As you can see I had to erase everything I had written on my research map. The only thing I'm certain of is that it will change again. I am taking baby steps to understanding this whole process. My first steps on this map are focusing on how the development of an art council in a rural town could support a community revitalization by listing some sub-questions that will be also used as interview questions.
There isn't a lot of research in this area, so if you run across anything, let me know!
Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteI don't live in a rural town, but the arts are what has brought vitality back to St. Petersburg! I will try to find some information to send your way and hopefully it can help you in your research.
Here are some links that might help:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stpetearts.org/en/3654/Home.html
http://www.tampabay.com/news/spending-on-arts-pays-off-with-big-bucks-in-st-petersburg-study-says/1136136
http://business.stpete.com/divisions/tourism/arts-council.html
The arts in St. Petersburg didn't happen overnight. It took years to build and thank heavens that there were some pretty amazing visionaries leading the way. Some of the links have contact information if you think you might like to actually get some information on what they did to get started. Good Luck!
I dont know if this is applicable to your situation, but maybe a look at something like Mass MOCA might be interesting. Of course there was big money behind it, but it might be worth a look about refurbishing or re-newing spaces (old mill towns) and how art can be a tourist destination. I know this is not feasible for every place, but it might be interesting to see how the town of North Adams changed after it was put on the art map in a big way. (It has no permanent collection , by the way, it is all rotating except for the SolLeWitt which is there for 25 years.)
ReplyDeleteThanks guys, for the websites and advice! I will certainly use these contacts Patricia. I know my town is very small, but you just never know what will happen in the future. Aren't we all visionaries? Janice, it was strange that you sent that advice about renewing spaces, when I just spoke with a committee member about trying to use one of the vacant building on our town square for this very purpose!
ReplyDeleteThanks again!
Make sure your question becomes a central part of your map. Your methods and everything that follows should be tightly aligned to your research question!
ReplyDeleteBeing open to change in this process is good. Growth doesn't typically happen without change!