The Port Townsend Main Street Program invites the community to Room A of the Fort Worden Commons on Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m. to explore how the arts could be an economic engine for a more sustainable economy in Port Townsend. The public is encouraged to learn about the Port Townsend Creative Districts concept, as well as to offer their input on how to support a year-round economy, through sustainable jobs in the arts and creative industries in Port Townsend. The creative economy sector under discussion includes the visual, performing, literary and culinary arts, as well as other makers, and the proposed Port Townsend Creative Districts would include the downtown and uptown commercial historic districts, in addition to Fort Worden. “Artists, writers, performers, businesses and nonprofits of all types who support our creative economy are invited to attend,” Port Townsend Main Street Board President Kris Nelson said. The Port Townsend Main Street Program is working with community partners to submit an application this fall to ArtsWA, to designate Port Townsend as a creative district this fall. Representatives from local arts and nonprofit organizations — including the Fort Worden Public Development Authority, Port Townsend Main Street Program, Centrum, Northwind Arts Center, Port Townsend Arts Commission, KPTZ and the Port Townsend Public Library — have been attending monthly meetings to research the information for the ArtsWA application. Three Washington cities have received this designation to date: Edmonds, Olympia and Chewelah. “Our goal for the Port Townsend Creative Districts is to connect artists with audiences to foster a prosperous creative economy in our community,” Nelson said. “We can link the creative districts through marketing, clever signage and imaginative way-finding. The designation, as well as the process, will unify our collaborative and strategic efforts, and we are really excited about the opportunities ahead.”