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Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Gov. Beshear and Kentucky Arts Council Create Cultural Districts Certification Program
FRANKFORT, Ky.– Recognizing the enormous economic impact of the arts in Kentucky, Governor Steve Beshear today announced the creation of a statewide cultural district certification program that will showcase Kentucky’s rich cultural heritage in communities statewide and facilitate the promotion of local cultural assets.
“Kentucky has a rich and longstanding arts and cultural heritage, and a well-established statewide arts infrastructure,” Gov. Beshear said. “The Kentucky Cultural Districts Certification Program will promote cultural districts statewide, help revitalize downtown and rural areas, and foster civic pride.”
More than 100 cities in the United States have planned or implemented cultural districts — positioning the arts and culture as the center of revitalization efforts. A cultural district is a well-recognized, labeled, mixed-use area of a community featuring a high concentration of cultural amenities that attract local residents and visitors alike. Specifically, the Kentucky Cultural District Certification Program will:
- Set policies, standards and procedures for the establishment and sustainability of cultural districts.
- Identify and make available technical assistance, training, resources and professional services of other state agencies to facilitate community, economic and tourism development and enhancement through arts and cultural assets.
- Utilize the connections between art, historic preservation and agriculture to create vibrant cultural districts featuring authentic local amenities.
- Develop and implement evaluation criteria and assess certified cultural districts on a regular basis.
“My administration recognizes that a thriving creative sector is a powerful economic development tool and community revitalization asset,” Gov. Beshear said. “This new program will further strengthen these assets, and Kentucky’s vibrant communities.
The Kentucky Arts Council will over see the certification program and is currently accepting applications from communities of all sizes and demographics for cultural district certification. Letters of intent from interested communities are due July 1, 2011.
The Cultural District Certification guidelines, instructions and application are available at http://1.usa.gov/kacCulturalDistricts. For more information about the Cultural District Certification program and the application process, contact Chris Cathers, program branch manager, at christopher.cathers@ky.gov or 502-564-3757, ext. 474.
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