Commissioners discuss creating economic development committee to pursue a creative‑economy strategy

Commission staff proposed that the commission form a committee on economic development to lead work on a creative‑economy strategy, and commissioners discussed next steps and bylaw requirements on April 21.

Aaron, a staff member for the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities, asked the commission ‘‘to possibly consider creating a committee on economic development’’ to house data collection and strategy conversations about artist housing, space surveys and related civic work. He said the city has not had a formal creative‑economy strategy since the administration of Mayor Gray in 2011.

Aaron described how previously collected surveys — including a music census, a planned theater census and a space‑use survey — could be organized within the committee to inform a strategy and to give the public and institutional partners opportunities to contribute local knowledge. ‘‘It gives the community an opportunity to reach out to community members who may have vested interest or and knowledge that they can help share to help formalize different plans or different strategies,’’ Aaron said.

Commissioner Julianne responded to procedural questions and agreed to help ensure the committee would be created according to the commission’s bylaws when she said, ‘‘I know how to do that now. So, I'm down.’’ The discussion identified outreach and regional coordination as likely committee priorities; no final vote to create the committee occurred during the open session.

Staff said they would follow up with commissioners about membership and next steps; the item will return to a future agenda after any formal committee formation steps and bylaw filings.