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SCOTTSDALE — Art galleries in tony downtown Scottsdale are trying to attract more buyers as city businesses experience decreased revenues.

Four of five downtown districts posted sales declines during the first quarter of 2008 over the same period last year. One district, Old Town Scottsdale, saw a slight increase, from $26.6 million to $26.8 million.

The two districts with the majority of downtown galleries saw the largest declines — 21 percent and 16 percent.

"The economy is affecting business nationwide, including galleries," said Robin Meinhart, Scottsdale's downtown liaison. "Galleries tend to be more at risk because the product they are representing is typically more of a discretionary item."

Beverly Roman, president of the Scottsdale Gallery Association and co-owner of the Robert Roman Gallery at Artspace, said the association is using the downtime to collaborate with city staffers to ramp up for a strong fall and winter season.

Earlier this month, the association's action group met with the city's downtown group to discuss ways the city can better promote its arts district as a destination.

The gallery owners are lobbying the city to better identify the district with signs to attract shoppers.

"When people visit Chinatown, they know they are in Chinatown," said Roman, who wants the same strong type of branding in the art district.

Gallery owners and city staffers also have been collaborating on short-term strategies to increase area foot traffic.

Meinhart said the downtown group has been providing marketing support and funds for the area's art walks, in which galleries stay open Thursday night to attract shoppers.

The art district is also getting a helping hand from Sunrise Bank, which recently teamed up with the gallery association to develop a new credit-card program that enables a percentage of sales to go into an art district marketing program.