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The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded a 2022 + 2023 Grants for Arts Projects grant to the ST*BA collective to deliver a public art master plan for the County of Maui, which will include a Wailuku Arts District.
A Wailuku Arts District Plan Advisory Committee comprising arts organizations, supporters, researchers, community stakeholders and institutional contributors, is meeting (and evolving!) regularly to establish a public-private partnership that will implement the Wailuku Arts District vision. Slated for delivery in 2023, this massive effort to coordinate facility and public space planning, management, maintenance and collaborative programming will result in an interconnected destination that maximizes the public’s opportunities to experience, learn and celebrate the arts. |
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Wailuku Arts District Plan Advisory Committee COMMITTEE MEMBERS Kelly McHugh-White, Little Rhinoceros LLC and Maui Public Art Corps Erin Wade, County of Maui Planning & Development Chief Sissy Lake-Farm, Maui Historical Society John Rowehl, Maui Chamber Orchestra and Maui Choral Arts Association Carolyn Wright, Maui Academy of Performing Arts Jaclynn Sabado-Eitel, Paradise Now Kahulu Maluo-Pearson, KAʻEHU and Hālau of ʻŌiwi Art ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Maggie Batangan, Leaven Content Councilmember Yuki Lei Sigamura, founder of Wailuku First Friday Luana Whitford-Mitchell, Maui OnStage/ Historic ʻĪao Theater Tanama Colibri, singer, songwriter, author and poet Lin McEwan, ProArts Playhouse Maui Cheryl Lindley, Maui Pops Orchestra |
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WHY AN ARTS DISTRICT?
What we've heard:
- The area hosts a core concentration of performing arts that have already organized as Wailuku Performing Arts Alliance
- Exciting collection of place-based public art created through community consultations/ storytelling
- Its central location promotes accessibility
- Strong sense of identity, community, and collaboration
- Concentration of well-established, well-known, and well-loved arts organizations, artists, and studios
- Pre-existing national investment (MAPA + ST*BA) of vision and merit-based arts advancement
- The success of First Friday warrants deeper focus on more/ similar events
- Presence of food & beverage establishments with which to coordinate pre-and post-event patronage
- Clean & Safe initiative
- Diversity, both within our community and through the diversity of art offerings
- Strong momentum (e.g. parking structure)
- District size accommodates a walkable, friendly area
- Wailuku's history as a gathering place for the islands. We're just one link in a long chain of arts experiences that come from Wailuku
- Amplify Wailuku's unique story and identity as it relates to Island/ County/ State/ County/ Globe
- Infusion of co-branded/ District marketing exposure
- Maui attracts art buyers & audience members that can benefit from increased promotion
- New H.O.A. complex (amphitheater, space rental, parking)
- Improved infrastructure
- Increased economic stimulation and interest in the area following Wailuku Redevelopment Area improvements (i.e. more opportunities for coordination with businesses, restaurants, and potential purveyors of the arts)
- We need a centralized information hub & point-of-contact ("District Coordinator/ Manager") for Wailuku activities, events, specials, news
- Cross-pollination amongst art forms and programs throughout Wailuku
- "Opportunity Zone" benefits (ending soon!)
- More arts opportunities = more jobs created
- There are spaces for more food & beverage establishments
- Would greatly benefit from coordinated scheduling (bursts of activity vs. consistency)
- Opportunity to focus on coordinated interaction with public sector (including police, government services, elected officials) for things like: emptying and maintaining trash cans, sweeping, banner installation and maintenance, event lighting maintenance and timers, landscaping and irrigation timers, weeding, occasional graffiti removal, removing handbills from light poles, power washing.
- Funding for the arts is not prioritized (in general)
- To emphasize Safety