NEBRASKA CITY – City commissioners offered their support Jan. 16 to establish a certified creative district in Nebraska City as offered by the Nebraska Arts Council.

Kelly Bequette of the Keeping Room is part of a group trying to submit a letter of intent to establish the district. Current partners include the city council, the KHN Center of the Arts, the Nebraska City Museum Association and Arbor Day Farm. Bequette said additional partners are welcome if the application is accepted.

Bequette: “I think the biggest contribution it could be is having all of our great organizations come together for a strategic plan for where we want to go, and the fact that it’s an economic driver . Having a creative art district in our town would help us develop and give our community more to do. Hopefully it will attract more people to our community and even more tourism.”

She said the creative district must be walkable and visible and its main goal is to make Nebraska City more livable for visitors and residents.

She said the people who are preparing the letter of intent want all the partners to come together and develop the strategic plan once the creative district is established.

In 2020, the state Legislature recognized creative districts as drivers for economic development and directed the arts council to establish an application process for programs that will attract artists, encourage job development, preserve historic buildings and promote cultural and historical heritage.

There are grant program available. An award of $10,000 is available once the creative district plan is approved. Certified Creative Districts are eligible for a $250,000 grant awarded to districts with high quality arts programming, a significant number of visitors, physical enhancements, marketing and operation support.

https://www.beatrice.ne.gov/sites/default/files/fileattachments/ordinance/28732/6885.pdf