Photo credit: Irving.com
By: Rachel Hawkins, NDG Staff Writer
The arts, to many people, can play an invaluable role in their lives. Various forms of art are used to learn a new skill, for rehabilitation, relaxation, and entertainment.
Sharon Barbosa-Crain, an Irving resident, shared on May 2, why Irving benefits and relies on the arts during the Irving City Council meeting.
“You recently had a meeting where you had two presentations presented by the Director of the Irving Arts and Culture Department,” Barbosa-Crain stated. “I serve as a vice-chair of the Irving Arts board, and I want you to know that we are very much in support of the presentations that were made to you.”
One of the recent presentations was “A Cultural District” spotlighting state of Texas designation qualification requirements. This opens the door to various opportunities, including funding from the state for the city.
“But I want to let you know one of the things we have to do, to qualify for that, is to catalog the assets that would be in the graphical area that we have designated as that district,” Barbosa-Crain stated.
She shared a designated district exists, with boundaries close to the original Heritage Crossing district, in Irving.
“They include the Veterans Memorial Park, Heritage Park, which you are expanding, Centennial Park, 129 Main St – in planning, 222 Irving – in planning, State Hwy 356 historical designation in the legislature right now, Dr. Gilbert’s house with historical designation, the Heritage House with a historical designation, Old Central – in planning. I Am, an Irving Archives and museum which will be open later this year, public transits, libraries, several private murals, areas where art’s industries and art’s entertainment, artists, and general activity that occurs in that area throughout the year,” she stated, referring to the proposed new district.
Barbosa-Crain also reminded the council, many places will be added to that list as time goes on.
“But I want you to know, as much as we love the arts, and we enjoy the arts, they also have another function,” Barbosa-Crain said. “There is something called art tourism and impact of the arts community.”
Older figures in Irving showed 1,031 direct jobs caused by the arts in Irving. There are $25.5 million annual impact and $2.5 million in state and local taxes. Forty percent of these numbers are generated from outside of the city, and 82 percent of those agreed arts are essential to business, industry, commerce, and other activities.
“That’s what you have an opportunity to support, expand, and deliver to the residents of Irving, through the Irving Arts Program,” Barbosa-Crain said.
