The Observation Deck

[b]“To Be Or Not To Be…An Arts District in Lakewood?â€Â

What does is exactly mean to be an "Arts District"?

That is what the purpose of the forum is intended to determine....what is an arts district? Other questions that we will try to get panelists perspective on include...how is an arts district an economic driver? what are examples of successful arts districts? what are the key steps in establishing an arts district? what about Lakewood makes it a good location for an arts district? ...and many more.

Great turnout tonight.

Kudos to Jay Foran and Lakewood Alive for presenting a blue-ribbon panel and a great program.

For those of you who missed it, it's going to run on the local cable access channel.

The program gave a wonderful overview of the basic issues involved in Arts Districts (or to be more technical, an Arts Districts Overlay), how they can work as economic engines, and the cultural and economic benefits that can last (and continue to grow) from their development.

Thanks again to everyone involved in the program.

LakewoodAlive's Jay Foran introduces Dan Cufaro, Tom Schorgl, Kathleen Cerveny, and Art Falco.


Nice job, nice night.

A tip of the hat to Lakewood Alive.

more in my photo blog



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looks like a nice crowd attended!

Justine-

An arts district is basically a zoning designation that usually involves some form of live/work cross zoning permissions. There really isn't more to it than that.

How you market a district or what you try and grow in your district is what makes an area flourish (or not).

There are all sorts of different types of arts or cultural districts and there isn't a one-size-fits-most explanation...

My photo blog is now up as well.

And now for the money shot of the evening:



Gary Rice showing Councilman Demro the finer points of saw playing.

Several panelists said tonight that the specific form a Lakewood Arts District might take would require leadership to champion a vision and "bird dog" it through all the steps and hurdles into reality.

So we must ask ourselves, "How would this arts district would fit into Lakewood's broader development plan?"

One part is simple: the city would love a destination district filled with galleries, workshops, and performance venues (rather than empty storefronts). Most likely this would anchor on/around the Beck (in its new location?) and blend with existing (and new?) restaurants. (We'll punt on the parking question for the moment.)

But here's the hard part: what is the business plan for the arts district? How will it stand economically on its own two feet? How does it plan to generate the cash to make it sustainable year in, year out? Are we selling tickets? Paintings on the wall? Teaching services? Or just rents (artists in their live/work space)?

To get real will require a clear-eyed business analysis. We should resist the temptation to rely overmuch on foundation and government grants because a) these sources eventually dry up; and b) they're a crutch, they encourage business planning with "fuzzy math." If we know we have to pull our own weight the whole way through, we'll be more practical and therefore more likely to succeed in the long-term.

I'd love to participate in a Lakewood Arts District Forum Part II: The Business Plan when we sift through these questions.

all this sounds really good and encouraging, and I'm certainly all for it! I'm curious if there is any perceived downside to an Arts District overlay, or is it really a win-win situation for everyone?

Nice pictures, David,

A great night for Lakewood, as well.

Support for the Arts involves more than zoning changes.

Professional artists and musicians need to eat, as well. While there are many part-time devotees of the arts, artists, theater people, and musicians, all need to earn their daily bread for a living wage.

All too often, they nearly starve, or are forced to change their art for the almighty dollar.

As well known as Steven Foster was in the 19th century, for example, he died in near obscurity, as did so many others who tried to create, in the face of an impassive world.

Here are a couple of my poems highlighting this type of situation:

A Haiku: (by me)

Dreams

For money,
Do the dreams
Of artists...die?

Or, in virtual Iambic Pentameter: (again by me)

Honor

Still life, amid the distant, sleeping shore,
Lakewood casts its spell forevermore.
And in the casting, Truth would seem to tell,
For Poets, now and ever, all is well!
And recognition, fleeting on the breeze,
Compares to what? Bare mention, if you please.
Until one day, all honor heaps upon the Poets' heads,
Which, all too often, finds the Poets dead.

I guess I'm supposed to add- for both selections; copyright 2007 Gary R. Rice all rights reserved

Let's give due credit to Lakewood's poets, musicians, artists, photographers, philosophers and dreamers, while they are still alive and well! They add so much to the Pulse of our City.

Does an art district create a wealthy community or does a wealthy community create an art district?

Bill Call wrote:Does an art district create a wealthy community or does a wealthy community create an art district?

Bill

Last night the example used, which I believe is correct is: Create a space where artists feel welcomed, (something the LO has worked on from day one), then according to Mr. Mulready, coffee shops and artsy places spring up around it. (Part of the LO development package). Soon they are replaced with more upscale galleries. At this point those pesky artists can no longer afford to live there, sell their homes for 300% more than they bought, and corporate America comes in and buys "cool."

This is why I asked early on, "Are we looking to help art or patrons?" They rarely live in the same area.

In the end it is all good, if an artist make $300,000 selling property to those looking to buy cool, or if they make it painting, does it really matter?

The major talking points in Phoenix, the "groovy" coffee shop that is already here was, You could buy a double in Tremont for $30,000 at one point and singles for $20,000 - $50,000. Some were had by squatting. Made it very easy for artists that tend to be broke to get in the door. Lakewood has nothing for under $100,000. that means it is much tougher to get the "host" in for the others to feed off of.

To be sustainable, think of silk worms.

What I got a kick out of, one of the major examples used last night, was what some some might call a very, very early Lakewood Observer project.

No matter it all plays into the goal of the Observer from Day One which many thought silly, stupid and scary. Make Lakewood as nice as it can be. Work together to promote the civic and artistic intelligence, and build a community that is clean, safe, secure and friendly.

In other words, like Chautauqua or Berkley in the early 60s.

It is the brand building that will make this possible.

The city has a long way to go.

Bill Call wrote:Does an art district create a wealthy community or does a wealthy community create an art district?

Sometimes both and sometimes neither.

A city (or county or political subdivision) can designate an arts district overlay and it can find ways to encourage growth of one or many districts within the overlay.

Some cities try to create arts districts by building new facilities and locating them in the same way you might land a spaceship in the middle of a field. This isn't a good way to go about the process. The best way to make an arts district is to build on what is already there. And "Arts" have a very broad definition.

Jimmy mentions Tremont, which is not a designated arts district. But housing was cheap and available, so artists came, coffee shops and restaurants followed. Housing prices have risen ever since and the neighborhood has benfitted.

The only official live/work arts district overlay designated in Cleveland is in the St. Clair/Superior neighborhood. That has gone a long way in attracting more artists who want to live in empty industrial space.

Obviously, Lakewood doesn't have large empty industrial buildings.

What we do have are empty storefronts and places that used to be zoned commercial that reverted back to a residential designation.

One reason to designate an arts district is for marketing purposes, but as was mentioned at the meeting was the need for champions. Madison Village wouldn't have become Madison Village without Chris Andrews, who encouraged a number of people to come to Lakewood to open up a bunch of funky shops. Suddenly there was an area that had quite a distinct flavor. Chris was a champion of a certain type, but one champion does not fit all.

Arts districts are unique and organic. You just can't manufacture them.