Cultural and Entertainment District workshop July 20
For Immediate Release June 9, 2006
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs will host a workshop about the state’s Cultural and Entertainment District program at 9 a.m. July 20, 2006 at the Amana Heritage Museum, 705 44th Ave, Amana, Iowa.
A CED is a well-recognized, walkable, mixed-use, area in which a high concentration of cultural facilities serves as the anchor. Cultural districts can be found in communities with smaller populations or in urban areas with the potential for more than one cultural district. The workshop will include an overview of the program, timeline and application and review process.
Two years ago, Iowa became the second state to initiate a CED certification program. Ames, Cedar Falls, Charles City, Cherokee, Clinton, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fairfield, Iowa City, Keokuk, Marion, Mason City, Muscatine, Sioux City, Spencer and Waterloo have established 21 separate CEDs, which incorporate historic preservation, arts and culture as the center of revitalization efforts.
CEDs attract residents and visitors who support adjacent businesses such as restaurants, lodging, retail and entertainment. The presence of the arts and cultural opportunities enhances property values, the profitability of surrounding businesses and the tax base of the region. These districts attract a diverse and well-educated workforce – a key incentive for new and relocating businesses. And these districts contribute to the creativity and innovation of a community.
A variety of businesses and organizations can be found in a CED, ranging from museums and gourmet food stores to dance studios and arboretums. CEDs offer a number of benefits to a community, including safer and more attractive areas that offer evening events, promote cultural activities, attract arts and cultural organizations, expand employment opportunities, connect the arts and culture to community development, increase understanding of different cultures, strengthen ties between different cultures and ethnicities, and expand and support small businesses.
Contact Kristie L. Wetjen, executive director of the Amana Colonies Convention & Visitors Bureau at 319-622-7624 for more information about the workshop. Visit www.culturalaffairs.org or contact Jack Porter at jack.porter@iowa.gov for more information about the CED program.
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions, the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. The DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the general assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.
