[NOTE: All documents and materials on this website should be considered preliminary and subject to revision and further development with further input from community members.]

Introduction

Burien citizens explore strategy to help community recover from Covid-19’s financial impacts 

These are challenging times, and our community will need creative solutions to help regain its strength as stay-at-home orders are lifted.

A group of Burien citizens is looking into a strategy that can help the community recover from the financial impacts of Covid-19 more quickly and effectively, strengthening and diversifying our economy. This strategy, a Certified Creative District, is an economic development tool for Washington State cities put together by the Washington State Arts Commission, ArtsWA. Initial work on the Creative District is being undertaken by Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce’s Burien Creative District Committee. The committee is composed of individuals, businesses, representatives from city government and nonprofits, all from Burien. 

The Burien Creative District Committee wants to involve the community as this process moves forward. To ensure the community has the information that has been gathered so far, the committee is publishing a four-part series to be released over the next four weeks. The information will also be available on the Burien Creative Facebook page and on the Burien Creative District website.

Before the Covid-19 shutdown, the committee was planning to hold several community outreach and engagement meetings once the Creative District information was published. With current restrictions on gatherings, the committee will instead seek community input through a survey released as a part of Part 4 of the information series. When restrictions are lifted community engagement events will be scheduled. The information will be shared via Facebook, the City of Burien, local media and the committee members and organizations.

The following is information about what a Creative District is and an overview of what a Creative District can do for Burien.

Part 1

Washington State Certified Creative District Designation

In 2017, the Washington State legislature passed a bill authorizing ArtsWA, the Washington State Arts Commission, to create the Certified Creative District program as an economic development tool for cities across Washington. Pursuit of this designation would greatly benefit Burien’s future development. In preparation for community input and feedback, this Information Series is designed to inform Burien community members about the Certified Creative District.

What is a Creative District? 

Creative Districts (also called Cultural Districts, or Arts and Culture Districts) are defined as well-recognized, labeled areas of a city, with defined borders, in which a high concentration of cultural facilities and programs serve as the main anchor of attraction. They are a tool that supports economic development to strengthen local economies, create an enhanced sense of place, and deepen local cultural capacity.  

What are the benefits of a creative district? 

Creative Districts:

  • Establish a unique identity, which builds on existing history and culture, which creates a marketing opportunity for Burien.
  • Create the opportunity to attract more arts and cultural resources which serve as an economic engine for investments and employment opportunities.
  • Are a magnet for cultural tourism, attracting new and visiting populations to Burien to who will support our local businesses, adding to Burien’s tax base.
  • Create a key component in improving quality of life in the area.
  • Create opportunities to define, preserve, enhance and celebrate the unique culture(s) that exist in Burien.
  • Improve Burien’s competitive edge.
  • Create a foundation for defining a sense of place
  • Provides an opportunity to integrate the visions of community and business leaders
  • Contribute to the development of a skilled workforce.
  • Provides an opportunity to pursue economic development projects with a creative perspective.
  • Help attract larger companies who are interested in locating where employees have an attractive and vibrant place to live and work.

Part 2

These are challenging times, and our community will need creative solutions to help regain its strength as stay-at-home orders are lifted.

Washington State Certified Creative District Designation

In 2017, the Washington State legislature passed a bill authorizing ArtsWA, the Washington State Arts Commission, to create the Certified Creative District program as an economic development tool for cities across Washington. Pursuit of this designation would greatly benefit Burien’s future development. In preparation for community input and feedback, this Information Series is designed to inform Burien community members about the Certified Creative District.

What is a Creative District? 

Creative Districts (also called Cultural Districts, or Arts and Culture Districts) are defined as well-recognized, labeled areas of a city, with defined borders, in which a high concentration of cultural facilities and programs serve as the main anchor of attraction. They are a tool that supports economic development to strengthen local economies, create an enhanced sense of place, and deepen local cultural capacity.  

Why should Burien pursue a Creative District designation now?

