all of the forms of disinvestment ….

The Arts & Culture are already playing a major role

in Midtown’s turnaround.

Four arts-based manufacturing businesses on Ten Broeck employ more than 60 people.

Three developer-owned buildings are back on the tax role housing 95 arts & crafts workspaces, wholesale showrooms & retail galleries.

RUPCO invested $20 million in Midtown revitalization, building 55 artist live/work units and public gathering spaces.

RUPCO also will invest an additional $20 million in E-Square – an arts & technology live/work hub attracting middle-income “creative workers” to Midtown.

Today, more than 200 people pursue creative livelihoods in Midtown …. driving reinvestment, putting buildings back on the tax role, creating

jobs, & helping build the safety and security that comes from increased activity on the streets.

With your help, we can do more!

What elected officials can do . . .

With your help, we can build partnerships with Kingston’s real estate community and work to

attract new businesses and home buyers.

You can help us build a partnership between the historic preservation community, area educators & building

contractors to develop a “restoration trades industry cluster” that makes

Kingston’s unique building stock “buyer friendly.”

You can help us build partnerships with Kingston’s community development organizations to replicate

national neighborhood revitalization models.

You can help us partner with Midtown’s cultural anchors…

…and with the Business Education Arts & Technology Initiative….B E A T

The Argenta, AK Arts District won a $1 million US Department of Agriculture grant to build an arts & technology innovation hub…

Young entrepreneurs build up Steam > > >

< < < and Launch innovative products.

You can help us partner with Kingston’s new trail system…

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail helps that city of 800,000 generate more tourism revenues than is generated in the whole of the Hudson Valley from Albany to Westchester!

Bloomington, IN used a $3.2 million trail to help the nonprofit arts and culture industry generate $72,276,722 in annual

economic activity and support 3,430 full-time equivalent jobs.

You can help us partner with the City and the County to improve streetscapes

and public transportation

. . . And to create parks and public spaces

You can help us partner with community artists and arts groups to provide an appealing welcome for visitors and residents alike.

Arts Districts across the US provide leadership and workhands-on for these successful revitalization strategies.

With your help, an Arts District in Midtown can too!

Paducah, KY: Population 25,018Paducah’s Lowertown Arts District created in 2000By 2010:

• 1,000+ net new jobs• 234+ net new businesses • 119 building rehabilitations• 27 new buildings• Vacancy rate 2000: 70%; today: 14%• Public investment $49.7 million• Private investment $52.4 million

KEYS TO SUCCESS:Unique partnership between lending institutions, local government, and artists.

A shared vision that affords value to the presence and ability of artists to lead a revitalization effort.

Thank you for your vision & leadership!

We look forward to working with you.