Today, Mayor Jeremy Stutsman is happy to announce that the City of Goshen has received Spotlight Community recognition from the Indiana Arts Commission. Goshen is one of only four cities in the State to be selected for this competitive program this year. The designation comes with an invitation to apply for the state Cultural District Designation, a title held by only 10 Indiana communities.
“We’re so honored to be recognized by the State for this prestigious designation. Our creative community is one of the things that makes Goshen so special,” he said. “It’s a tribute to the artists, performers, and creatives who have made Goshen their home and who contribute their talent and energy to arts and culture in our city.”
Mayor Stutsman assembled Goshen’s first city-wide Arts Council in 2016. The Mayor wanted to ensure that Goshen’s vibrant arts scene continued to thrive for generations to come. Today, the Goshen Arts Council continues to serve in the vital role of championing Goshen’s distinctive creative culture.
“Even when you have something successful, you have to work to remind people it’s there,” said Mayor Stutsman. “Our arts culture is already strong, but it can always be better. We recognize the value of these assets and want to support their continued growth.”
The Mayor has assembled a team to submit the Cultural District Designation application. Mark Brinson, Director of Community Development, Sharon Hernandez, Communications Coordinator, Becky Hutsell, Redevelopment Project Manager, Kevin Koch, Master Tailor at Koch House of Design and Adrienne Nesbitt, the Goshen Arts Council Program Director, are in the process of gathering information to include in the spring submission.
When asked about the Cultural District Designation, Nesbitt offered, “Goshen has long been a place that demonstrates its appreciation for the arts and support for creatives. Getting the State of Indiana Cultural Designation will be a way for the outside world to see what locals have known for a long time. Goshen is an extraordinary place. We’re so excited to see this happen.”
In a statement to the press, Anna Tragesser, Artist and Community Services Manager for the Indiana Arts Commission, stated, “Goshen’s arts and culture scene is both organic and concentrated. For a community of its size, it has an impressive roster of high quality, accessible, and diverse experiences for visitors and residents, as well as a deep well of knowledge, spaces, equipment, and creative peers for local artists to draw from.”