Please read this great article describing how experts believe the arts saved Cleveland and Pittsburgh. I think the arts can revitalize Allentown too. But I don't claim to be an expert, just an artist with ideas.According to the facts and experts cited in this article, the new arts sector in Cleveland in 1994 generated $165 million in revenues for the city. The sports teams generated $79 million.
In Pittsburgh, the new arts district draws up to 35% more visitors each year than the sports arenas in the city.
In the last 15 yrs. the trend has been that a city's economic development and growth has followed the arts.
Art and culture creates a "non threatening zone" where all kinds of people can come together. In addition to economic growth, art can help with civic development, resulting in a more civil society.
Yes, the arts are very important and have always played a resonating role in people's lives.
Photo is ad for Pittsburgh gallery crawl event
Here's a link that local artist Greg Coates sent me about the arts in Newark N.J.:
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33 comments:
"the arts are very important and have always played a resonating role in people's lives."
So true. And in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Baltimore's inner harbor, and lots more cities, it is "the arts" that always start the turnaround from "war zone" downtown into a welcoming and hip new scene that attracts developers (e.g., Rouse in Baltimore) and investors and then residents and businesses and voila, things have turned around. Hopefully, Allentown is headed in this direction and organizations like the Chen Arts Group will play an important part.
Hello.. i am proof that The arts are important, and that artist improve economically distressed areas,
I spent more money in Allentown, as a artist, with my art studio, suppies, paints and living than i get back with art sales.
Meaning, there is no support here.
I Watch the Suburbs growing , expanding with Retail and a quality of life.
Then i wonder why the Inner city of Allentown is allowed to become a Urban Blight.
Where is the leadership.
and why does it wait so long to make change .
Yes.. i am proof that Artist and the Arts can change this city into a thriving metropolis
I personally have renovated a former commercial building, making it my art studio, this Studio has become a proud symbol to my neighborhood
Here the people have told me.. that it gives them pleasure to see art and artist as part of the community. I want to improve the innercity with out delay.
Yes, This is a perfect year for the investment of the innercity .
I have artist collegues ,who ask me once a week about the Status of support in Allentown.
I am sorry to report
that is something i can not say for sure.. exisit
I, too, believe the Arts and the artists can re-build the City but until A-town leaders begin to cultivate and support these ideas and innovations with resources i.e. money, then no matter how many speeches the mayor makes and proclamations are given out, Allentown will stay the same. I believe to make this work, in the beginning, you will have to continue to do as you have recently done, and as I continue to do; keep it moving and get creative with your fundraising ideas and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN on YOUR OWN ! This is not a popular or easy idea but I have been where you all are and I know what it is like to have the accolades of everyone around you after having a great event like the one at Peter Lewnes' place, but in order to make a TRUE statement and make TRUE change you have keep it going, whether you receive funding or not. Don't let this great start just wither just because you don't obtain support from the City. Become self-sufficient! It can be done and you are the people who can do it! Good luck!
Alfonso
I'm thinking we can persuade/motivate/leverage The City into coming through and funding Allentown Artists in a significant and ongoing way. If not, I'm with Alfonso in that we'll just have to do it ourselves, and with "it" being creating a vibrant art scene, and a sustainable (profitable) art market, ourselves. We'll probably have to do that first--and that's exactly what we have been doing--with The City then jumping on board after they see that Allentown artists have talent and our s**t together and that we're a good investment.
You have had my whole-hearted personal (and some of you know, financial) support.
Yesterday I spent my Sunday afternoon with Joe Skrapits and another member of the Allentown Arts Commission at the home/studio of a significant area artist discussing ways that we can organize for community arts projects in Allentown. On the way back home we stopped at a former industrial building in Allentown that he is in the beginning stages of considering putting his studio.
Based upon his experience with other communities, I believe that we have at least one community art project that we can work on collectively and that can happen by this spring. The Chen Arts Group can organize it during the cold weather months -- it is very achievable.
As we work on successful community arts projects, Chen Arts artists will get more exposure for having a commitment to the city and the neighborhoods of Allentown. That will make anything we structure more likely to get financial support.
Come to the next Chen Arts meeting to hear more about the project Joe and I are cooking up for spring.
We also continue to need to meet and discuss ways that artists can benefit from existing traditional economic development programs. After meeting with one artist I met at the Chen Arts Group meeting at Gregory's loft who is converting an old industrial building into an artist work space, I realized that some of the benefits in Allentown's Enterprise Zone may benefit artists that are buying and fixing up formerly industrial buildings in the Zone. That means that any artist ready to purchase or renovate an old industrial building can contact my staff member, Erlinda Aguiar for details (610-439-5976).
