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Fundamentally, as a species, we need things that can fire our imagination, that can get our passions going, that can…give us a sense of meaning. And that is not a brick; it is not a pipe; it is an idea. That’s what draws cities forward.
–Edgar Pieterse, final words of the film Urbanized, directed by Gary Huswit
CONTENTS
2 VISION STATEMENT • A Vision for Downtown Redmond • Vision 2030: Redmond’s Downtown cultural corridor • Executive Summary
14 INTRODUCTION
• Redmond now: a pivotal moment for the arts • The purpose of this plan • Building a legacy through art • How to turn a place around with art • What do Redmond residents want Downtown?
24 TOUCHSTONES OF THE CULTURAL CORRIDOR
• The definition: cultural arts • The outcome: a reputation for innovative cultural arts • Artwork around every corner, during all hours • An exceptional built environment • An anchor cultural institution • A downtown that’s home to artists • Destination quality artwork • A place where art can flourish • Is being an art town feasible?
28 STRATEGIES FOR ART • Connecting residents to the new Downtown through active participation • Listening to diverse voices • Taking advantage of the construction phase • Identifying Redmond-specific themes • Using a mix of permanent and temporary work • Having artists on your teams as idea-generators • Fostering public-private partnerships • Commissioning permanent artwork
40 ZONES FOR ART • Cleveland Street West (old town zone) for intimate participatory experiences • The Downtown Park for large scale art and performance • Redmond Way for art at transit stops and utility structures • Gateways and transitional spaces for light-based art • Virtual space for promoting connections and cultural events • The right-of-way as a platform for street performance • Commercial empty space for art and experiences
• Cleveland Street East for artist studios • Central Connector for north-south connections
54 FIVE YEAR ACTION PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTATION, 2013-2017 2013 Downtown Cultural Corridor Master Plan • Adopt this plan • Integrate this plan into the City’s budget cycle • Incorporate this plan into the City’s Transportation Master Plan • Create public art guidelines • Create street performance guidelines 2013-2014 Cleveland Street Main Street • Distribute this plan to developers, businesses, landowners • Incorporate art into the construction zone • Complete a demonstration art project on the corridor • Facilitate the use of vacant retail spaces by artists and cultural groups 2014-2016 The Couplet Conversion • Celebrate the “festival street” with temporary art • Recruit existing cultural events to Cleveland Street and repeat temporary projects • Develop effective tools to promote the arts Downtown 2017 After Construction and beyond • Establish an Arts Coordinator • Maintain a world class collection • Explore the idea of an arts center • Update this plan and establish periodic reviews
66 RESOURCES
• Using vacant spaces for art • Creative placemaking • Public art and placemaking • Funding sources • References
68 ABOUT THIS PLAN
• The process • The photographs • The advisory committee • The design team
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