Rust Belt to Artist Belt
Events — Posted on June 11, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I was talking with a reporter last month about what makes Youngstown special. When I mentioned art, she seemed surprised. Not, I don’t think, because she necessarily thought we lacked in that area but because it wasn’t visible enough.
Increasing the visibility and viability of local art is a cause that is being seriously taken up, and you’re invited to join up.
Looking at the two posts this week from Artists of the Rust Belt and Artists of the Mahoning Commons, it’s obvious art here is special. And of course that extends beyond visual art to include theatre and music.
On Thursday, June 18 at 4:00 pm at The Butler North Education Center (562 Wick Avenue, next door to The Butler Institute of American Art), the Wean Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and The Youngstown Foundation are sponsoring a session titled “Valley of the Arts: How artists can transform our neighborhoods.”
A panel of community development and arts experts will discuss the role of the arts in transforming neighborhoods. This will include a brief overview of a paper called From Rust Belt to Artist Belt (RB2AB). The paper’s executive summary states:
Since 1950, the nation’s industrial capitals have experienced an equally fast decline. From St. Louis to Chicago to Pittsburgh, they have seen thousands of jobs disappear and thousands of citizens flee.
Many of these cities are now home to only half the residents for which they were built and are likelier to be labeled “fly-over country” than to be recognized for their prominence in research and innovation. And while the Rust Belt’s industrial cities still have strong artistic communities, the outside world tends to recognize these urban centers for their problems rather than for their creative workforces.
RB2AB is focused on revitalizing post-industrial, Rust Belt cities by engaging artists in community development efforts. As part of the panel, arts and community development professionals will present the success and challenges of developing and implementing community artist-based partnerships.
The panel will include:
Brian Friedman – Executive Director of Northeast Shores Development Corporation in Cleveland
Matthew Galluzzo – Arts District Manager at Friendship Development Associates in Pittsburgh
Sarah Gyorki – Executive Director of Arts Collinwood in Cleveland
RSVP by Monday, June 15 to Cheryl Crooks at 330-394-5600.
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4 Comments
Hey Tyler –
Good to see your blog. Regarding this, I think the city should engage in an Artisan and Craftsman incubator. What I would do is
1) Get the Butler to oversee its development, with a board of community activists. The Butler does a great job of preserving American Art, but I hope it would be more like the MoMA in NYC, which promotes development.
2) Pick a neighborhood that has good, cheap housing stock to incubate possibly 50-100 artists by giving them the chance to buy a home. Now I would pick a neighborhood that is a) close to Mill Creek Park (reason in a minute), and b) would also be close to some light vacant industrial space. This is what I call the Williamsburg effect (named after Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn). It has all the artists that couldnt afford Manhattan, and also has lots of space for artists and craftsman.
3) Get several local banks to help provide financing for home purchases. Now similar to microfinancing in developing countries, each artist/homeowner has to be a guarantor on the others in the program. This ‘peer pressure’ under microfinancing has led to the LOWEST default rates possible.
4) Maybe even help them with starting a food grocery cooperative, again similar to the Park Slope (Brooklyn) food co-op.
5) Encourage the homeowner to rent out space in their house for other artists or YSU students, to help with their income
The reason I want it close to Mill Creek is that having lived in Park Slope in Brooklyn, which is next to Prospect Park, I saw a creative class fully utilizing a park all the time. To lure people into the Valley, safe prximity to the park would be great. I think lower west side, which is close to the park and downtown, would be ideal. Its also a natural hedge to YSU growing out the lower north side.
Anyways, food for thought. Would love to hear your ideas on this.
Eric
Sounds great. I have already heard something about efforts underway to encourage artists to relocate to the lower West Side.
I still wish I could have been present at that meeting. I feel strongly that our artists are a most valuable commodity and an industry in its collective self. A strong arts community brings and adds to tourism and the flavor of our city. I may not have the answer but I along with many others are aware that we need to nurture our creative community and aid in any and many ways as possible in their exposure and support. To summarize my personal feelings, I came back to the YO. for teaching experience as I finished my MFA work. I decided to stay passing up other lucrative teaching opportunities elsewhere due to the ever growing evolution of this city. There is too many good people and good things happening. I left here for grad school in 98 and came back in 02 and the changes were already evident.The longer I stayed the more I wanted to be here and find my own way to contribute one more small piece to the foundation of a better Youngstown. I think I steadily am learning and finding that niche. It is people like Tyler,Phil and an ever-growing number of people who are contributing to the betterment of our home. In the past Youngstown was known for its stick-to-it-iveness and strong work ethic, its still here just in a new direction and beginning to shine in a new light!
Thanks for your comment, Tony, and thanks for your art. The good people and good things we find in Youngstown frequently come back around to the art and beauty found here. Thanks for your contributions to that beauty.