Lure of cultural districts is hard to ignore
What could be better than exploring cultural districts that bring together the creme de la creme of the art world? Immersing ourselves in the delights of cultural and creative experiences is nothing short of a whimsical experience. That is why cities across the globe are capitalizing on their priceless cultural treasures and brilliant creatives to design pockets of cultural districts across city maps in a way that feels urbane, yet distinctive. A typical cultural district enjoys a ravishing aesthetic appearance, not to mention an attractive menu of cultural activities at museums, performance halls, art galleries, libraries, heritage sites, retail outlets and dining establishments.
Across the globe, urban planners are integrating cultural districts as exciting signposts within urban regeneration strategies. Such an investment can unlock numerous benefits, which research points out include generating jobs, attracting tourism, and luring creative enterprises.
Cultural districts may also be best placed to drive global and local tourism, seeing that they harness a unique mix of offerings.
Major tourism players have been luring visitors with an exhilarating array of experiences at local cultural districts, such as Paris, Seoul, Melbourne, London and New York. The case of the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong helps illustrate the prominence of cultural districts. This spectacular 40-hectare urban space overlooks the spellbinding Victoria Harbor and brings together an exceptional menu of cultural activities.
The Melbourne Arts Precinct is currently undergoing a massive transformation to become one of the top creative and cultural destinations globally. To realize this ambitious vision, the Victorian government announced a $1.7 billion budget to add new facilities to the area.
Another example is the Cultural District in Pittsburgh’s downtown, a lively arts and entertainment scene that lures over 2 million visitors annually.
The Arab world is also at the forefront of designing cultural districts that bedazzle visitors. The region boasts exceptional heritage sites, cultural treasures and contemporary works by local talents, which form the perfect combination to creating such districts. Policymakers and urban planners are encouraged to orchestrate these efforts within revitalized areas that celebrate the spectrum of cultural offerings that cities and creative classes can deliver. In tandem, attracting retail outlets, dining establishments, public parks, and artist and production studios should also be considered.
To illustrate a thriving example, the Saadiyat Cultural District in Abu Dhabi is home to museums, such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim, Manarat Al Saadiyat, and Zayed National Museum. The Al-Quoz Creative Zone in Dubai is gaining traction as a new creative hotspot, serving as a hub that offers rental spaces, facilities, services, and incentives for creative businesses and talents to thrive in the city. The zone’s mixed-use masterplan also includes affordable housing for more than 8,000 people and the capacity to base 20,000 working creatives.
Nearby in Kuwait City, the Kuwait National Cultural District thrills visitors with its striking architecture and exceptional cultural offerings. The Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre is a multi-disciplinary public space, organizing events in music, theater, film, and educational workshops. Additionally, the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center is built on a 13-hectare site and includes a number of fascinating museums, such as the Natural History Museum, the Science and Technology Museum, the Arabic Islamic Science Museum, and the Space Museum.
Arab countries have a unique opportunity to leverage cultural districts in a way that celebrates their cultures while fashioning more inclusive societies and driving economic growth.