Downtown Chesterton is filled with art galleries; merchants that exhibit local artists, such as the Red Cup coffee shop; and stores dedicated to the arts, like a bookstore and a record shop.
Now, downtown Chesterton is officially an Arts and Cultural District.
The town council voted last month to create an arts district to promote the arts and promote Chesterton as a place to visit to appreciate the arts. The newly formed Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District is looking to install public art and create more arts programming.
The Chesterton Trackside Arts and Cultural District is working to highlight cultural amenities, including the Chesterton Art Center, the Westchester Public Library-Township History Museum, the Holly Jackson Art Studio, Pieces of Jayde Uncommon Goods, the Moth Wing Studio, Ancillaerie Art & Framing and the Flying Mermaids art gallery.
Chesterton Branding and Leadership Corporation board members Hannah Hammond-Hagman, Kevin Nevers, Rebecca Riley-Vargas and Jayde McAloon have been spearheading the effort since attending an Indiana Arts Commission Creative Convergence workshop. They gathered public feedback online and at community meetings.
"We want to highlight the meaningful assets of the community and show how they're in a walkable, dense space," said Hammond-Hagman, who's also the executive director of the Chesterton Art Center.
Organizers are looking at initiatives like a scavenger hunt and street entertainment, such as buskers and children's theater in the park.
Other communities also have marketed the arts as a tourist attraction. Michigan City has the Uptown Arts District, which displays public sculpture and hosts cultural events. The Highland Arts Council puts on programming like storytelling events at local coffeehouses. The Valparaiso Creative Council has been working to establish a downtown arts district.
Communities across Indiana, such as Bloomington, Carmel, Fishers and Madison, have used arts districts for promotion and placemaking.
The Chesterton Branding and Leadership Corporation landed a $10,000 grant to get the arts district off the ground. Organizers are looking at a variety of ideas like murals and live performances.
"Chesterton is beautiful and unique because of the sheer amount of culture, galleries and artists that claim this community," Hammond-Hagman said. "We can use that to uplift the community and potentially draw more visitors and investment. Chesterton is special. The arts district lets people know that. It brings more visitors to enjoy the arts and makes it a better place to live for people that call it home. It instills a sense of pride over arts and culture."
The Arts and Cultural District will take over Third Fridays, in which art galleries and other downtown merchants keep their doors open later and sometimes offer drink specials, retail discounts and other promotions from May through October. More than 35 businesses participate, including hosting live music, programs, classes or workshops.
"It's been growing every year," she said. "It helps market it as a cohesive place. We have it on third Fridays because Michigan City has had success with First Fridays and Beverly Shores has Second Fridays. We want to be respectful of the other communities and also draw some of the same visitors."
The Chesterton Arts and Cultural District put out a request for proposals to hire an artist or arts collective to put in public sculptures. They are looking to put in as many as five permanent sculptures around the district. Artists were asked to consider and potentially incorporate the history of Chesterton, such as the railroads that run through town.
"It's open-ended," Hammond-Hagman said. "They also can be considerate of the Region, whether the Indiana Dunes, the National Park or the history of steel fabrication in the area."
The proposals will come back this month. The arts district hopes to have the sculptures installed by March, she said. Organizers plan a ribbon cutting, encouraging people to come out and spend an evening in the arts district, Hammond-Hagman said.
The art district's boundaries run from Grant Street to the north to Indiana Avenue to the south and from 5th Street to the west to Calumet Road to the east.
The district is looking at the potential of wayfinding signing and maps.
"We're going to start the branding and programming," she said. "We're going to rely on community feedback and engaging with the public as we work on our next steps. We're just looking to grow our presence and highlight why people should visit and spend time in Chesterton. It's a wonderful and unique community where people can find arts and culture."
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