First 'Creative District' Designated in Washington

Washington has its first state-designated creative district in the city of Edmonds.

Agueda Pacheco Flores reports that the designation is the first to result from legislation approved in 2017 designed to stimulate economic growth through the arts and culture sector.

"The legislation provides official highway signage and $5,000 to each designated creative district. It also funds a new position: a creative districts program manager at the state’s art agency, ArtsWA," according to Flores.

The article includes more information about the importance of the arts and culture sector to the economies of states around the country, the relative lack of funding granted to the arts and culture in the state of Washington, and some of the potential challenges (i.e., gentrification) that have faced other states with creative district programs.