  • With the recent pandemic and economic environment, this is an opportunity to build our local economy strategically. (See Benefits from Part 1) “The arts generated 4.2% of the overall U.S. GDP, with roughly 4.9 million Americans working in the sector in 2015, the latest year for which data is available. Collectively, those employed in the sector earned over $370 billion, according to the findings. The sector expanded by an average of 2.6% annually between 2012 and 2015, just outpacing the 2.4% growth of the economy overall, according to the report. Between 2014 and 2015, the sector grew at a rate of 4.9% after adjusting for inflation. “The data confirm that the arts play a meaningful role in our daily lives, including through the jobs we have, the products we purchase, and the experiences we share,” said NEA chairman Jane Chu in a statement.”
  • It provides Burien with a strong identity which is tied to marketing, drawing business to spend money at our local small businesses.
  • It can provide valuable benefits to the local artists and businesses that we rely on in our community, such as housing, live/work space, opportunities.
  • It strengthens our local economy, creates an enhanced sense of place, and deepens our local cultural capacity.

What are the benefits that come with having a Washington State Certified Creative District Designation?

  • Funding – Newly Certified Districts will receive a cash grant of $5,000 (one-to-one cash match required, match can include in-kind donation up to $2500 for smaller communities). Subject to availability.
  • Marketing
    • Promotion of Creative Districts – sharing stories and successes with our audiences, both regionally and nationally
    • In partnership with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), wayfinding signs will be placed on state highways in and/or near certified Creative Districts to complement a district’s own signage efforts. (All signage must recognize the State Arts Commission’s supportive role with agreed upon language and / or logo).
  • Data and Impact Analysis assistance
  • Ongoing support and advocacy to ensure success
  • Access to training programs
  • Assistance with grant identification and additional funding opportunities

Part 3

What creative jobs and programs can participate and benefit from the Certified Creative District?

Here is a list of examples, though it is not comprehensive:

  • Cultural facilities, places like theaters and museums
  • Artist and music studios
  • Galleries
  • Businesses based on creative activity, for example:
    • Architects
    • Fashion
    • Advertising
    • Graphic Design
    • Interior Design Studios
    • Bakeries
    • Chocolatiers
  • Music venues

What is required by the State to be approved to be a Certified Creative District?

  • Encompass a contiguous geographic area
  • Include a concentration of artistic, cultural or creative economy activities. One to two primary arts or creative-economy industries should be identified.
  • Have a clearly defined, unique arts, culture or creative economy identity/brand
  • Be walkable and/or accessible, and attractive to locals and visitors alike
  • Actively promote local arts, culture, creative economy and tourist activities
  • Have unique resources that clearly contribute to the quality of life of the community
  • Include long-term cultural, economic and workforce development plans
  • Consider all income / affordable housing / maker space for creatives and artists living and working in the district to ensure their creative presence

Does it cost money to create a district? 

It does not cost to apply for a Certified Creative District designation. Here in Burien, dozens of volunteers are investing time in the planning and outreach phase. Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce’s CEO Andrea Reay Discover Burien’s Executive Director, Debra George, and the City of Burien’s Economic Development Director, Chris Craig, Senior Planner, Thara Johnson, and Arts Supervisor, Gina Kallman, have dedicated a number of staff hours to this initial process.

Part 4

What steps are being taken on the path to being approved as a Certified Creative District?

  • Complete an Economic Impact Study – The Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce’s Burien Creative District Committee (BCDC) is putting together an Economic Impact Study as a part of the Certified Creative District application and to aggregate data for the Burien City Council. For example, BCDC is gathering data from Arts Organizations; identifying all Creative Jobs in Burien; gathering growth, market and population statistics; and hearing from the community’s artists.
  • The BCDC will engage involvement by releasing a four-part series of information on the district, culminating in a community survey.
  • The BCDC will present to the Burien City Council in July 2020 and ask for a formal letter of support as a part of the application process.  Upon City Council approval, a Burien Certified Creative District Steering Committee will be formed.
  • The Steering Committee will put together the application and submit to ArtsWA for approval by the end of November, 2020.