Cityfest

Places where arts and cultural activities happen are often the pulse points of communities. At their best, they are places in which artists, tradition-bearers, and cultural workers are in charge. They are places in which people gather; curiosity is piqued; world views are challenged or affirmed; preservation and innovation are fostered; creativity and imagination are stoked; intellect, critical thinking, and compassion are expanded; and people find inspiration that leads to a more generative society. These places can also help to create a community’s identity and promote stewardship among residents and stakeholders. Arts spaces can stimulate civic engagement and affect economic conditions directly and indirectly. While art spaces are important in all communities, they can be especially significant in low-to-moderate income communities that are striving to improve the quality of life and opportunities for residents.

The Levitt AMP Wilmington Music Series will bring something completely unique to this city. While Wilmington has a deep and growing commitment to the arts, a dedicated outdoor amphitheater and a continuous free performance series is yet to be seen. The infrastructure of the stage was designed to support novice through professional artists and a broad range of musical genres allowing us to present a well-known and touring artist one night and a local emerging artist the next. The UAE Amphitheater presenting a series of this kind has the power to enrich lives through not only an experience of communal enjoyment but also due to the way the facility has been designed to be utilized it will be possible to bring musicians or acts in pre or post performance to interact with community members in master classes, workshops, or talk backs. The Urban Artist Exchange and its subsequent programming is an investment in the artistic equity of the city.

In 2020, Wilmington was rated as the 6th Most Arts-Vibrant city among similarly sized cities by SMU DataArts which provides data informed insights and resources to the arts and cultural sector through the National Center for Arts Research. While the city has made great strides in recent years as noted by this rating, residents on the Eastside have not gained commensurate access to this ongoing cultural renaissance. Wilmington’s Eastside neighborhood has historically been home to low- to moderate-income residents. The most recent census data lists the median household income as $24,400. Moreover, 71% of residents in zip code 19801 identify as Black or African American. The block of the Eastside upon which the Amphitheater sits had been a public health hazard and an eyesore to the community for decades—lowering the quality of life and pride in the neighborhood. City Councilperson Zanthia Oliver describes the East Side as a “forgotten neighborhood” that’s deteriorated into a hotbed of gun violence and drug dealing. This however, she notes, is not the heart or history of the East Side. The creation of, and subsequent programming in, the Urban Artist Exchange affirms the beauty and value of the neighborhood while also preserving an artistic legacy for future generations. The East Side, in decades past, was known for its prominent artistic lineage. The great jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown hailed from the Eastside and attended Howard High School, the first secondary school for African Americans in Wilmington. Howard High School is still in operation today and is located less than two blocks from the UAE. Nationally recognized painter Edward Loper was also from the East Side of Wilmington. Loper’s paintings are in museum collections such as the National Gallery of Art and the Delaware Art Museum. Both Loper and Brown are primary examples of the legacy of the Eastside; they trained scores of students in their field and ensured their art form would persist past their lifetime in this city.

This is the foundation upon which the Levitt AMP Wilmington Music series will be built. It will provide a consistent opportunity to nurture the kind of artistic expression that is woven into the historical fabric of this neighborhood. Furthermore, this investment in the East Side will carry Wilmington’s artistic and cultural renaissance across geographic city divides and promote better access to existing local gems like the Urban Bike Project and the Clifford Brown Listening Garden. The East Side is also receiving foundational revitalization support through the City of Wilmington with a recent announcement of a $50 million dollar residential redevelopment and stabilization plan.