To develop unique programs to benefit Allentown artists is going to be a little bit more complicated. It will require 1) consensus from you all as to what is needed, 2) organization (you are doing this already, but more activities/community building needs to take place), and 3) the early support of benefactors and foundations.
I can support you through this process, as I have been, but I cannot do it for you. And, you wouldn't want me to. Your effort will have more integrity as it comes directly from artists.
Thanks to all for the thoughtful comments.
Joyce,
I think the key to a successful arts district in a city is that all the groups work together- the city economic development team, the artists, the councils, commissions and institutions too. If you read about the Newark Arts Council (the link that's at the bottom of my post, read their mission)they seem to have it together. It is good that there are people like you and Pete and Joe S. who know the value of the arts. I think Allentown can get there, but there has to be communication and coordination between all groups. I think we have a good start now. And I agree, to get the grants and funding we need to show commitment to the community.
Alfonso, we plan on keeping the ball rolling! We will have more shows at Pete's, and we will find places to show and sell our work.
I think once we have more shows and get out there, then some of the local art patrons and business leaders will start to purchase our work, display in their offices. With or without the press coverage, I think we can get the word out. It's a group effort. And we have reached out to everyone, bridging that disconnect that often exists between artists and patrons (mainly due to the high ticket price of art galas) Anyone can attend our get togethers, and it's an opportunity to get to know the artists.
Hey "it's not dali", I know who you are! Thanks for commenting! I think after our first really classy show at Pete's fab gallery, we have proven that we have our sh** together!
... sorry to interrupt this great discussion, but I must mention that some albeit well-placed and very clever anonymous snarks against Allentown Mayoral Hopeful Michael Molovinsky at the always terrific "Lehigh Valley Lexicon" blog are being attributed to "The Villas," a.k.a. Mr. and Mrs. Dottie, by "Mayor Mike" and the neocon blog nazi terrorist he pals around with, Bernie O'Hare O'Mcall.
Gentlemen, and I use the term loosely:
Apparently, and likely because of your public participation in the shameful "Troll Parade" blog, there are bloggers out there (other than Angie and me) who strongly disapprove of you and your tactics ... and ... it looks like you may be encountering criticism from them from time to time.
Please Note: these are consequences you've brought down upon yourselves and we can't help you with them.
In the future, unless you have irrefutable proof that "anonymous snarks" against you have been posted by "The Villas," please refrain from attributing these comments to us.
Now back to our regularly scheduled terrific discussion at Lehigh Valley Somebody ...
Come to the next Chen Arts meeting to hear more about the project Joe and I are cooking up for spring.
Thanks Joyce, I'll be there!
Greetings:
I, too, very much support the growth of the arts in Allentown, and have some ideas about policies that can help encourge activity in the city. As the next couple of months unfold, I'll be bringing these to more people. I've already shared them with a few to test the ideas.
Nevertheless, I would also like to suggest an expansion to your effort. I have read much of Richard Florida's work on the creative class. His approach dovetails with my own research in how communities overcome development hurdles.
Artistic talent of any type correlates with creative talent in all areas of society, especially solutions to the basic needs of our society (ie, food, environment, energy, housing, clothing, health, etc.). Even our hedonistic desires (ie, fancy food, fancy transportation, fancy clothing, fancy housing, electronics, etc) are helped along by creativity.
Thus, I hope that in our efforts to support the arts community, we also link those efforts to the arena of design and commercialization. Creativity comes in many, many flavors. A great community balances its ability to generate income with an appreciation for artistic expression. The two go together, and that is Florida's hypothesis.
Best regards,
Michael Donovan
I would just like to add that Mr. O'Hare has publicly made a mockery of the Chen Arts group at several blogs, by calling them foo foo's and artsy fartsys and phonies. Obviously he does not value artists. And Mr. Molovinsky has written a letter to Joyce Marin asking her not to give the Chen group any grant money, because of the Villas involvement in the group. And of course, at the Troll Parade blog which Mr. Ohare created along with Attorney David Najarian, with the support of Mr. Molovinsky, they post vile comments and lies about the Villa family and our deceased daughter, who happened to be a talented dancer. These are hateful trolls and they are not allowed to comment at our blog, because we set the rules here. We have decided to ignore their provocations.
Back to our substantive discussion:
Mr. Donovan makes some great points about how why the arts are so important to a society. Creativity is connected to so many areas in our lives.
This is why I spend much of my time volunteering with art related activites at my son's school, and with Chen Arts. And now I am teaching private art lessons to kids. They need to learn the value of art, and how it is connected to other things, like critical thinking skills, for example. It enriches our lives and is a positive force. I hope that this will expand into more community groups for Allentown.
It's nice to see Allentown City Councilor Michael Donovan commenting here again, welcome back Michael, very interesting comment regarding Richard "Foo Foo" :) Florida which I will explore further, thank you again for contributing to this discussion ...
