FY 2024-2025 Proposal to the Duncanville Arts Commission | Ron Thompson

March 26, 2024

Request for action:

Item 5 | Recommend City Council support the establishment a Cultural District.

Item 6 | Recommend City Council support the establishment of a Cultural District Foundation.

Item 7 | Recommend that City Council support, through funding, Cultural District programming.

Current Funding

Based on briefings and conversations, Ron Thompson presented to Arts Commission on March 26, 2024, that he estimates there is currently ~$1.7 million dollars eligible for arts-related spending, through HOT Funds, and other various but unidentified City-funded mechanisms.

Challenges

  1. Arts funding in Duncanville is currently derived from multiple disparate sources tied to the knowledge bank of individual City staff members.

  2. Decisions for funding to the arts is siloed outside the purview of the Arts Commission.

    1. e.g., refused funding for grants to businesses to hire artists, musicians post Arts Commission Mixers

  3. Fragmented, inequitable approach makes it difficult to maximize resources, hinders strategic arts development, and lacks transparency.

Needs

The community would benefit from:

  • a consolidated, transparent fund dedicated to the development of a true Arts Sector

  • dispersed through bi-annual grants cycle,

  • managed by City staff,

  • under the recommendations of Arts Commission,

  • focusing on a key City-owned area to unite the entire community

  • attract visitors,

  • establish pathways for private fundraising and for-profit initiatives

Recommendations

  1. Designate a Duncanville Cultural District, through the Texas Commission for the Arts, with Armstrong Park at the heart, including adjacent walkable areas along Main Street, E. Center, and E. Wheatland Road; simultaneously supporting the establishment of the Duncanville Cultural District Foundation.

  2. Seed $1,000,000 into a consolidated arts development fund, through inclusionary funding sources, to support arts programming, capacity building, and capital development within Armstrong Park as the heart of the new Duncanville Cultural District and other City-owned property within the proposed Cultural District.

  3. Disperse funding through bi-annual distribution of grants managed by City staff under the recommendation of Arts Commission and other community-led boards; including a robust Arts Tourism Campaign. 

Why a Cultural District?

“… the impact of public grant funding for Cultural Districts far surpassed the initial public investment, earning a 2-to-1 return on investment ...” 

— LESLIE WARD, BOARD CHAIR, TEXAS CULTURAL TRUST
What is a Cultural District?

As authorized by H.B. 2208 of the 79th Legislature, the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) can designate cultural districts in cities across Texas. Cultural districts are special zones that harness the power of cultural resources to stimulate economic development and community vitality. These districts can become focal points for generating businesses, attracting tourists, stimulating cultural development and fostering civic pride.

— SOurce: Texas Commission for the Arts
What is the purpose of a Cultural District?

Attracting artists and cultural enterprises to the community. Artists, cultural institutions and creative enterprises all contribute to a community’s economic potential. Not only do they generate direct economic activity, but artists and creative entrepreneurs infuse communities with energy and innovation.

Encouraging business and job development. Cultural districts can create a hub of economic activity that contributes to the community being an appealing place to live, visit and conduct business. A thriving cultural scene helps an area to prosper when consumers drawn to cultural attractions patronize other nearby businesses. This can result in the creation of new economic opportunities and jobs.

Addressing specific needs of a community. Cultural districts are a highly adaptable economic development approach that allows a community to make use of unique conditions, assets and opportunities.

Establishing tourism destinations. Cultural districts are marketable tourism assets that highlight the distinct identity of a community and encourage in-state, out-of-state, and international visitors.

Preserving and reusing historic buildings. Some cultural districts are very involved in historic preservation. Adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of older buildings through preservation tax credits can result in structural and façade improvements. These rehabilitated buildings provide opportunities for affordable artist live/work space and new homes for cultural organizations.

Enhancing property values. Successful districts combine improvements to public spaces (such as parks and pedestrian corridors) along with property development. The redevelopment of abandoned properties, historic sites, and recruiting businesses to occupy vacant spaces can contribute to reduced vacancy rates and enhanced property values.

Fostering local cultural development. The establishment of a cultural district provides a focal point for celebrating and strengthening a community’s cultural identity. Cultural districts highlight existing cultural amenities and work to recruit and establish new artists, cultural industries and organizations.

— SOurce: Texas Commission for the Arts
How would the $1,000,000 fund be used?

  • The fund would be used within Armstrong Park as the heart of the Duncanville Cultural District, per recommendations of the Texas Commission on the Arts

  • Public funds focused on a public space for 365 days of free arts experiences as defined by the National Endowment for the Arts.

