The Annapolis Arts and Entertainment District — both a geographic entity and a growing community — has been re-authorized by the state for another 10 years, district officials announced last week.

Officials and advocates say the district, stretching from the first block of West Street to Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and the Bates Heritage Center, has helped hatch a lively arts scene in Annapolis and has had a positive economic impact in the area since its inception 10 years ago.

A recently completed report by Towson University’s Regional Economic Studies Institute found that the state’s 24 Arts and Entertainment districts have had a positive impact on their local economies, generating $855 million through new businesses and visitor spending.

More specifically, the Annapolis Arts District made gains over the past few years, creating 654 jobs in 2016 and 2017, adding $62 million to the state gross domestic product, plus increased wages — adding up to a $4.49 million increase in state and local tax revenue during the past two years.

“It is all good news,” Arts District CEO Erik Evans said. “With art galleries opening, Dinner Under the Stars, and the expansion of First Sundays, we have seen West Street go from sleepy and quiet. We are really starting to see see more arts and community gatherings.”

The influx of artists has created a community of its own.

Charles Lawrence moved into a West Street space about six years ago and used it as a studio at first before opening FinArt, a gallery featuring his work and that of other artists. He sees the connections growing.

“The activity has grown quite a bit due to the connectivity of artists — places to meet, putting together group shows, Maryland Hall,” Lawrence said. “People have seen the actual growth and some of the potential, and wanted to push it to really connect.”

Sally Wern Comport, who owns At Large Art next-door to Lawrence’s space at 214 West St., has been there since before the Arts District designation.

“There were tumbleweeds coming down the lane. Now, I have watched quite a bit of foot traffic happening from all the activity,” Comport said. “People are taking notice.”

She also notes the connection between artists.

“Artist to artist, generally all working in the same buzz of a community, are becoming more accountable for being in our businesses and holding each other up, trying to keep traffic going to all the places.”

Lindsay Bolin Lowery, who has worked with Comport for about eight years, said, “We are very supportive of each other. With Arts Week, Maryland Hall, the Annapolis Arts Alliance and others, there are so many different organizations doing what they do well.

“Now, we are starting to cross-promote each other,” she said. “We see what everyone else has going on so that everyone gets the benefit. The rising tide lifts all boats sort of thing.”

That energy is beginning to bubble up, and more institutions are taking steps to keep the energy flowing.

“When I arrived there was a huge commitment to do collaborative work. Erik and I talked about how Maryland Hall and the Arts District can collaborate in new ways,” said Maryland Hall Director Margaret Davis, who came on board in July.

They and others are looking at how to better integrate Maryland Hall with the rest of the Arts District and vice versa, Davis explained. A lot of that activity will be online.

Davis said Maryland Hall’s relative proximity to events in the rest of the district can be a boon to increased activity. “We offer free parking within walking distance of most of the activity in the district along West Street.”

Aside from the growth of the arts community, the Arts and Entertainment District designation also comes with tax breaks. Artists producing work in the district can zero out state income taxes, and some business and real estate breaks are also available. It can get complicated, but it does help the bottom line for the “starving” artist.

Carolyn Marquis, owner of Chesapeake Brewing on West Street, sees it and has supported the Arts District, and not just because of the bottom line.

“It creates a community of people that can appreciate different cultures, artistic mediums and a better community to live in — the atmosphere I want my business to thrive in.”

pfurgurson@capgaznews.com