Look for large signs suggesting progress to pop up along the Creative Corridor in Little Rock soon.
Orders have been placed for signage that will mark the homes of Ballet Arkansas, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the Arkansas Repertory Theatre.
Likely completed and erected first will be the sign for Ballet Arkansas. June is the estimated completion date for the work, which means it is unlikely the sign will be up in time for the organization to hold an open house in late May.
Ballet Arkansas is scheduled to hold its final performance of the 2015-16 season May 20-22 at the Rep. In conjunction with "Under the Lights," the ballet is planning an open house for its new studio space at 520 Main St., Executive Director Ganelle Blake said. The open house will be the week of the final performance, but the exact date has not been set.
Knowing that signage is coming helps make the pending move even more real, said Blake, who was named to the post in January.
Certainly, there are more pressing issues than a sign. A suitable floor for practices still needs to be installed. Mirror and bars are needed to finish out the studio space once the floor is in place.
"There's obviously still some work to be done," Blake said. "But we're happy to know progress continues on something as hugely significant as the revitalization of Main Street. Being downtown gives us an opportunity for more visibility. We are growing artistically and the quality of our work is beginning to be regionally and nationally recognized. Probably more than people recognize it in our own state. Our location, the signage, it helps our visibility."
A pair of grants totaling $545,000 are helping fund the Creative Corridor and attempts to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Banners that are visible on Main Street and the signage that will eventually go up outside the Rep, Ballet Arkansas and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra offices are all part of the spending to spruce up Main Street.
Specific sign costs weren't readily available.
Supporters of the Creative Corridor and downtown revitalization will argue it's all money well spent.
Cultural amenities, beyond retail and housing, are regarded as catalysts for downtown development. This cluster of arts-related efforts downtown in the capital city are seen as a complement to those yet-to-materialize housing options and large-scale developments such as the $22 million Little Rock Technology Park.
An estimated $100 million in public and private funding is being spent to develop the area.
Designs of the signage for the symphony, ballet and theater were done for free. Signs for all three organizations were designed by Little Rock artist Christin Byrd, a graphic and web designer for the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau. Byrd submitted her concepts for the signs in July 2015 and is hopeful that they'll be in place by this summer.
"It's been a long process, but I believe everyone is happiest with the end result which is what's most important to me," Byrd said. "After all it's their signs. If they aren't happy with them then I'm not happy with them either."
If you have a tip, call Chris Bahn at (501) 378-3518 or email him at
cbahn@arkansasonline.com
SundayMonday Business on 04/17/2016