Arts & Culture
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The Arts & Culture chapter focuses on strengthening and expanding the cultural landscape of the City. Specific attention is directed at raising the visibility of Annapolis’ diverse heritage and highlighting under-acknowledged narratives. The City has a range of important organizations and tools already in place for enhancing the cultural life of the city and the creative economy, and these should be strengthened and coordinated for maximum public benefit.
Goal:
Adopt an approach to historic and cultural preservation that is inclusive and equitable and fully acknowledges the diversity of cultures that have created the Annapolis of today.
Performance Metrics:
- Add at least two (2) historic sites outside of the downtown Historic District to the City of Annapolis Local Landmark program and at least one (1) application for National Register status every five years.
- Submit at least one grant application to the State of Maryland’s African-American Heritage Preservation Program every two years.
Action 1: Develop a preservation action plan for all notable historic sites beyond the downtown Historic District, particularly those relevant to African-American heritage.
Action 2: Work with the National Park Service to implement its Master Interpretation Plan which is taking an expansive and inclusive approach to cultural and historical interpretation.
Action 3: Explore the potential for a National Register designation of the Parole Rosenwald School and funding opportunities for preservation.
Action 4: Explore a cultural district designation for the Parole area that would promote the area for tourism and unlock access to additional grant funding.
Action 5: Budget for the City to add a new Historic Site Manager position who will better manage, curate, and program historic sites owned by the City.
Action 6: Identify funding opportunities for artists, designers, and curators to develop new ways of interpreting historic sites.
Action 7: Explore opportunities for the Banneker-Douglass Museum and other organizations to assist with the stewardship of African-American historic sites in the city.
Action 8: Explore grant-funded artist opportunities for innovative interpretation of historic sites, particularly in advance of restoration.
Goal:
Expand the reach of the Annapolis Arts & Entertainment District and growth of the creative economy.
Performance Metric:
- The proposed expansion of the Arts & Entertainment District is approved.
Action 1: Support the expansion of the Annapolis Arts & Entertainment District through City Council legislative action.
Action 2: Partner with Maryland Hall to launch a campus master plan to better program and leverage existing open space areas.
Action 3: Partner with AiPPC, the Arts & Entertainment District, and other arts stakeholders on grant applications for public art opportunities and streetscape enhancements.
Action 4: Partner with AiPPC and the Arts & Entertainment District to continue existing event programming and support additional programming.
Goal:
Expand the capacity of the Art in Public Places Commission (AiPPC) to initiate and manage more programs and public realm enhancements.
Performance Metrics:
- A dedicated grant program for local artists is established that provides small grants to at least two local artists each year.
- City staff assist AiPPC with at least one grant application every two years.
Action 1: Identify additional sources of dedicated funding for AiPPC.
Action 2: Partner with AiPPC on grant funded opportunities for public art, place-making, and event programming through staff support.
Action 3: Support AiPPC’s dedicated programs with staff input from the Departments of Recreation and Parks, and Planning and Zoning, and coordinate on the creation of new programs that can help to activate public places and generate new opportunities for artists.
Action 4: Establish a dedicated small grants fund for local artists of all disciplines that is administered by AiPPC and distributed annually.
Goal:
Enhance the sustainability of the Historic District through a multi-faceted approach to district-wide improvements.
Performance Metric:
- The number of full-time residents in the Historic District increases each year between 2020 and 2040.
Action 1: Implement the recommendations of the Consensus Plan of the City Dock Action Committee. (also listed in the Land Use element under goal LU 4)
Action 2: Work with business owners to develop updated guidelines for sidewalk seating and shading, parklets, and signage.
Action 3: Work with BGE, Historic Annapolis, State of Maryland, and other partners to develop a strategic plan for burying power lines within the Historic District, coordinated with the construction schedule of City Dock/Hillman Garage projects.
Action 4: Continue to maintain stringent historic preservation requirements in downtown to protect the City’s architectural and city planning heritage. (also listed in the Land Use element under goal LU 4)
Action 5: Enact legislation that compels property owners within the Historic District, prioritizing those on Main Street, to update sprinkler systems by 2025. (also listed in the Land Use element under goal LU 4)
Action 6: Explore expansion of the current historic tax credit budget, with priority offered to projects that activate upper floors with moderately-priced dwelling units. (also listed in the Land Use element under goal LU 4)