Building Glendale s arts reputation

A push by City Council members to redefine Glendale’s place in the arts community as a means of economic development has promise, but officials need to focus on what’s already here in order for any grand development plans to succeed in the long run, experts say.

In recent months, City Council members John Drayman and Laura Friedman have been especially keen on developing a number of art programs and projects that they say would up Glendale’s cultural factor, while at the same time bring in the type of consumers that local businesses need to grow.

From the infusion of Glendale’s first major museum to courting the industrial art industry, the council has been taking a more aggressive approach to turning the page on Glendale’s historically retail-centric image vis-a-vis the Galleria and Americana at Brand.

But while local arts advocates laud the efforts, experts say a successful shift will need long-term city commitment and an increased support of local artists.

“I think one of the things that is often lost in the arts development debate is supporting the arts means you have to support artists,” said Elizabeth Currid, an assistant professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning and Development who specializes in arts development. “It’s nice to have a nice museum, but you are actually supporting tourists, a museum and consumerism.”

Fine by Drayman, who said the two — art and business development — don’t have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, promoting both is the basis for a slate of proposals moving through City Hall, he said.

“Our council understands that the arts as a business are just as viable, just as dynamic a business tool to generate foot traffic for our retail as any other business component,” Drayman said.

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Arts and entertainment district

In September, the City Council unanimously approved moving forward with a highly subsidized deal to move the Los Angeles-based nonprofit museum into a city-owned building on South Brand Boulevard.

Under the proposed 15-year lease, the city would pledge up to $1 million in redevelopment funds to help renovate the vacant building. The museum would pay nothing for the first two years before eventually reaching $7,500 per month.

The museum is meant to serve as an anchor for a proposed arts and entertainment district, which council members contend would energize the downtown area and draw the young professionals whom local retailers covet.