Hello NEMAA Members and Supporters,
The days leading up to the summer solstice were indeed long. From the vantage point of the NEMAA office in
the California building the sun stretched slow in the sky as Ale, Anna,
consultants, volunteers, the board members, and you...NEMAA’s members, all reflected
on this year’s Art-A-Whirl. In the main, it was an extremely successful
year. By most accounts the crowds, sales
and general vibe within the community was welcomed and applauded.
There were some concerns and they deserve and will receive
redress. Yet I hope to persuade you that
issues are an inescapable reality associated with the successful production of
a now nationally recognized open studio event.
I also hope to assure you through our work this year, that a focus on
‘planning together for 2016’ will produce better outcomes than a focus on ‘solving
issues’. That’s because planning
together is not oppositional. Planning
together suggests ways for the entire community of NE to benefit from the
collective presence of studio building owners, artists, arts suppliers, arts
buyers and advocates, retailers, restaurateurs, brewers, entertainment venue
owners, musicians, actors, employees, business owners, and all community
members (i. e everyone).
I’d like to share with you what we NEMAA peeps have been
thinking on and talking about since the third weekend in May. But before I do, I’d like to share some of my
own personal reflections about NE and NEMAA with you. In my other non-NEMAA
board member (not as exciting) life, I am immersed in the conversation around revitalization. A lot has been written about how cities can maintain
and grow economic and social vibrancy, and the role the arts can play in this
effort. For several decades now it has been proffered that urban, rural, and
even suburban economic development must engage the arts community, at least at
some level. I’ve read a sizable portion
of the books, articles, and planning documents that call for investment in and the
expansion of creatives and creative economies.
I’ve poured over countless case studies that discuss best practices in
fostering gallery, theater, studio and live-work spaces and any and all arts activity. In summary I can say two things; first, this
is not work for the faint of heart or sleep deprived (!) and second, NE as a
community signals a sustained and unique arts presences; an exemplar of arts
district success.
Now too, I’ve read the plethora of literature suggesting
that success, at least for arts districts, is but a snapshot in time. In reflecting on the potential for
gentrification, I ask that NEMAA members consider the two descriptors I chose for
the NE community-sustained and unique.
These descriptors are attentive to our reality at this particular ‘time’. Regarding the vast literature about arts
driven economic development there are a lot of ‘templates’ that should work,
and don’t, and/or partially don’t. Yet
there is a much smaller number of examples of organic and unique processes,
places and people who are able to coalesce and evolve as something that does
work. NE is this, today.
NE reflects an economic environment where arts activity has
fostered desire for and investment in the buildings and community of NE. Simply stated…NE is experiencing new
investment from developers and business owners in tandem with growth in its
creative economy and arts presence.
Witness the 20th annual Art-A-Whirl open studio event;
ramping up as opposed to slowing down.
And yes, it does look different; replete with hiccups such
as road closures that unwittingly blocked our arts patron trolley, and
interlopers who capitalize on the Art-A-Whirl name without being supporting
members, advertisers or sponsors. Yet I
was told by a restaurant owner that Art-A-Whirl was the reason they chose to
open in NE (and they served many hungry arts patrons, extending their stay in
the neighborhood). I was also told by a
young artist that NEMAA drew her to a NE studio and once here, the housing
stock drew her and her husband to a home in NE.
Reflecting a 20 year evolution we cannot overlook the positive. For it is our charge to tout, brag, regale
in, celebrate, and promote the role the arts have played in shaping the NE of
today.
I persuade…let’s examine the patina-ed and newly shiny
artistic milieu that has evolved. Let’s grow
to embrace how this arts reality is intrinsically woven into the economic and
social fabric of the community. Let’s engage and highlight 20 years of hard
work and success so that everyone can understand the importance of the arts in
this community. I know that the members
of NEMAA, and Art-A-Whirl fans near and far, would like to see the particular
time sensitive reality of arts district success remain in perpetuity...with
only room for improvement. That is what
I’d like to see. Moreover, NEMAA’s mission
is to support a sustainable space for arts production and consumption. So, with the ‘arts’ on the tip of every
business owner and political representative’s tongue…let’s lend the artistic
experience of NE (and the 20-year cache of NEMAA’s Art-A-Whirl marketing that
draws well over 30,000 people to NE during the three day event) as a face to their
goal of arts driven economic development planning. As the exemplar of how this can and should be
done, I propose we plan in partnership with the community for Art-A-Whirl 2016
so that we can remain the exemplar of success.
At NEMAA the work of planning has already begun (the day
after Art-A-Whirl, really!) and we are embracing three goals; 1) NEMAA will
foster relationships with community members through meetings with varied stakeholders
throughout the next year of Art-A-Whirl planning, 2) NEMAA will empower our artist
citizens through a series of focused workshops aimed at helping members shape,
market and close the sale during the Art-A-Whirl open studio event and beyond,
and 3) NEMAA will develop a media ambassadorship aimed at fostering a better understanding
and knowledge of what Art-A-Whirl is and what our partners in the community
contribute to the open studio event.
While these appear to be broad
concepts, with maybe just a bit of planning and empowering jargon mixed in, the
aim is clear; let’s keep the focus of the Art-A-Whirl open studio event on the
arts, artists and OPEN STUDIOS and, let’s continue to grow and enhance the
threads of art woven into the fabric of NE. We want to welcome our new
neighbors (such as those that provide the food and drink that Art-A-Whirl
visitors enjoy so much) and continue to thank and embrace our long time
neighbors who look forward to the boon of activity, crowds and profit that
supports their businesses during Art-A-Whirl weekend. AND we want to ask our
neighbors to plan and communicate with us so that every path to an artist’s
studio is open and welcoming and no Art-A-Whirl patron’s desire to attend this
NEMAA open studio event is diminished.
AND…we want to ask our neighbors to support us fiscally so this
non-profit can achieve another successful Art-A-Whirl event in 2016, as we
celebrate our 21st year!
So, even though the sun’s rays
will linger less in the coming months, NEMAA will continue its long days,
drawing on every tool and resource we have at our disposal to envision, create
and conduct a successful community plan for Art-A-Whirl 2016.
Sincerely,
Brenda Kayzar
NEMAA President
