Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Culture As
Catalyst

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
• Creative Sector as Catalyst is a better
title for this session
• The Creative Sector more inclusive but difficult to
describe…thanks to the quirky nature of the
creators and the products

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
“A comparative definitional approach to
clarify taxonomic issues”

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
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 and
web design
• a broad range of related and interconnected industries that
have their origin in individual creativity

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Why is the Creative Sector Important?
• Intrinsic Value
• Economic Impact
• Community Development
• Regional Image

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Why is the creative sector becoming an
important policy tool?
A confluence of events
• Loss of Manufacturing and
Retail
• Anti Sprawl Efforts
• Sprawl Embraced
• We are moving to a post information
economy, creative economy, knowledge
economy

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
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

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
What’s happening in our region?
West Chester
Ambler
Doylestown

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
New Kensington
Community Development Corporation

Culture as Catalyst
DAY

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Architects rendering of proposed Frankford Avenue
Arts Center – to include a Black Box Theater

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
New Hope – Bucks County
A partnership between a local
developer, Tom Scannapieco
and a community arts group,
New Hope Arts

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
The result…a new community cultural center

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Before
After - New Hope Arts Annual
Juried Indoor Sculpture Exhibition

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Lansdale – Montgomery County
The borough bought the local Masonic Hall to
convert to a regional cultural center as part of
their revitalization strategy

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Rendering of the Lansdale Performing Arts Center Construction to
begin Summer 2007

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Pottstown – Montgomery County
• Village Productions, a regional theater, purchased a
former furniture store with help from the Pottstown
Industrial Development Corporation

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Architect’s rendering of the future
Tri-County Performing Arts Center

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
The Cultural Alliance’s planning and policy work
has 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 arts
into development

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Phoenixville
Chester
Pottstown
New Hope
Lansdale
Norristown, Lansdowne
Local Arts Councils forming
GBCA –
MAC –
ACCBC –
NPRAC
Festivals – Monthly events - First, second, thirds

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
Using the Creative Sector to in economic and community
development:
• 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 creative
sector jobs and bring ancillary businesses
along.
• Identify policy tools available and create a plan
• Working together, regional thinking will
provide strength

Culture as Catalyst
DAY
“Cultural development and economic development…share
one salient characteristic…they are both in the business of
making reality rather than accepting reality.”
--- Joseph Thompson -Founding Director of MASS MoCA

Culture as Catalyst
DAY

Culture as Catalyst
DAY