CADI MEETING NOTES – February 22nd, 6-7p.m.(Scarpino’s Gelateria)
FAYETTEVILLE DOWNTOWN PARTNERS UPDATE
Fayetteville Downtown Partners (FDP) continues to move forward with the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan (www.downtowndickson.com). The City Council approved the contract for services on March 1st, allowing FDP the opportunity to shore up its infrastructure and officially begin several major initiatives for 2005.
Business Improvement District Initiative -FDP, under the guidance of the Downtown Master Plan, is undertaking the task of investigating the viability of an assessment district in downtown Fayetteville. FDP is encouraged to pursue a downtown BID because of the huge potential benefits of the funding of specialized services and programs. The overall goal of a BID is to keep downtown competitive with the growth of NW Arkansas. Services to stay competitive can mean many things: better promotion and public relations, business recruitment and retention programs, advocacy, street/sidewalk maintenance, security, holiday décor, parking and transportation, signage, special events, redevelopment, capital improvements, design review staff, public art, etc.
The BID could have a very positive impact on the formation of the Cultural Arts District because it brings with it a funding structure to support all sorts of projects identified during the February 22nd meeting. A consultant has been hired by FDP to help the organization achieve the full potentials of a BID.
Merchants’ Association – This active group of downtown merchants will be a major ingredient in the Cultural Arts District soup. They are taking a predominant role in promoting and expanding downtown tourism, as well as expanding their local consumer base…all things necessary for a healthy and vibrant downtown. For those artists, galleries and other arts related businesses, we strongly recommend joining this group, as it will only help move you and/or your business forward.
COMMUNICATION
Effectively Using the Media
Megan Chapman was a featured artist in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette special section "Transitions." The article focused on several local NWA artists. Megan even had a chance to slip in some information about Fayetteville and the work we are doing to support the local arts scene. WAY TO GO MEGAN!
We would like to have articles in the paper regarding the Fayetteville art scene and the work of the CADI at least once or twice per month. If you have any suggestions for upcoming stories, let FDP know so we can get the information to the papers.
Website
FDP is currently developing a website to help promote and support the Fayetteville art scene. We are currently developing the text and resources that might be useful on the website. Once we get things up and running, we’ll be adding links, events, gallery information and granting sources. Many thank to Sonia Gutierrez and Chris Bray for lending their expertise on this site. The address will be www.fayettevillearts.org.
Information Sharing
We would like to share newspaper articles, websites and other resources with our community, If you have any information we all need to know about the arts, arts legislation, arts impact studies or more, please send them to dan@fayettevilledowntown.org.
FDP will also be actively following several items in the Arkansas legislature over the next few months. We’ll be popping these items on to you, along with the contact information for our elected officials. Don’t forget about talking to your local government. Our City Council members and the Mayor are here to listen to your needs. Let’s chat em’ up and get the Cultural Arts District on their list of "THINGS TO MAKE HAPPEN IN 2005!"
Economics and the Arts
From the standpoint of economic development, investment in arts and culture is sound financial policy. But the arts aren’t simply about numbers. The arts, as the poet and sculptor Gunter Grass puts it, are wonderfully irrational, exuberantly pointless, but necessary all the same.
The heart and soul of the Cultural Arts District Initiative is the celebration, support and sustainability of the arts in our community. It is also about ensuring Fayetteville remains the economically vital, beautiful and creative city we love. FDP is working hard to create a bridge between those two messages.
FAYETTEVILLE ARTS FESTIVAL
Programming
FDP will be expanding the festival this year to incorporate as many art forms as possible. We have speaking with numerous individual artists, actors, writers, filmmakers, dancers and musicians in order to bring a full scope of the arts to the 2005 festival. We will have more information on programming, potential locations and festival dates by March 18th.
Current programming potentials include:
- Mayor’s Concert with Jura Margulis
- A classical music series with NASO
- The Fayetteville Film Festival
- A 24-Hour Filmmaker Competition
- A 24-Hour Play Competition
- A jazz series
- A Poetry Slam
- Literary and Poetry Readings
- Public Art Projects
- Art Cars and parade
- Gallery Walk
- Juried Visual Arts Show
- Art Vendors
- Dance series
- Play workshops
- Master Classes
Funding
Rep. Lindsley Smith introduced HB 1665, a request for $10,000 support for FAF 2005 from the state legislature. It passed! Please contact Rep. Smith to say thanks … smithl@arkleg.state.ar.us
Browse Timeline
- « Artists seek venues, collectors – Northwest Arkansas Times – Sunday, February 20, 2005
- » NWA Artscapes – March 2005, Citiscapes
