| Town plans future as arts district By Jay Hodgkins Staff Writer SNOW HILL -- With state approval in hand, Snow Hill Alliance for Responsible Progress President Ann Coates announced this week that Snow Hill will be an official arts and entertainment district by this time next month. Joining Cambridge and Berlin, Snow Hill will become the third Eastern Shore community with a state designated arts and entertainment district -- and second in Worcester County -- when the state secretary of economic development puts a final signature on the paperwork for an official designation date of July 1. Led in a push by the alliance and Coates -- owner of Bishop's Stock Fine Art and Craft ---- Snow Hill applied in March for the designation that will now make artists who make and sell their art within the district exempt from state taxes and will create a 10-year property tax exemption for any newly built or rebuilt structure used to create or sell art. The small, Victorian-style building downtown on the Pocomoke River will be home to the new arts district that will extend from the Pocomoke River to Martin and Ironshire streets and from Timmons Street to Cypress Lane. "We feel it complements what's happened downtown," said Coates. "It's not about new business, it's about complementing what he have, which is ecotourism." Coates said the arts and entertainment district aligns perfectly with the town's already existing art galleries and performing arts center to give Snow Hill instant credibility as an arts hub that will attract new artists. "The designation makes the arts much more accessible," Coates said. "We've seen art galleries for local artists, and when they have the studio space they can do wonderful things. (With the designation) we can educate the community about cultural opportunities here and showcase the talent in our area. It's an opportunity for artists." It's also an opportunity for the town to join hands with Berlin, which was approved for an arts and entertainment district in June 2005 after having one application rejected the previous year. "We want to collaborate with Berlin for a gallery and studio tour. We'd like to reinstitute that," Coates said. "We'll work with each other and not against because we have a very good working relationship." Salisbury could be joining the party as well, as the Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council is pushing for a district designation in its downtown area. Deborah Stam, director of community development, said the group is expected to meet with the Salisbury City Council on July 10 to receive a resolution of support for the district, and they would then submit an application to the state that, if approved, would give Salisbury a district by Oct. 1. Now that Snow Hill has reached that final step, Coates said the town was already starting to plan sowing arts-focused events into currently existing events like First Friday, but The Fine Needle owner Stacy Mitchell is more excited about the arts and entertainment district creating a unique new footprint in the town. "It gives Snow Hill something unique to draw people in and make us an arts town," said the local shop owner. "I hope more artists move into the area and expand into more fine arts like ceramics, pottery, dance studios and music. I think they will be more attracted to the area with our fine arts push." Originally published June 3, 2006 http://www.delmarvaheadlines.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060603/NEWS01/606030301/1002 |
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