Culture-Ville (Northwest Arkansas Times Editorial – April 5, 2005) (Adobe Acrobat PDF)
Culture-ville
Northwest Arkansas Times Editorials: Tuesday, April 5, 2005Talk of ‘art district’ could invigorate downtown
In the early stages of the last decade, talk surrounding creation of the Walton Arts Center likely worried a handful of residents in terms of how it might change Dickson Street. Some worried that its addition to the landscape might actually destroy the Dickson Street atmosphere enjoyed by generations of college students.
Hindsight being 20/20, it’s easy to see those fears as baseless. The investment in the area is arguably the most important event to befall the Fayetteville community in the last 20 years. More than any other act, it single-handedly began a wave of investment that produced the rejuvenated and booming downtown district Northwest Arkansas knows today. As it turns out, an influx of art and culture quickly evolved into downtown’s best chance of obtaining the economic good times we know today.
A generation later, a new conversation has begun. This time, the object of proponents’ desires is the establishment of a so-called cultural arts district. Still more discussion than anything else, the intent is to create a collection of experiences that, taken together, establish the downtown area as an experience and destination unto itself.
Lately, the newly revised Fayetteville Downtown Partners have taken up the task of advocacy for this redevelopment effort, which already entails a number of goals. Like? The establishment of a Fayetteville Arts Commission, run by members of the community, that distributes grants, markets cultural opportunities in the area, etc. Holding an “arts walk” — a one-night event that highlights downtown businesses that make use of art in their spaces — several times each year. The outlining of a public arts policy. Expansion of the Fayetteville Arts Festival.
In general, the dream is to create an atmosphere hospitable to artists and the arts and to also make this creative zone attractive to visitors. We find the bold idea intriguing and worth pursuing as a method to continue breathing new life into the downtown area.
Of course, we hear the concerns: Can new life be brought to the area without extinguishing the old life, the experiences that the words “Dickson Street” now conjure up in yesterday’s memories and today’s activities? The only way a cultural district can succeed is if the spirit of Dickson Street remains as it is today.
Daniel Hintz, interim administrator of Fayetteville Downtown Partners, says his group has no other notions. A viable arts community must operate hand in hand with the business district that already exists, he says. In his opinion, Fayetteville’s downtown has an absolute need to maintain existing businesses and promotion of the arts.
As long as the effort seeks to build upon the Dickson Street experience rather than replace it, the idea of a cultural district in downtown Fayetteville sounds like a great investment in some of the strengths that already exist in our community.
