News Release
WARSAW — Main Street Warsaw and Warsaw Public Arts Commission are launching a Downtown Cultural Arts District planning process.
Designing Local, a national leader in urban planning and design, arts and cultural district planning, has been retained to lead the process.
The process will kick off with a public open house to obtain the public’s thoughts on creating a culturally focused district. The event is from 4-6 p.m., Thursday, at Mad Anthony’s Brewing Company 113 E. Center St.
This planning process was identified as a strategic priority in the Downtown Warsaw 2030 Strategic Plan which was released by Main Street Warsaw in February.
“One of the key strategies of the 2030 plan is to make Downtown an art-focused, vibrant destination that has a strong and growing creative economy and will be the community’s living room and gathering space where we celebrate our history, culture and past accomplishments and nurture our creative and entrepreneurial spirit, artistic passions and makers. This planning process will help us further define a vision, priorities and action plan that will guide future arts and placemaking investments in Downtown” said Main Street Warsaw Downtown Development Director, Terry Sweeney.
Designing Local was selected after three consultant groups were interviewed.
“Design Local blew us away,” said Suzie Light, Warsaw Public Art Commission member and Leadership Partner for Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO).
“Their experience and passion for cultural district and arts planning is unparalleled and a great fit for Warsaw. They are doing the South Bend Elkart Regional Arts Plan which was funded by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Lilly Endowment Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative program also known as READI. We hope that this planning process will help Downtown Warsaw to compete for some of the Northeast Redevelopment Authority quality of place READI dollars,” Light said.
Public engagement is a priority for the planning process.
In addition to the open house, there will be focus group meetings, one-on-one interviews, and a public survey. In addition, there is a website to find out more information about the process and provide your input. Visit warsawartsplan.com to keep up to date on the project which is expected to be completed by July 1, 2025.
