The Culture Magnet
Making Lynchburg a cultural destination
"A thriving arts, food, and music scene isn't a charity case; it is the ultimate economic magnet. We will make Lynchburg a cultural destination by getting the bureaucracy out of the way of our creators and event organizers."
The Out-Of-Town Exodus
Lynchburg has an incredible foundation of local artists, musicians, and culinary talent, but City Council too often treats the arts as an afterthought. Event organizers and festival planners are frequently bogged down by complex permitting processes, noise ordinances, and red tape that make it exhausting to host large-scale cultural events.
As a result, we experience a "weekend exodus." Instead of keeping entertainment dollars local, our residents are frequently forced to hit the highway, driving out to Roanoke, Charlottesville, or down to the amphitheaters in Richmond just to catch a great live outdoor concert or experience a vibrant festival. When we fail to foster a thriving, homegrown entertainment district, we are not just losing our weekends, we are bleeding restaurant revenue, hotel taxes, and cultural vibrancy required to convince young families to put down roots here.
Permitting & Red Tape
Burdensome city codes, confusing permit queues, and rigid local noise restrictions make planning community festivals, food truck events, or live concerts a costly nightmare for local organizers.
Dave's Culture Is Key Plan
The Amphitheater & Live Music Vision
We must capture the regional concert market. Dave will actively pursue public-private partnerships to develop and expand world-class outdoor live music venues and amphitheater spaces right here in Lynchburg, ensuring our residents can see top-tier talent in their own backyard.
Why Weekends Should Be Here
Arts to Restaurant Multiplier
The "Arts to Restaurant Multiplier" highlights the massive secondary revenue generated by cultural events. Groundbreaking research from the Americans for the Arts proves that attendees spend an average of $31.47 per person per event, completely beyond the cost of admission. This injected secondary revenue directly benefits local establishments like restaurants, parking garages, and babysitters.