Downtown Oxnard – Arts Hub
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Successful economic revitalization models promote the role of art hubs in stimulating innovation and spearheading re-investment. Downtown Oxnard has an opportunity to attract development dependent upon an arts culture. Restaurants, art galleries, theaters, and museums promote
and thrive on art hubs.
Because downtown currently has a thriving fine art, film, music and graphic art core who volunteered en mass during our charrette this is not intended to be a silver bullet. These
local film makers, photographers, illustrators and patrons who participated in the charrette made the pop-up art gallery and movie night events central events in the public engagement process. Artist already inhabit downtown and are risk tolerant pioneers creating an opportunity to invite
others to experience the urban vitality downtown brings a city. They will need homes, shops, and third-spaces to showcase its local talent.
Downtown provides places, spaces and the opportunities to exhibit and display artists and artisan work. The establishment of an Art Hub should be anchored around Plaza Park, the Carnegie Art Museum and Centennial Plaza’s Plaza Theater to support arts and innovation.
Recommended policies include:
- Formalize, fund and appoint a ‘Downtown Arts Hub Liaison’ to mediate, coordinate and advocate for resources dedicated to the arts between City’s Cultural Arts Commission and Downtown Management District and the City of Oxnard.
- Build upon and connect downtown’s diverse collection of restaurant hubs to explore opportunities for patrons to experience and explore the arts districts in Heritage Square, Plaza Park, and Centennial Plaza.
- With its proximity to Los Angeles’ film industry, continue to coordinate and target local film and video production and education opportunities with the city’s Economic Development Corporation Film Coordinator and Permits.
