Nashville's art community has won a new marketing tool with the approval of its Cultural District application to the state.

Nashville was one of two new Cultural Districts to be granted statewide, reported Kathy Anderson, a Brown County resident and member of the Indiana Arts Commission. The vote was taken this morning at a meeting in Indianapolis.

Three Cultural Districts already existed: Bloomington, West Lafayette and Carmel. The other district approved this morning is Columbus.

Having all three districts on the "Arts Road 46" -- Columbus, Nashville and Bloomington -- now recognized by the state will provide for greater opportunities for promotion, Anderson predicted.

No funding is associated with Cultural District designation, but benefits include "increased tourism marketing and economic activities that come with being part of a branded program with a statewide emphasis, and a potential collaboration with the Indiana Artisan program," reads a press release announcing the new districts.

A Cultural District is defined as a "well-recognized, labeled, mixed-use area of a community in which high concentrations of cultural assets serve as the anchor."

Nashville's district includes all of downtown, but also extends to take in artist studios on the Brown County backroads.

That "spokes-and-wheel" design really grabbed the attention of the Cultural District committee, Anderson said, adding that it was called "brilliant" and "intuitive."

The Nashville Arts and Entertainment Commission, members of which worked on the Cultural District application, will talk about the designation more at the next meeting, scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12.