CCAC invites public to meeting about Imperial’s Creative District

The Chase County Arts Council (CCAC) invites the public to participate in a 12-1 p.m. informational and brainstorming meeting Wednesday, Jan. 31 at the Imperial campus of MPCC at 1324 Broadway. A light lunch will be provided.
This meeting is part of the application process to establish a Creative District in Imperial. A Creative District is a well-defined geographic area with a high concentration of creative resources and activities.
The 2020 Nebraska legislature tasked the Nebraska Arts Council to manage the program. Community involvement is an important factor in the selection process, so attendees will be asked for their input in a variety of ways.
Also required in the establishment of a Creative District is three cooperating entities, two of which will be the CCAC and the West Central Nebraska Development District.
Because the Creative District concept is a new idea, if Imperial is selected, that will place our community at the forefront in the state. The first group of selected applicants will “receive a host of benefits and will participate in a development evaluation process to refine the program for the future.”
The certification of such a district is expected to provide many benefits, such as encouraging business and job development and establishing the district as a tourist destination. Several communities in Nebraska have already been certified; a list is available on the website of the Nebraska Arts council, https://www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/explore/certified-creative-districts/.
According to Marcia Bauerle, CCAC president, the description of a Creative District is somewhat vague, partly because each district will be unique to the community. Also, the program is still in the process of being refined for the future.