Coordinators of the Butler Cultural District are taking steps to not only establish a hub for arts and culture in downtown Butler, but also make it last.

Butler County Commission chairwoman Leslie Osche is project manager for the cultural district through Butler Rotary Club PM. She said Thursday, March 14, the club is using grant money to purchase signs to outline the area of the district and also to hire a “very part-time coordinator” to oversee the cultural district once it is off the ground.

“The money we have from Pennsylvania Council on the Arts is for four years, so the Rotary Club is committed to raising money to match that for four years,” Osche said. “It takes all these partnerships to make this happen.”

Osche said the club is in the early stages of hiring a coordinator, but 12 signs have been ordered to signify the district, which is bordered by East Jefferson, North Main, Howard, North McKean and Franklin streets. The signs contain the logo for the district and should be in place in the summer.

Osche said they are also made to display upcoming events in the area, as well as organizations that sponsor the Rotary Club and the cultural district. The Rotary Club is working with local artists and students of Butler Area School District on designing two benches that will be installed downtown and in Ritts Park.

The Butler Area School District board voted at a meeting Monday to approve an easement agreement allowing two cultural district signs to be placed on school district property.

Al Vavro, Butler school board president and Rotary Club member, said one sign would be placed on the Penn Street side of Emily Brittain Elementary, and the other on N. McKean Street by the former Butler Middle School. He said the school district will not be responsible for the signs.

“The Rotary would assume the liability insurance,” Vavro said. “All we are asking for is your approval of the easement agreement for those two locations.”

According to Osche, the Butler Cultural District also is establishing a base in Natili North, which is within the borders of the district at 204 N. Main St. Rotary Club members are looking for other businesses and organizations to host art pieces.

“That will be a space where we can host artists and entertainers who want to share their artwork or sell it even,” Osche said. “We’re looking at inviting various businesses or nonprofits to host pieces.”

According to Osche, Rotary Club members are creating the Butler Cultural District to help locals and visitors experience artistic and cultural offerings in the city.

“Hopefully it will take on a life of its own and have its own identity someday,” Osche said. “We're here to see that through.”