research
Topic: Arts Environments: Cultural Facilities
A cultural facility is a building used primarily for the programming, production, presentation, and/or exhibition of cultural disciplines—such as music, dance, theater, literature, visual arts, and historical and science museums. Most cultural organizations are dependent upon facilities to pursue their missions, perhaps more than any other sector. Funding for cultural facilities is usually comprised of public support through taxes and private sector resources. In the past two decades, cultural facilities have been seen by artists, arts organizations, government officials, urban planners, and communities as key “anchors” to the revitalization of distressed communities.
Many arts organizations are using renovated older or abandoned buildings for their businesses and/or performance spaces, particularly in urban areas. Adaptive reuse is a term that provides new facilities to residents, enlivens neighborhoods, and gives locals a greater sense of ownership over a facility. Adaptive reuse also combats sprawl and increases real estate values at the neighborhood level. Arts organizations, architects, and community planners are also paying keen attention to the design of new and renovated cultural centers as part of the draw to the facility.
Artist live/work spaces have contributed significantly to the revitalization of communities. Recognizing the positive contributions of contact with artists in a community, municipal leaders and nonprofit developers are converting older buildings into affordable, long-term housing for low-income artists. Mixed-use facilities are also common, potentially combining artist housing and work space, exhibition and/or performance areas, and retail areas.
Additional information on cultural facilities can be found at:
