Bremerton Symphony Association
“These students rarely if ever get to participate in arts and culture experiences. This was only possible because of arts funding the Symphony received from the state.” – Bremerton Symphony Association
Getting your community certified as a Creative District is a simple process and can be achieved in four basic steps:
Gather your community planning team.
This team should be made of a broad group of community members. They will work together to develop a plan for your Creative District. Team members may include:
- Artists
- Local business owners
- Arts and culture activity administrators
- Local government
- Business or downtown associations
- School districts and/or colleges
- Economic developers
- Community members at-large
Plan your District.
We’ve created a Community Readiness Toolkit to help you plan your District. The amount of time planning takes will vary from community to community. We provide technical assistance and guidance along the way. Please refer to the Pre-Application Checklist to confirm that your District meets minimum requirements. Once you meet all the requirements, you can apply for certification.
Apply for Creative District Certification.
After you’ve created a plan for your District, you can submit a formal application to ArtsWA. Please review the Application Guidelines to make sure you are following the process. Once you apply, a review panel will meet to discuss your application. The panel then decides whether to grant certification.
Begin your Creative District activities.
Once you receive certification as a Creative District, put your plan into action. Start tracking the progress of your Creative District. We will continue to provide technical assistance along the way as you increase the vibrancy of your community. Your District certification will last for five years, when you can apply for recertification.
Creative Districts
Creative Districts helps Washington communities thrive. This award-winning program works to grow the creative sector. It helps communities turn cultural activities into economic growth.
In March 2019, ArtsWA received the Innovation in Economic Development Award from WEDA. The award is for programs that significantly improve a community’s ability to attract and keep investment.
What is a Certified Creative District?
A Creative District is a fun place to live, work, and visit. It’s geographically defined area of cultural and economic activity. It’s the heart of a community. It is a place for people to gather and enjoy their community’s arts and culture.
A district is a place where innovation and creativity can thrive. A place that helps the community move enthusiastically into the future.
How will certification benefit your community?
State certification endorses creative activities in your community. It recognizes the potential for growth. Certification can help you:
- Promote your community’s creative identity
- Grow jobs in the creative sector
- Increase tourism and bring new visitors
- Attract artists, start-ups, and creative businesses
- Create opportunities for affordable housing. This may include live/work and maker spaces for artists.
- Boost livability
- Redevelop historic assets in your community
How does ArtsWA support your community?
We provide guidance to communities during and after certification. We are able to provide:
- Specialized resources
- $10,000 startup operating grant to launch your District program
- Up to $50,000 in capital project funding for small-scale projects within your District
- Technical assistance, training, and networking
- Tracked progress of your community’s creative economy
How the Certification Works
Getting your community certified as a Creative District is a simple process and can be achieved in four basic steps:
Gather your community planning team.
This team should be made of a broad group of community members. They will work together to develop a plan for your Creative District. Team members may include:
- Artists
- Local business owners
- Arts and culture administrators
- Local government
- Business or downtown associations
- School districts and/or colleges
- Economic developers
- Community members at-large
Plan your District.
We’ve created a Community Readiness Toolkit to help you plan your District. The amount of time planning takes will vary from community to community. We provide technical assistance and guidance along the way.
Please refer to the Pre-Application Checklist to confirm that your District meets minimum requirements. Once you meet all the requirements, you can apply for certification.
Apply for Creative District Certification.
After you’ve created a plan for your District, you can submit a formal application to ArtsWA. Please review the Application Guidelines to make sure you are following the process. Once you apply, a review panel will meet to discuss your application. The panel then decides whether to grant certification.
Begin your Creative District activities.
Once you are certified as a Creative District, you will put your plan into action. Start tracking the progress of your Creative District. We will continue to provide technical assistance along the way as you increase the vibrancy of your community. Your District certification will last for five years, when you can apply for recertification.
Creative Districts and Placemaking
Beyond economics
What makes a town, city, or community unique?
In Washington, the Creative Districts do more than drive local economies. They give communities tools to express what makes them special. We call it “placemaking”. Watch this new video to see how Creative Districts support placemaking in communities across Washington.
Creative District Spotlight
Tenino, Washington
Tenino is one of the newest Creative Districts, gaining certification in June 2020. In response to the effect that COVID-19 has had on their local economy, the city has come up with a creative way to support residents and small businesses. They are getting international attention for their approach, which takes a page from their city’s history to help make their community resilient for the future. Watch the video that aired July 19, 2020, on CBS Sunday Morning, to learn more.
Listen to an interview with Tenino’s mayor, Wayne Fournier, on Bloomberg’s Odd Lots podcast about how Tenino’s Wooden Money is impacting the community.
Centerstage Theatre Arts Conservatory, Inc.
“On behalf of all at Centerstage, we extend our appreciation for the state’s investment in our work.” – Centerstage Theatre Arts Conservatory, Inc.
Davenport Theatrical
“Rural audiences deserve the same access to the arts as those in big cities, and public arts funding is essential in working towards that goal.” – Wheatland Theatre Company (formerly Davenport Theatre) Project Support Grantee
Earshot Jazz Festival
“It is because of your funding support that we are able to focus on issues of accessibility, diversity, and community in our programs.” – Earshot Jazz Festival
Gallery One
“Their stories and work translate into conversations that try to bridge the gap between military and civilian cultures. This dialog hopes to bring understanding of how war and trauma not only affect members of the military, but our society as a whole. Their mission is not to promote a particular…
Key City Players Theater
“ArtsWA funding has a great impact on the Olympic Peninsula, where there is no comparable theater to Key City Players Theater that serves a region of 60,000 people.” – Key City Players Theater
Reel Grrls
“This funding really makes a difference in our community because we are working to build a pipeline to diversify the creative industries… we must teach young people that empathy through storytelling is the most powerful tool they have to combat hate.” – Reel Grrls FY18 Project Support Grantee
Tacoma Concert Band
“WSAC grants are a wonderful investment in people, helping to make the South Sound a vibrant, culturally dynamic community where people will want to live and raise a family.” – Tacoma Concert Band
The Merc Playhouse Society
“Part of the beauty and strength of community comes from celebrating all of its uniqueness that helps to create a meaningful world in which to live. Mid-Columbia Mastersingers feels it has a responsibility to represent our whole community and support celebration of diversity in the Tri-Cities… Because of this grant…
Upper Valley Connection
“…through this program individuals with special needs are able to experience theatre and learn to express themselves through performing and visual arts – an opportunity that does not exist elsewhere in eastern Washington…” – Upper Valley Connection