Local community arts supporter, Leeds Bird (left) chats with Louise Stevens
Arts Group Gathering Opinions to Shape Cultural Future of Community
Goal is Improvement of Quality of Life, Said Key to Economic Development
April 3, 2003
By: Dave Rogers
Consultant Louise Stevens of a Bozeman, Montana, firm called ArtsMarket, is on a whirlwind information-gathering tour of the Bay City community.
Meeting with dozens of groups and key individuals who are identified with the arts and culture scenehere, she grabs an opinion here, a new idea there, a trend over there.
The plan is to achieve an understanding, and perhaps a consensus, on the direction of the Bay City/Bay County community regarding arts and culture. The result will be a Bay Area Community Cultural Arts Plan.
This broad field involves history, visual and performing arts, libraries, schools, higher education -- anywhere people seek to inform and broaden themselves. It's not just entertainment that the process is concerned about, it's quality of life in our community.
The community's quality of life will be the key to economic development, especially when areas are in competition for companies which bring jobs. "Money does tend to follow good ideas," said Ms. Stevens.
"People are starting to recognize that arts and culture have such importance in our lives," said Diane Middleton, executive director of the Bay Arts Council, warming up the crowd at a recent gathering at the Clements Inn.
"We need to grow and cultivate the arts and culture, and we can't do it without community input. We welcome your help."
Ms. Stevens drew rapt attention as she spoke: "It's so nice to meet so many people who care so passionately about history resources and arts and culture in the community. You have an incredible sense of history, place and community in Bay City. I hope you don't take it for granted."
The consultant spoke to several dozen community leaders at the gathering hosted by Shirley and Dave Roberts, owners of the Clements Inn, the historic bed and breakfast at Center Avenue and Johnson Street.
"This is an incredible community and we hope to help you look forward to the future as well as to preserve the past."
br>Goal of the project is to compile a "broad-based civic plan" for arts and culture, much as other consultants create master plans, greenways plans and educational plans, explained Ms. Stevens, commenting further:
"Culture is the only thing truly unique across the country. It is a definition of the place, of economic development, of community quality of life.
She said such a plan is important "so young people don't move away and say 'there's nothing to do there.'"
That comment surely reflected some of the opinions prevalent here.
"We need to rebuild a sense of working together for arts and culture to make sure we have vitality for the next generation," Ms. Stevens said.
The information-gathering process will continue with surveys, focus groups and meetings with organizations.
"We need to get bold new ideas on paper now for the next 20 years, and determine our real priorities," she stated. A steering committee will be formed to "get people aligned and start moving forward." The consultant concluded: "All the ideas you have put on the table will be in our report."