SIDNEY -- Sidney Creative District was recently named a certified Nebraska Creative District and was awarded a $10,000 Nebraska Arts Council Certification Grant.

The Nebraska Creative District Program utilizes the arts as an economic driver to support communities in Nebraska by telling their stories and elevating the value of the arts.

The Sidney Creative District is a fun place to live, work, and visit. It will be a place for people to gather and enjoy the community’s arts, culture, history and celebrate creativity. The Creative District will be the heart of the community. It is a place where creativity, innovation and arts thrive, and it will move Sidney into the future.

Goals of the creative district are centered around improving the overall look and feel of downtown, building facades and streetscape; marketing of the creative district, specifically, linking the I-80 corridor to downtown; an outdoor space for artists and events; and a space for artists and creatives to utilize as a space to create and showcase work.

Identified strengths show Sidney is home to creative businesses and people with a strong sense of community pride.

There are also opportunities to better market the downtown corridor and link the Interstate 80 corridor with downtown. Designating new spaces for creatives and artists, including an outdoor artistic event space and a space to both be creative and display creative pieces are opportunities to enhance the economic vitality of Sidney and see continued growth.

In 2020, the Nebraska State legislature passed a bill to create the Creative Districts program. The program works to promote and support economic development and place-making opportunities in communities dedicated to growing their arts-related economic sectors.

Nebraska Creative Districts must submit a letter of interest, an Eligibility Assessment, and a Strategic Plan as part of the approval process. Goals can include attracting artists and creative enterprises, encouraging business and job development, establishing the district as a tourist destination, preserving and reusing historic buildings, and promoting the district’s cultural and historical heritage.

As a certified Creative District, Sidney Creative District is now eligible to pursue a $250,000 Development Grant from the Nebraska Arts Council.

For more information about the Creative District program, please visit the Nebraska Arts Council website at www.artscouncil.nebraska.gov/explore/creative-districts/ or call the office at 402-595-2122.