The Smiley Building, the Powerhouse Science Center, the Durango Arts Center and other cultural institutions in town could have the makings of a Colorado Certified Creative District.
A group working on the first arts and culture section of the city’s Comprehensive Plan wants the city to apply for the state distinction.
“The creative district really supports all types of working artists,” said Sheri Rochford Figgs, a group member.
District designation is the first in a series of three priorities. The group also wants to form a creative economy commission to help organize efforts, and a find a designated funding source for arts in town.
The Durango City Council will consider and may revise the arts and culture portion of the comp plan before it is approved in April.
“It’s a first step. We know it’s a process, but we’re hoping that future city councilors will keep supporting this,” Figgs said of the comp plan.
To become a creative district, the state requires the city to back the application, which must identify a single geographic area with a high concentration of creative organizations, businesses and venues as the district.
Communities most also show there is or will be sustainable funding source and a paid district program manager, according to the application. There must be an operating budget of $10,000 in place at the time of the application.
If accepted into the program, the district could receive $10,000 in matching funding from the state and funding for technical assistance to develop the district.
District designation would be an investment in the arts, and it could help promote Durango as a destination and encourage visitors to stay longer in town, Figgs said.
The working group that represents both nonprofits and businesses agreed last week that working together on a district is the best way to achieve the goals in the comp plan.
The goals include more collaboration between arts and cultural groups. Collaboration could include a master calendar and some administrative support. A creative economy commission could help organize some of the efforts.
The group would also like to see new venues, including a mid-size performance venue that would seat 250 to 300 people, a large venue that could seat 5,000 to 15,000 people and more art in public, such as performances and murals.
Residents suggested some strategies to achieve the goals at a recent meetings.
Rochester Hotel and The Leland House owner Kirk Komick suggested the arts and culture businesses consider adding a fee to their own products or services to fund improvements.
He based the idea around to the city’s lodgers tax, which is mostly used to market Durango.
Tim Wheeler, former owner of the Durango Coffee Co., asked the group to consider identifying indicators of success as the plan is implemented.
“I want to be able to talk to skeptics about why is this important,” he said.
Other members of the audience at the working group meeting asked the city to collaborate with the county on the goals.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
