Pittsburgh, pennsylvania, USA
Client The Andy Warhol Museum
Project Vision for a New Creative District at the Pop District, Pittsburgh
Year 2023
CHALLENGE
Located in Pittsburgh, the birthplace of famed artist Andy Warhol, The Pop District is a new venture by the Andy Warhol Museum. It is home to a plethora of existing cultural spaces and programming such as the Warhol Museum, Pop Park, and the Print Lounge. However, there was a need to further enhance the District in terms of diversifying its offering, increasing participation (particularly from local residents), and cultivating local talent.
Sound Diplomacy was engaged to develop a vision to help create a district that attracts and retains visitors both locally and abroad, and is focused on nurturing local talent so that “the next Andy Warhol does not have to leave Pittsburgh to become Andy Warhol”.
The aims and objectives of the project were to:
Increase visitorship to the District, especially of locals;
Increase dwell time in the District;
Provide offerings which appeal to everyone; and,
Reimagine the District as a destination for fun, creativity, and cultural engagement.
strategy
Working closely with the Andy Warhol Museum, Sound Diplomacy developed a vision for the Pop District through the following components:
Providing definitions and pillars of cultural districts and best case examples
Conducting economic mapping and consumption trends analysis
Developing an economic scoring model, that helped inform recommendations for cultural uses/facilities that could be implemented at the Pop District
Providing examples and suggestions for cohort and partnership development
In addition to providing a documented vision and plan, Sound Diplomacy also provided spatial and operational consulting for a new events venue to be developed within the Pop District.
Findings & outcomes
Following on Sound Diplomacy’s involvement in developing a vision for the Pop District and advising on the development of the new venue, in 2024 Sound Diplomacy delivered an economic impact assessment (forecast) of the proposed venue (aka The Factory Creative Arts Center), developed by The Andy Warhol Museum.
Sound Diplomacy continues to work with the Andy Warhol Foundation on its creative placemaking masterplan for the Pop District.
A public announcement has also been made regarding the development of the new events venue.
