How to Become a Cultural Entrepreneur

Not many people would consider Bellevue to be an under-developed city, considering skyscrapers and cranes perpetually dominate the skyline. However, Genevieve Tremblay, the Bellevue Arts Commissioner profiled in City Arts magazine (Seattle and Eastside editions) this month, shows that there’s not only a place for more structural and economic development in Bellevue, but also cultural expansion.

A map of the Bel-Red Corridor redevelopment plan, with special points marked by Tremblay, in her own special style.

As Tremblay takes you through her vision to develop the Bel-Red corridor in our story, it becomes clearer how culture and economics find a happy union when seen through a cultural entrepreneur’s eyes. Here is a helpful breakdown on what we learned from Tremblay about combining an artist’s hopes with a developer’s large-scale daring: 

Re-imagine the economic model: Business and culture don’t have to be mutually exclusive - cultural centers where artists congregate, perform and sell their work can bring in dollars for nearby businesses and those same centers can turn around and influence the enjoyment for nearby customers, attracting more business. In this way a beneficial relationship is formed in mixed-use districts rather than strict distinctions between the cultural and the commercial. 

Learn the law: many people are excited to change the look of their city and create a vibrant cultural center, but don’t know how. Learning the law surrounding commercial real estate and zoning is a big step forward towards transforming excitement into actionable plans. 

Find places bereft of art & development: the Cadman Cement factory in Bellevue was once an industrial icon, but Tremblay envisions the property now as a centerpiece space from which community and arts programming can radiate. However, these aren’t the only spaces that need development. Even current business districts can benefit from nearby artists and their workspaces in a mutually beneficial way. 

Partner with others, using creativity as a real asset: begin to see ideas and creativity as an asset for development in the same way dollars are. With this intellectual capital in hand, partner with financiers and developers to generate solid plans backed up by legal know-how and a clear vision for expanding culture and the arts scene along with economic development. 

Read “The New Heart of Bellevue,” in the April issues of City Arts and learn more about being a cultural entrepreneur and Tremblay’s plans for Bellevue. Also, check out the links below, including Tremblay’s own company, Cultural Entrepreneurs, to see what others are doing to advance culture in urban environments.

Cultural Entrepreneurs
culturalentrepreneurs.com

Tremblay’s blog on her ongoing BRINC development project (read about it in the story!)
brinc.wordpress.com

Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship
culturalentrepreneur.org

Social and Cultural Entrepreneur
culturalentrepreneur.se

UW Extension certificate program for Commercial Real Estate (the course Genevieve took!)
extension.washington.edu

Also, according to the Guardian, theatre needs cultural entrepreneurs as well as artists.
guardian.co.uk