  • Benefiting adjacent areas, property values, economic development, community livability, and visitor attractions

    • Grants and Programming (365 days of art experiences within Armstrong Park)

      • Hopkins Center

      • Poe-Hobden Amphitheater

      • Music Room

      • Armstrong Park Gazebo

      • Greenspace (e.g., busking, outdoor art, presentations)

      • Other City-owned spaces within the proposed Cultural District

    • Capital Improvement Funding (e.g., Hopkins Center, Music Room, outdoor art)

    • Capacity Building (e.g., leadership development, endowment building, fundraising training)

    • Administration (within Armstrong Park & City Hall)

  • A robust Arts Tourism Campaign

    • Marketing & Outreach

    • Sponsorships 

Defining Stakeholder connectivity

This diagram illustrates the dynamic network within Duncanville's Arts Sector, with Armstrong Park at its heart. It outlines key stakeholders including the City Council, Arts Commission, Arts Development Manager, and the Cultural District Foundation, along with their interconnected roles in funding and policy decisions. Circular lines emphasize the continuous flow of ideas, support, and resources that sustain the vibrant arts community centered around Armstrong Park.

Arts Sector Stakeholders 
What are Success factors for cultural districts application?

  • A unique and authentic identity that highlights what is special about the district and the community is in place.

  • Community support of the district is in place to ensure continued success.

  • Artists are partners, not products, and are valued as members of the community.

  • Strategic partnerships have been brokered that result in a variety of resources.

  • Inclusive cultural and strategic planning has been completed that articulates a vision for the cultural district and the broader community.

  • A district has sustainable artist live/work spaces that provide artists with a productive environment.

  • A local developer has committed to the cultural district and understands the power of arts and culture in community and economic development.

  • Anchor institutions and special events are in place and they are the cornerstones of the community and the district.

  • Artist recruitment is an organized effort that shows how a community is willing to welcome new artists and facilitate their establishment.

  • Events and venues are accessible to ensure that participation is available to all of the community and visitors.

  • Clear signage is in place so visitors and the community can recognize the boundaries. The signage can be enhanced with distinctive logos, maps and other visual materials.

  • A user-friendly website with comprehensive information about the district is available for the community and for visitors.

  • Marketing and promotion efforts are in place to attract visitors, potential residents and new businesses.

  • Strong amenities such as restaurants, lodging and recreation bolster the efforts of the cultural district.

— SOurce: Texas Commission for the Arts
The Arts Sector is an industry

Arts and Cultural Production — Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA), which is produced jointly by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Office of Research & Analysis and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Commerce Department. Among other data, the ACPSA reveals the size of the arts and cultural sector and its contributions to the U.S. economy, the number of workers employed by those industries and their compensation figures, consumer expenditures on arts and culture, and import/export activity.

https://www.arts.gov/impact/research/arts-data-profile-series/adp-34

—

Arts and cultural economic activity accounted for 4.3 percent of GDP, or $1.10 trillion, in 2022 — Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, US Dept. of Commerce

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Texas arts & culture sector represents 2.8% of state's GDP & 391,922 jobs — Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis & National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, 2022 (2020 data collected during the pandemic)

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Performing Arts companies contributed $13.3 B to the U.S. economy (2021) — Source: Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA), which is produced jointly by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Office of Research & Analysis and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Commerce Department.

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Independent artists, writers, and performers contributed $40.1 B to the U.S. economy (2021) — Source: Cultural Production Satellite Account (ACPSA), which is produced jointly by the National Endowment for the Arts’ Office of Research & Analysis and the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Commerce Department.

Highlights of this proposal?

  • Consolidates fragmented funding into one transparent fund managed by City staff, directed by Arts Commission

  • Establishes a pathway for private fundraising through a 501(c)3

  • Funds are equitably distributed through grants to artists, arts organizations, or businesses that want to partner with them

  • Funding is concentrated on amenities and free arts programs, within a public park, benefiting the entire Cultural District and adjacent areas

  • Solutions for overlapping needs (e.g., Parks and Recreation, DCEDC, Keep Duncanville Beautiful, Community Engagement Board)

  • HOT Funds are left untouched within this model, but projects would still be eligible within the Cultural District as defined by H.B. 2208 of the 79th Legislature: “Cultural districts are special zones that harness the power of cultural resources to stimulate economic development and community vitality. These districts can become focal points for generating businesses, attracting tourists, stimulating cultural development and fostering civic pride.”

Request for action:

Item 5 | Recommend City Council support the establishment a Cultural District.

Item 6 | Recommend City Council support the establishment of a Cultural District Foundation.

Item 7 | Recommend that City Council support, through funding, Cultural District programming.

  • Grants and Sponsorships for arts programming focused on amenities within Armstrong Park and City-owned buildings within the proposed Cultural District for 365 days of free arts experiences as defined by the National Endowment for the Arts.

  • Capital development and capacity building within Armstrong Park and other City-owned buildings within the proposed Cultural District.

  • Appoint a City employee as an Arts Development Manager to oversee administration and serve as point person for all arts-related activity

  • Arts Commission as final decision-making body for Grants & Sponsorships as allocated by City Council in a consolidated arts development fund.

  • Explore the consolidated arts fund for overlapping needs with other boards, commissions, and City departments

  • Explore City policies that restrict entry to the local Arts Sector and amend for equitable access

  • Anticipate future conflicts between a robust Arts Sector and neighborhoods through the adoption of programs like a Nighttime Economy Culture and Policy and similar.

  • Develop a strategic plan (or utilize Destination Duncanville plan) for community-wide vision for the role of the arts in Duncanville