Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Midwest Model
second in an ongoing series of posts that share cool ideas from the across the region
Last week I traveled to Cedar Rapids, IA to work with the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance on a new strategic plan. As always, I was so impressed with the dedication and commitment of the board and staff to make a strong arts community.
As I drove into Cedar Rapids, I was struck by the fact that nearly all of the brown navigational signs on the highway as you come in to town are for cultural attractions, which is a pretty cool statement about the community and what they value. You know what's even cooler? The Eastern Iowa Airport. Through a unique partnership with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance (ICCA) manages a concierge desk at the airport. So every visitor who gets off a plane in Cedar Rapids can check in for directions, hotel information AND get information and recommendations about all the cultural opportunities that are happening while they are in town. I love this. I love the actual connection it makes between visitors and the arts. And even more than that, I love the statement that it makes - even if a visitor to the area never attends a show or visits a museum, the first thing they see when they arrive is a community that defines itself through its cultural opportunities. Wouldn't it be great if there was a cultural concierge in every airport?
While I was in Cedar Rapids, I also attended the Stars of Tomorrow Talent Competition at Brucemore, a historic mansion, garden and outdoor theater. I had mixed feeling
s about the competition - one part of me wanted to run up on stage and shield these raw, young artists from the (very supportive and gentle) judgement and another wanted to say, "there's $2,000 at stake, kiddo, you better show us why you deserve it!" There's a 100% chance that I overthink these things.
All my mixed feelings were abandoned, though, in favor of being completely bowled over by Chase Garrett - a 19 year old blues pianist, who was amazing. truly.
This is what its about, folks, great artists that grow in every small town and every big city and the organizations and people who make the space for them to bloom. If only I'd brought Mr. Landesman along.
-laura
second in an ongoing series of posts that share cool ideas from the across the region
Last week I traveled to Cedar Rapids, IA to work with the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance on a new strategic plan. As always, I was so impressed with the dedication and commitment of the board and staff to make a strong arts community.
As I drove into Cedar Rapids, I was struck by the fact that nearly all of the brown navigational signs on the highway as you come in to town are for cultural attractions, which is a pretty cool statement about the community and what they value. You know what's even cooler? The Eastern Iowa Airport. Through a unique partnership with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance (ICCA) manages a concierge desk at the airport. So every visitor who gets off a plane in Cedar Rapids can check in for directions, hotel information AND get information and recommendations about all the cultural opportunities that are happening while they are in town. I love this. I love the actual connection it makes between visitors and the arts. And even more than that, I love the statement that it makes - even if a visitor to the area never attends a show or visits a museum, the first thing they see when they arrive is a community that defines itself through its cultural opportunities. Wouldn't it be great if there was a cultural concierge in every airport?
While I was in Cedar Rapids, I also attended the Stars of Tomorrow Talent Competition at Brucemore, a historic mansion, garden and outdoor theater. I had mixed feeling
s about the competition - one part of me wanted to run up on stage and shield these raw, young artists from the (very supportive and gentle) judgement and another wanted to say, "there's $2,000 at stake, kiddo, you better show us why you deserve it!" There's a 100% chance that I overthink these things. All my mixed feelings were abandoned, though, in favor of being completely bowled over by Chase Garrett - a 19 year old blues pianist, who was amazing. truly.
This is what its about, folks, great artists that grow in every small town and every big city and the organizations and people who make the space for them to bloom. If only I'd brought Mr. Landesman along.
-laura
# posted by laura @ 10:08 AM 
