Westbrook Arts & Cultural District
180%
Visitor Increase
15
Artist Studios
$2.3M
Festival Impact
340%
Art Sales Growth
The Challenge
Westbrook had a rich artistic heritage that wasn't being leveraged economically. Local artists struggled to find affordable workspace and sell their work. The city had historic buildings perfect for creative uses but no strategy to activate them. Meanwhile, residents traveled to larger cities for cultural experiences despite having untapped assets at home.
Our Approach
Conducted cultural asset inventory identifying artists, organizations, spaces, and traditions
Assessed economic potential of cultural assets and identified activation opportunities
Developed artist workspace program using underutilized historic buildings
Created annual arts festival building on existing community events
Established cultural district with wayfinding, programming, and marketing
Connected cultural strategy to downtown revitalization and tourism development
Results
180%
Visitor Increase
Growth in cultural district visitors year-over-year
15
Artist Studios
New affordable artist workspaces created
$2.3M
Festival Impact
Annual economic impact of signature arts festival
340%
Art Sales Growth
Increase in local artist sales through district programs
"Most consultants disappear after delivering a PDF. Blueprint stayed with us through implementation. That made all the difference."
Maria Rodriguez
EDC Director, Westbrook
Deliverables
Ready to Build
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