Joseph has been declared an Art and Cultural District by a resolution unanimously approved by the Joseph City Council during its May Day meeting Thursday night.

The council action gives Joseph the right to market itself among an increasing number of cities in the state embracing public sculptures and the arts as the first Art and Cultural District in Oregon.

I think it’s a good designation for Joseph to keep us at the forefront of the arts movement, said Joseph Mayor Dennis Sands. It fits in well with our Main Street.

Joseph is home to a dozen or so public bronzes on Main Street, most of which were part of an award-winning downtown improvement project in 2000. Joseph is also home to many galleries and artists and has been home to the Valley Bronze fine arts foundry and Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts for over 30 years. Within the last two years a new venue, Josephy Center for Arts and Culture opened, hosting art shows and other cultural events on a weekly basis.

The culture is also reflected in the Wallowa County Museum and Harley Tucker Memorial Arena, both located in Joseph.

The Art and Cultural District designation is in name only, requiring no financial outlay by the city.

It was suggested for Joseph recently in a presentation by grant writer Lyn Craig and architect Mark Seder exploring ideas for Josephs future in a project funded by the Ford Family Foundation, with several local sponsors, including Wallowa Valley Arts Council, Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, city of Joseph and Chief Joseph Days Rodeo Inc.

Craig was present at the May 1 meeting, and applauded the council for its quick action in giving Joseph the Art and Cultural District title. She said that in her research shes found that about 45 other places have adopted the art and cultural district designation, most in Eastern states, but even if numerous other cities in the state follow suit, Joseph will always be the first in Oregon.

The designation can now be used in tourism promotional material, such as brochures and websites, by local businesses and organizations.

Following is Resolution #2014-05 passed by the Joseph City Council:

Whereas, City Council members of the City of Joseph, Oregon, recognize that Joseph is an inspiring place of exceptional scenic beauty;

Whereas, the Joseph City Council favors key economic development efforts for the betterment of local businesses and the community;

Whereas, the community of Joseph has a strong reputation as a place of the arts, and is home to several art and cultural amenities, such as a public art walk, county historical museum, art galleries, art-minded business, art center, bronze foundry, rodeo grounds, and places that reflect Native American and Old West cultures;

Whereas, many communities elsewhere have created art or cultural districts as a means to attract more visitors, strengthen the local economy and celebrate the arts and cultural amenities that they offer;

Now therefore, be it resolved, the Joseph City Council hereby supports the designation of Joseph, Oregon, as an art and cultural district not as a tax district but instead in name only, with this designation to reflect the community as a whole and to be used for promotional purposes only, in order to attract tourists, art-based businesses and organizations and cultural amenities to this community;

Be it further resolved that, to its knowledge, the Joseph City Council recognizes the Joseph Art and Cultural District as the first of its kind in Oregon and encourages other organizations and businesses in the community to also endorse recognition of the district within the community and in their marketing materials.