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Historic Stoughton has all the key ingredients for a thriving arts district.
In recent years, Stoughton has been restoring its historic downtown. Streetscaping and facade improvements have stimulated local businesses to promote preservation of Stoughton's downtown as the cultural heart of our community. The Stoughton Opera House has been totally renovated, the Stoughton Village Players Theatre preserved, and the Stoughton Center For Performing Arts has relocated to expand its dance and music studios. Most recently, the Stoughton City Council established its first ever Stoughton Arts Council to help promote the arts in our community.
Historic Stoughton has created a perfect environment for artists to thrive. Artists are recognizing Stoughton as a 'arts community' where they can open studios, galleries, host art shows and even offer classes. Even visitors and residents are noticing the changes and often say things like, "Gee, Stoughton sure has changed a lot... it's becoming quite the 'artsy' community".
All across the country, promoting the arts has proven to be a key strategy for successful revitalization of historic downtowns. Clearly Stoughton recognizes this and is making the arts a key ingredient in its plans for future development.
Stoughton's hARTS Project plans to make Stoughton the number one arts destination in Wisconsin.
"hARTS" is acronym for "Historic ARTS". The hARTS Project involves promoting Stoughton's Historic Downtown as a Historic ARTS District. The project was launched by a group of downtown businesses who want to stimulate business growth by promoting Historic Stoughton.
Two challenges were identified...
1) Local Challenge – Critical to the survival of any community is strong patronage from local businesses and residents. Our historic district needs to deliver the experience that will make locals shop downtown FIRST.
2) Destination Challenge – Visitors outside of our community need a good reason to make a trip to visit. Stoughton can become Wisconsin’s number one arts / historic experience.
Knowing that other communities have had great success building on the arts for business growth, and that our downtown already has all the ingredients for a strong arts scene, promoting our "Historic ARTS District" is a good strategy to meet both of these challenges for sustained growth.
1) Local Strategy / Message "Shop Downtown FIRST!" -
Combine our quaint historic downtown with an artsy atmosphere and communicate the diversity and convenience of shopping downtown. This is a compelling message to area residents. In this way we deliver on what area residents really want... a quality rural lifestyle, a rich cultural experience, and safe, friendly community where they can live, work and send their kids to school. In other words, "Shop the 'hART' of your community, FIRST!"
2) Destination Strategy / Message "Visit Stoughton's Historic Arts District!"
People drive long distances for unique arts and cultural experiences. Stoughton is in close proximity to Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, is on the main Highway 51 route and has easy access to the I90/94 interstate. We're easy to get to and have one of the best preserved historic communities with lots of restaurants, galleries, theatres and quaint shops. By encouraging growth in the arts, we attract more artists, which in turn attracts more visitors, and raises the perception and value of visiting and shopping in our community. In other words, "Stoughton is a really 'artsy' place to visit!"
The hARTS Project is supported by a group of business people and residents. A hARTS Committee has formed to develop and maintain a long-term implementation strategy.
Stoughton hARTS Vision
Preserve Stoughton’s historic downtown and ensure a thriving business district by building on the arts to deliver a rich, vibrant cultural experience that will attract visitors and residents for years to come.
Current hARTS goals include...
1) Build Advocacy - Involve every business, service organization, educational government group, artists and residents to support hARTS common goals. Work with the Stoughton Arts Council to help seek grants, official 'Arts District' designation by the city council, and to develop an arts incubator program.
2) Attract Funding - Seek sponsorships, donations, grants and fund-raisers to support hARTS initiatives.
3) Marketing Campaign - Develop marketing campaigns to address both local and destination strategy needs.
4) Continuity Events - Investing time, money and resources in events that build a consistent image people will identify our community with. Make the 'arts' central to every event so that locals will begin associating their community with the arts, and so visitors will consider Stoughton the 'artsy' place to go!
5) Attract Artists - Develop an arts incubator program to encourage to relocate and open studios and galleries in Stoughton.
Please join us!
The hARTS Committee believes this is one of the most fun, exciting and important projects ever introduced to our community. It encourages everyone to pull together, pool our resources and invest in a compelling and powerful plan that will sustain growth for our historic downtown for generations to come.
Contact the Historic Stoughton Business Alliance for more information about the Stoughton hARTS Project.
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