City of Lawrence

Cultural District Task Force

May 21, 2013 minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Commissioner Bob Schumm, Grace Peterson, Cindy Maude, KT Walsh, Mike Logan, Jacki Becker, Susan Tate, Mandy Enfield
MEMBERS ABSENT:	None
STAFF PRESENT:	Diane Stoddard
PUBLIC PRESENT:	Several citizens

---

Commissioner Schumm called the meeting to order. 

Ms. Tate made a motion to approve the minutes from the May 7 meeting; Ms. Maude seconded the motion.  The minutes were approved. 

The group brainstormed regarding various topics to include in the cultural district discussion with a goal to organizing them and prioritizing them into several groups.  The following list was generated:

• a well defined narrative about the district would be important
• a designated trolley or form of transportation for the district
• zone for architectural exploration. 
• being able to get through the district safely through sidewalks and lighting is important. 
• public art that is accessible, including music outside would be important. 
• Elements within the district and defining them or redefining them to add to the district
• grant money to building owners to provide studio space for artists would be important
• opportunity for artists to invest in their future, such as live/work areas
• Overall branding of cultural district/marketer
• Unified and accessible information and good signage,
• ever surprising area
• the arts should include all forms of art, not just visual arts
• Incentives, other than grants, available for property owners, that would be available for artists living and working and galleries
• Sustainable funding
• Park-like setting, a draw within the district, noticeably different characteristics than the rest of the city,
• Creative thinking around things that would bring people downtown, such as recreational sports activities
• Ever-changing space that encourages people to visit/revisit regularly, “talking houses” to promote history and engage interest
• Make the arts district representative of the entire community; connect to KU and other areas, such as studio space for students, Haskell
• Benches for people-watching, food
• History
• Final Fridays need to have push off the shore, larger event with food (example- Fayetteville, Arkansas first Thursdays), need resources
• Plan, coordination, someone to do this is needed (marketing person or coordinator)
• Parking
• Public restrooms
• Cultural activities taking place in unexpected venues
• Tenants to Homeowners involvement in the downtown area related to affordable housing opportunities
• Identifying greater city and business buy-in- creating sustainability
• Independently owned restaurants and businesses
• Artist-in-residence program tied to district and associated funding
• Celebration of the arts and artists through special features/ongoing promotion
• Plan for attracting more creative businesses
• Geography- using it as an amenity
• Distinctive branding and signage

Commissioner Schumm suggested that Ms. Stoddard work to group the list into several like categories. Mr. Logan agreed to take the list and write up a narrative for review of the task force for the next meeting.  Ms. Tate suggested that the list could be broken into background needed to support the district and the wish list for the district.  Mr. Logan suggested that we need to amplify on what we are doing now.  Ms. Tate stated that one of the ways to do that is to develop all of the different components of this and quantify it.  Ms. Walsh indicated a need for public meetings where daycare is provided to provide input.  Ms. Maude reiterated the need for space for working artists that is affordable.  Commissioner Schumm indicated that once a challenge is identified, opportunities can be identified. 

Leslie Soden commented that the disconnect between the cultural district and the East Lawrence neighborhood is that East Lawrence is already full of art.  Karen Christilles said she hoped that other areas could be connected in to support the district.  She also suggested an outside performance space. 

The next meeting was set for 4:00 pm on June 11th.  It was agreed that the meeting would include a review of Mr. Logan’s narrative statement and also Ms. Tate would bring examples of how other communities fund these types of activities. 

The meeting adjourned at 4:40 pm.