FREDERICK, Md. (DC NEWS NOW) – Many years ago the city of Frederick took steps to designate downtown as an Arts and Entertainment District.
Twenty years later, the district is still going strong.
In 2003, Frederick’s historic downtown was designated an Arts and Entertainment District. At that point, we wondered how successful it would be, but the designation was renewed in 2013 and most recently again this year.
Rousey Kennery, Executive Director of the Frederick Arts Council, said, “Art allows your community to speak of its own identity, draws neighbors together, has shared experiences, and is very important to any community.” Powerful.
Downtown Frederick has over 100 existing arts venues, including studios, theaters and restaurants for entertainment. Some students who work on the Arts Council say the art space offers them the opportunity to learn and grow.
“I am a student at Hood College, so I do a lot of art and archeology classes and I fell in love with the program there. You can get better ideas,” said Emma Candler, associate at the Frederick Arts Council.
With the Mayor’s recently announced fiscal 2024 budget announcement of funding for the Weinberg Center for the Arts, residents can expect much more in the future.
“The theater district is growing. It used to be the Weinberg and Maryland Ensemble Theatre, now there’s New Spiers Art, it’s growing, and there’s a new arts center called Frederick Arts Council’s Art Center. And there’s Patrick Street. and a Makerspace and artist studio on the corner of Market Street,” said Kennelly.