Raleigh's downtown economic strategy includes new emphasis on cultural arts

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Earlier this week, Raleigh city leaders presented their complete plan to revitalize downtown as part of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance's (DRA) annual State of Downtown Raleigh event. At the top of the updated report was a new focus on cultural arts and public art to better celebrate the city's heritage.

"When folks invest in the arts and invest in culture, then it comes back tenfold into our economic impact," said Carly Jones, President & CEO of Artspace Raleigh.

Jones has been vocal about the need for Raleigh to invest more in music, arts and culture that honor the city's rich history.

"When you're in a city like Raleigh or a city like Durham, we have a really rich history and also sometimes a pretty complicated history to tell. And art can be a very powerful tool to be able to tell that story through public art. It's also the most democratic way to tell a story. Everyone can enjoy public art," she said.

It's a push that's becoming a reality in the Capital City. The DRA's long-term plan to revitalize the downtown core -- presented in full for the first time Wednesday -- includes commissioning new art in the Black business district, City Plaza and Halifax Mall, incorporating art into the downtown streetscape and adding live music and outdoor performing arts events.

Downtown businesses say they love the idea.

"There's just so many - Third Ward, Fourth Ward, there's so much history here and we got so many talented artists. Let the artists have a place there," said Rusty Sutton, owner of The Green Monkey on Wilmington Street.

That sort of artistic vision is already taking hold in Durham at places such as Missy Lane's Assembly Room. The jazz club and event space strives to honor and preserve Black culture through music.

"It's important to preserve kind of the history of Black culture or just culture in the area. You know, Durham is known for Black Wall Street and Parish Street," said owner Cicely Mitchell.

Mitchell said the Bull City's recent artistic and cultural push has already provided a shot in the arm. It's one that Raleigh hopes to emulate.

"It also gives this a very large sense of downtown pride and identity, where people will start to connect and see themselves as a part of what's going on downtown," Mitchell said.