Resources

The following links and resources have been compiled to aide local communities as they consider applying for state cultural district designation.

Cultural Asset Inventory

A key resource for all potential applicants is the Cultural Asset Inventory Worksheet, provided by the California Arts Council as a required component of the finalist application.

Cultural Asset Inventory Worksheet (.DOC)

Glossary of Terms

The California Arts Council has provided a glossary of terms found throughout this website, application, and reference/research materials. The glossary also includes helpful links to outside resources.

Glossary of Terms

Expected Benefits & Potential Local Challenges

Successful cultural districts offer many beneficial outcomes to the geographic area in which they are located and the surrounding community. In a review of the evaluations conducted by four of the existing state programs, as well as in interviews conducted with thought leaders, some key challenges to implementing successful cultural districts programs emerged. See the links provided in the charts below.

Resources: Expected Benefits

Expected Benefit	Resources
Provide recognition	• Project for Public Spaces: Placemaking 101
Enhance Placemaking	• Project for Public Spaces: Placemaking 101 • ArtPlace : Collection of resources for Creative Placemaking
Enable cultural and historic preservation	• Examples of California preservation efforts, such as Los Angeles Historic Preservation Overlay Zones
Capacity building: Inspire communities to become cultural districts	• Colorado Creative Districts resource center • Toronto's Artscape DIY Toolbox and Resource kit • National Endowment for the Arts cultural district planning case studies
Improve Artist Support and Retention	• Rhode Island sales tax credits for artists selling products or living in a Cultural District • Tax credits for artist housing (either Local or encourage use of federal) • Artspace: the leader in creating artist communities
Encourage Economic Development	Best Summary of National Programs: • Texas Cultural Districts Program: Indicators for Measuring Success Other Resources: • Maryland Arts and Entertainment District Impact Analysis FY2013 • Louisiana 2015 Cultural Districts Annual Report Executive Summary • Iowa Historic Preservation Credit Study, 2009 • ArtsUnion Economic Impact Evaluation, MA 2009

Resources: Potential Local Challenges

Challenge	Resources
Gentrification, displacement and loss of authenticity	• Examples of communities actively working to preserve authenticity: Row House CDC , Rebuild Foundation , or Community Arts Stabilization Trust • Learning from organizations advocating for investment without displacement such as Public Advocates
Community engagement and support	• Using arts and cultural strategies to enhance community engagement (APA) • Example of naturally occurring cultural districts engaging community in NYC (NOCD-NY )
Equitable Development	• Policy Link Equitable Development Toolkit
Equity and access	• Learn from national organizations ensuring access and focus on rural cultural districts • Leverage work done by other California organizations focused just only on non-traditional cultural assets