Carlsbad Arts and Cultural District Economic Development Plan

The Pearl of the Pecos Arts and Cultural District (ACD) encompasses downtown Carlsbad, New Mexico. The ACD’s asset-based approach builds upon strong local institutions, popular local businesses, and Carlsbad’s network of active arts organizations to energize the community’s creative economy. Arts and cultural districts take a broad view of a “creative economy”, recognizing the contribution of a wide range of creative pursuits to economic vitality. Through an extensive public participation process, including individual interviews, public workshops, and coordination with a steering committee, the plan established a vision and economic transformation strategy for the district. The vision was for a diverse and thriving epicenter for arts and culture, with a strategy to promote and grow the diverse cultural experiences in the district. The plan articulated the actions to be undertaken by the district to accomplish the desired transformation. Three themes emerged as a framework for proposed actions: creative placemaking, facility programming and activation, and optimization of community assets. This was the final step in the district’s process of receiving certification as an Arts and Cultural District by the state.