"Nothing portrays decline and defeat like a block full of empty storefronts. That is the situation in small town after small town throughout the United States right now.
With a rise in interest in “local,” – local food, authentic experiences, a slower pace of life and all that longing for something REAL, these empty small towns should be bustling with visitors, but they’re not."
"Changing perception is the first step in turning around a small town.
Taking an idea from larger communities, small towns are beginning to turn to their arts community for help.Filling those vacant storefronts with art has been a successful economic revitalization project for the San Francisco Arts Commission.
Eugene, Oregon is also filling vacant storefronts with art.
And now, Dunsmuir, California, population barely 2000, is readying five storefronts for the work of local artists.
Why Economic Revitalization through art?
“Since the beginning of time, artists have sought out inexpensive, interesting places to make art,” muses Siskiyou Arts Council Executive Director, Lauri Sturdivant. “They move into small towns, crumbling lofts in cities, off-the-beaten path districts in order to live cheaply and make art. Then, restaurants follow and little stores and curious shoppers and all of a sudden, the area becomes ‘trendy.’ Prices go up and artists move on, creating opportunity in a new backwater location.”"Full article here
0 comments:
Post a Comment