Training Seminars - December 2008

Arts and Cultures as an Economic Development Strategy
Friday, December 12, 2008 - Kalamazoo

Faxable registration form (PDF)

Program Description
From the museum and hometown festival to the local art gallery and library, communities across our state are blessed with places that allow us to explore our cultural heritage.  These places produce a direct economic benefit resulting in jobs, a stronger tax base, downtown and neighborhood revitalization, and tourism.  The art and culture community is a key component to attracting and retaining people and businesses essential to Michigan's economic resurgence.  Thanks to a grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the League and its Foundation are pleased to be partnering with the Department of History, Arts and Libraries in an effort to increase awareness among local officials as to the importance of the art and culture community to an overall economic development strategy.  Join us for a forum featuring local government and art and culture representatives from across the region as they discuss their efforts.
Upon completion of the program attendees will be able to: 

• Determine their community's cultural assets.

• Determine the strength of a community's assets to either develop a strategy alone or in collaboration with other communities.

• Complete a community readiness audit.

• Determine the source of cultural economic development leadership.

• Create a cultural economic development strategy.

Keynote Speaker
Robert McNulty, Founder and president, Partners for Livable Communities
For more than 30 years, Mr. McNulty has thrown his energies into civic invention, arts and creativity, and agendas of social inclusion to benefit communities.  As a recognized expert in urban planning and community development, he has engaged in projects or offered counsel in over 300 communities across America and over 100 countries around the world.  Prior to starting Partners in 1975, he served as assistant director of the Architectural and Design program for the National Endowment for the Arts, providing small grants to startup community-oriented arts efforts across the nation.

Agenda
Check-in 9:00 am, Begin 9:30 am

9:45 - 10:45 - Keynote Speaker, Robert McNulty

10:45 - 11:00 - Break

11:00-12:00 -  Key Components Panel.  Discussion participants will focus on the issues of attracting and keeping citizens through cultural tourism and revitalization. 

Moderator: Warren Rauhe, MSU School of Planning, Design and Construction.

Participants:  Jennifer Schaub, Neighborhood Revitalization Department, Dwelling Place, Grand Rapids, ; Bob Ellis, Executive Director, Kalamazoo Air Zoo; Bobbie Gaunt, Board Chair, Saugatuck Center for the For the Arts; Robert McNulty, Partners for Livable Communities

12:00 - 1:00 - Lunch

1:00 - 2:00 - Local Perspective/Best Practice – Thelda Matthews, Sculpture Division, K&M Machine- Fabrication, Cassopolis; Christine Berro, Director, Portage District Library; Juan Ganum, Planner, City of Niles.

2:00 - 3:30 - Engagement Strategy/Interactive Discussion

Session Leader: Warren Rauhe

Cost Per Person
Free

Location Information
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (am location)
269-349-7775
314 South Park Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Directions

Kalamazoo Public Library (pm location,
bring walking shoes)
269-342-9837
315 S. Rose St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Directions from Institute of Arts to Library

Education Credits Approved for this Program
EOA 5, CEU .45

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