I used to live in Jim Thorpe, a town known for its incredible architecture and fun arts scene. But 20 years ago a lot of those nice old buildings were complete dumps that had been neglected. Many outsiders (retirees looking to run their dream B&B or antique shop, as well as artists who could afford the cost of living in JT but not NY or Philly) moved in and bought the old buildings cheap. They renovated them and also created some nice galleries. I think these things go hand in hand. It looks like both things are happening here (since artists are both buying old fixer-uppers and moving forward with Chen). But, patience is key.
Hi Sarina,
I would imagine that Jim Thorpe 20yrs. ago did not have the crime problem and/or perception Allentown has today. So we have that added hump, but to your point I agree, patience is key and it may take some time.
YEAH.. i see things are begining to happen towards a progressive Arts development in Allentown,
now, lets not forget the people who are responsible for this must also be rewarded
Yeah.. Yeah.
i like what i am reading..
It will have a important effect toward the development of Art in Allentown.
Hi Greg,
Yes we have a lot to be hopeful about.
Charge!
I think it is a shame that Mr. O'hare thinks it acceptable to publish posts mocking a fledgling Arts Group. I was just emailed his "CHARGE!" post. That he sat around all night thinking up a way to belittle a group of people who aren't doing him any harm says more about him than any outside observation could.
Wow.
He's been reduced to mocking the Chen Arts Group in treading VERY lightly, "inside joke" posts nobody gets.
As if he could have gotten any smaller.
Charge.
Classic Passive Aggressive from a Most Deceitful "Man."
well lets see now, BOH troll prade flopped, he's too wussy to accept villa's invitation to fight like a man, and now he's so gun shy about another hijack shut-down of hbis presious blog (remember 9/29 :) charge that he's writing stuff against the villas in code. this ohare guys always hiding behind something isn't he
"Mayor Mike" and the neocon blog nazi terrorist he pals around with, Bernie O'Hare O'Mcall.
THIS SAYS IT ALL
I notice that it's never enough for OHare, Molivinski, Najarian, and AJ that Bill Villa does not comment at any of their blogs anymore. This is what they all wanted, right? This is why they created "The Troll Parade" blog, right? To scare Villa off. Okay, so he's gone. So what do they do....they they try to provoke him back by baiting him with criticism's of his wife's very successful arts group, CHEN. I see what's going on here and I would imagine that many others do too.
Okay, I really don't want to turn this into a discussion about O'Hater and company. CHARGE has taken action and done something for Allentown. He can mock it if he chooses, that just reflects badly on him, not Chen.
Charge!!!!
"We have decided to ignore their provocations." -Mrs. Dottie
Yep (but we greatly appreciate the efforts of all those obviously willing to wade in there and cuff 'em around for us from time to time ;) Thanks/Charge!
"That he sat around all night thinking up a way to belittle a group of people who aren't doing him any harm says more about him than any outside observation could." > Chris Casey
Amen. Let us go forth in peace.
Obviously, and sadly, he has no life.
The last word the Villas coined that OHare ridiculed, that is, "A-Quiver," has turned out to be true. Has anyone else noticed how ALL DISSENT AGAINST THE MORNING CALL HAS DISAPPEARED from our local bloggerspehere since the formerly dissenting bloggers became "honored" members of the "Valley Bloggersphere Tuesday at The Morning Call." Morning Call dissent: POOF! VILLA WAS RIGHT.
"Blogging Tuesday" is Morning Call and Glen Kranzley "dumb like fox" evil genius at it's best (or worst). Kranzley is the Lehigh Valley's version of Karl Rove. Pillsbury Doughboy with beard.
""A-Quiver" ... VILLA WAS RIGHT."
Thanks for noticing, and crediting, anon 2:19.
I've counted a grand total of two (2), really half-hearted (and with no follow-up) "swings" at The Morning Call since "Blogger Tuesday" started. One, a girly slap at MC managing editor Dave Erdman (w/no follow-up) and the other a faux beef about TMC being late on a story, and again, no follow-up. This from the keepers of the flame of truth and justice who brought you reams and reams of healthy and well-deserved dissent against the MC Forum, "Mr. A's" deplorable handling, the Kari Holmes case, heartless layoffs and firings at TMC, and my own vain attempts to secure a "Welcome Mat" meeting with The Morning Call Editorial Board to discuss DA Jim Martin's leniency towards "select/connected" drunk drivers who kill people after (now) 190 polite requests. Yep. POOF, indeed, went all MC dissent, with the introduction of "Blogger Tuesday."
Whatta bunch of phony sell-outs.
Betcha BernieO would agree to a fist fight with Sam Bennett!
Bet Sam whips his lard butt!
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