The Town of Ashland announced the creation of a new Arts & Culture Incentive program, which is available to designated businesses located within Ashland’s Arts & Culture District. Funds of up to $4,000 per qualified business will be administered and disbursed by the Town for special projects that contribute to and further enhance Ashland’s arts and cultural offerings.
“The mission of the Town’s new Arts & Culture Incentive is to assist both existing and new arts and culture businesses in meeting their mission and business objectives as it relates to Ashland’s Strategic Plan,” said Josh Farrar, Ashland’s Town Manager. “Advice from CultureWorks helped staff bring this program to fruition. We hope the program will serve as a catalyst for continued growth and development of the Town’s arts and culture scene.”
Established in 2012 to increase awareness and support for the arts in the Town of Ashland, the Arts & Culture District lies within the boundaries of the town’s historic downtown. The district was created to enable the town’s arts and cultural organizations to partner and build alliances, enable more effective promotion, encourage the growth of complementary businesses, and increase overall economic activity in Ashland.
"The significance of the importance of this grant cannot be overstated,” said Arthur Brill, founder of the Ashland Arts Alliance and owner of Behind the Curtain studio. “Real incentives for artists to open businesses in Arts and Cultural Districts have been missing for nearly a decade. This is a tectonic shift in the arts community.”
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year until all available funds have been allocated. To apply for the Arts & Culture Incentive program, businesses must be a qualified arts organization that positively contributes to the spectrum of arts and cultural activities and venues available within the Town of Ashland.
More detailed information on selection criteria and an application can be found here. Please contact Matt Reynal, Assistant Town Manager at mreynal@ashlandva.gov or (804) 798-9219 with any questions.