Bangor officials embrace creative economy

BANGOR – The whole state is talking about the creative economy, but officials here are putting their money – and their municipal policy – where their mouths are as the city moves toward developing the most comprehensive cultural plan in Maine.

On Tuesday night, the first of two public meetings drew more than 40 representatives from local arts organizations, the University of Maine, and municipal government to City Hall to discuss the plan, which goes far beyond standard guidelines for the purchase and maintenance of public art.

Though it is still in draft form, the plan will address grants for arts organizations, invite community involvement in funding and planning, support cultural tourism, and encourage collaboration among individual artists and institutions. It also will acknowledge the tie between arts and the economy.

“We have had councils that have thought or acted strategically about how the arts and culture can benefit economic development and downtown revitalization,” Sally Bates, an artist who serves as the city’s economic and business development officer, said.

“The council, in directing that a municipal cultural plan will be developed, is taking a next and perhaps wider step, which is a more comprehensive approach to the arts and culture by looking ahead and developing a plan for meeting the community’s cultural needs in the future,” Bates said.

In other words, officials hope to foster Bangor’s cultural growth while supporting and recognizing the assets that already exist here.

Mark Torres of the Penobscot Theatre Company says the plan could be a boon to the downtown arts scene in terms of funding and recognition from the city.

“I’m very encouraged,” said Torres, PTC’s producing artistic director, after the meeting. “I think it’s really visionary what the city is doing. … It seems that the process is going to be inclusive, open-minded and instructive, and that makes me feel good.”

Tuesday’s discussion centered on public- vs. private-sector funding, accessibility for the public, and the possibility of writing a performing arts center into the comprehensive plan. Some residents voiced concern over the racino, a combination horse racing track and casino featuring slot machines, and its impact on the city’s cultural fabric, while others defended the measure as a different, but integral, economic stimulus.

Former councilor and Maine Arts Commission Chairman John Rohman suggested leaving room in the plan for an incubator for artists, designers or other creative businesses. Councilor David Nealley stressed the importance of involving young people from Bangor and the University of Maine in the process. The outline is still in its formative stages, but most of the people at the meeting left feeling positive about the cultural plan and its implications for Bangor and beyond.

“I see Bangor very much as a center for the northern New England region, that includes also Canada, our neighbors,” said Huberta Barrett, a member of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra board and a native of Germany who moved to the city 13 years ago. “I think that’s the area we need to focus on. We can’t be competing with Portland and what’s south of us. We need to focus on what’s here.”

Bates stressed that the draft plan is only meant to spur public discussion. It has not been enacted, nor will it be for quite a while. The next public hearing will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Friday in the City Council chambers on the third floor of City Hall.

“We’re looking forward to hearing from a very diverse group of people,” Bates said.