Bluffton backs Old Town cultural district

A move by Bluffton to establish a state recognized cultural district in Old Town would put the town's art scene on the map -- literally.



The town council voted unanimously earlier this week to apply for the designation to the South Carolina Arts Commission, which oversees the state's cultural districts. 



Such a designation serves as a seal of approval from the state and informs visitors that the districts are worthy places to browse an art gallery, take in a show, or grab a bite to eat, said Rusty Sox, a program manager with the arts commission.

Cultural districts "demonstrate how the arts and culture can play a role in economic development and improve quality of life in communities," he said.



While the state art commission doesn't provide funding for towns with cultural districts, those towns are often highlighted in marketing materials used to promote cultural tourism statewide.



The designation may also make towns more attractive to private organizations that fund art projects, Sox said.



Cultural districts are easily identifiable geographic areas, such as Old Town, with a concentration of art and cultural destinations -- anything from galleries to theaters to restaurants. 



The proposed district would stretch roughly from Bluffton Village south to the May River, and from Cahill's Market east to Burnt Church Road.



That area includes more than 100 cultural attractions, according to town documents. 



The Bluffton Creative Initiative and Bluffton Cultural District Alliance, which represent a host of arts and cultural groups in town, is leading the push for state recognition. 



But state law requires that municipalities apply for that recognition on behalf of community groups.



That is why the recent support from town council is so critical, said Doreen Baumann, who chairs the Bluffton Creative Initiative.



"We are thrilled to have everybody rallying around us," she said Thursday.



There are currently four municipalities in the state with cultural districts: Rock Hill, Lancaster, Spartanburg and Columbia.



Like Bluffton, Beaufort is currently in the application process. 



Because there are so few of these districts around the state, Bluffton is "kind of leading the charge on this," Mayor Lisa Sulka said earlier this week. 



"I love the groups we are pulling together," she said. "I think this is going to be great."



Baumann said she expects the application will be submitted to the state within the next week.



While she wouldn't offer a prediction as to whether the state arts commission board will approve it, she did say, "We can't see why (they wouldn't)."



"I feel good about (the application)," she said. "We've got everything the other (towns with cultural districts) have, and we have the potential to grow."



Sox, too, said he "can never predict what the outcome of the (board's) decisions will be."



But he said he and other commission members were "really impressed with the level of interest in the community" when they visited Bluffton earlier this year. 



Once submitted, the state will likely rule on Bluffton's application early next year.

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Follow reporter Lucas High on Twitter at twitter.com/IPBG_Lucas.

Related content:

• Bluffton paints itself as a center for the arts in seeking cultural district designation, Sept. 10, 2015.

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 12:05 PM with the headline "Bluffton backs Old Town cultural district."