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Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News April 14, 2008 - Duluth, Superior full of surprises By: Jeanne Weymouth, for the Daily Tribune When I told people that I was going to Duluth in mid-March for a conference, I got the usual response: "Duluth? In March? Are you kidding? Take your sled dogs!" Hence, on the cold March morning that Jim and Marge Haas, Mary Olson and I (all members of the Arts and Heritage Cluster) set off for an arts conference in Duluth, we were excited about the prospect of learning, yet maybe somewhat intimidated by the thought that there could be even more snow in Duluth. After all, we were driving away from six-foot snow banks in Wisconsin Rapids; so how much worse would it be way up north? Surprise! The weather was balmy and the ground almost snow-free. And while we were pleasantly surprised by the weather, it's safe to say were simply enchanted by the speakers, artists and presentations that unfolded at the first ever "Art Works! Activating a Creative Economy" conference. Some highlighted thoughts from Art Works: • Elizabeth Curry, author of "The Warhol Economy: How Fashion, Music and Art Drive New York City" urged people to cross borders between business and art. For example, in Superior an old salvaged city hall building became a setting for a cluster of art studios. In time it became apparent that a "social aspect" was missing, so the artists invited a coffee-shop entrepreneur to join them. Now, the quaint coffee shop sports coffee mugs created by the local potter and promotes the art of the artists in the building. (It's the Red Mug, in Superior. Try to stop. It's a treat!) • Rob West, a president/CEO of the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion in Duluth said a beautiful thing: "Artists feed the souls of people I need to hire." How wonderful to recognize that all humans, in order to be healthy and invigorated, need exposure to the arts. • Linda Johnson, an artist from Portland, Ore., told us that she feels it's important to take art out in the public where "people can bump into it." • Virginia Willard, a business woman from Portland, said the bottom line is that arts and culture bring value: value that you can measure in dollars and cents, and immeasurable value when you see an increase in vitality in a community because of an active arts/culture scene. • Pam Kramer, an artist from Paducah, Ky., discussed a recent artist relocation program for this previously lackluster community of 26,000 people. After creating the program, more than 50 artists from all over the country came to settle and work in Paducah. In seven years, this effort has pumped $20 million into the local economy. • Tom Maguire, a planner from Santa Fe, discussed the concepts of cultural tourism versus creative tourism. Cultural tourism exists, for example, when tourists visit a community and eat at a local restaurant featuring local and special foods. In creative tourism, the tourists arrive ready to take workshops in order to learn how to cook local and indigenous foods. We encourage you to visit Superior/Duluth. You will also be pleasantly surprised if you haven't been there in a while. To find out more about the arts scene in Duluth, access the Duluth Art Institute web site for listings at www.duluthartinstitute.org. For Jim, Marge, Mary and me, this was an eye-opening get-away. Superior is making strides and is coming along in its efforts to become a destination for tourists and a home for artists. Duluth is definitely succeeding in recreating itself in the aftermath of boom and bust mining and shipping days. (And truly -- it's really quite lovely in March!) Jeanne Weymouth is a member of the Arts and Heritage Cluster.
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