‘Red Brick District’ name mulled

Staunton’s recently designated Arts and Culture District might get a new name tonight: the “Red Brick District.”

Staunton City Council will consider putting that name in writing so arts and culture and tourism promoters can begin using it in posters and flyers.

“We looked around Staunton and thought: What makes Staunton distinctive? What makes Staunton attractive?” Erik Curren, arts and culture council chairman, said. “This is a trend in the tourism industry, to promote your arts and culture. We wanted to make sure that Staunton stood out from all those other people.”

The City Council unanimously approved designation of the arts and culture district in July to help organizations band together in marketing of arts and culture and for recruiting artisans.

Shortly after, the culture council began kicking around about two dozen names for the district, Curren said. Most localities with such a district don’t establish an engaging name, he said.

“It does sound like something that people would just come up with,” Curren said. “We wanted something that was kind of informal and appealing.”

Julie Markowitz, executive director of the Staunton Downtown Development Association, said the name fits with what tourists will see downtown as they travel the “very walkable” district.

“It gives us this awareness, this synergy, where you can respond to the cultural class here,” she said.

Culture council members await the decision of city council to adopt the name, and if it goes ahead, a Red Brick District brochure is already at the printer, Curren said.

A variety of free events are scheduled for Oct. 17 to debut the arts and culture district.