Town Council Urges County to Establish an Arts and Cultural District

Offering tax incentives to artists and arts organizations by creating an arts and cultural district has worked in Leesburg, so why not create similar incentives throughout the area?

The Town Council hopes to do just that; it is recommending that Loudoun County establish its own Arts and Cultural District. The desired outcome, members say, is that it will benefit the entire region, including their own  which is already established.

The Arts & Cultural District designation in Leesburg allows the town to provide certain incentives to artists and arts organizations looking to make Leesburg their home, such as tax rebates and zoning permit exemptions.

Additionally, through the growth, expansion and concentration of arts uses, all businesses, residents and visitors benefit from the overall vitality of the district over time through various events and programming.

Loudoun County’s participation would potentially increase the number of program applicants, thus enriching the benefits, according to Marantha Edwards, Leesburg Economic Development manager.

“It really deepens the impact of the Leesburg Arts and Cultural District, number one," Edwards said. "It creates a greater real estate tax relief. The second thing that it does, is it really elevates it to the county and potentially to the region supporting the fact that we are really trying to grow the arts and cultural industries.”

The Town of Leesburg has been working with the county for the last few months, she said, regarding the potential partnership. The next step is for the county’s Economic Development Committee to review the resolution on June 6 prior to forwarding their recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.

“This is something I really believe in and I think it will be great for the town,” said council member Kelly Burk. “It’s bringing the county to work as a partner with the town and I think having this resolution is very timely and very important.”