The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Lots of tasks between now and June
by Mark Reaman
The Crested Butte Creative District process is marching forward. Town planner Michael Yerman and Creative District consultant Marcie Erion of Loveland gave the Town Council an overview on Monday, November 16.
The next step for the council is to approve the formation of a Creative District Commission. That consideration will take place at the December 7 meeting.
Under the commission proposal, the commission would be a nine-member board comprised of seven volunteers, a council representative and a staff representative. The seven volunteers would be voting members of the commission. The commission would act in an advisory manner, with the Town Council having the final say on major decisions.
The commission would maintain a strategic plan for the district and review art project proposals before making recommendations to the council.
“We have until June to get several important things done,” said Yerman. “The next task is an ordinance formalizing the Creative District Commission.”
Erion presented a PowerPoint to the council explaining the benefits of the Creative District to the town. One thrust is for the move to attract more artists to the community as well as more visitors.
The town was nominated to be a Creative District in 2014 and has two years to accomplish the feat. The council approved a strategic plan this year and as part of that plan the commission will come up with a marketing plan, create a public arts program, find ways to involve local youth in the arts and create art in community spaces.
The council will vote on the commission idea at its next meeting.
