Six Iowa Great Places participating in "Iowa 2020" program
Cedar River Valley, Fairfield, Hamilton/Webster counties, Spencer, Turkey River Corridor and Villages of Van Buren
For Immediate Release November 23, 2010
(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Six Iowa Great Places have been selected to participate in a new program designed to redefine and revitalize the role of the cultural arts in their communities.
Cedar River Valley, Fairfield, Hamilton/Webster counties, Spencer, Turkey River Corridor and Villages of Van Buren will participate in “Iowa 2020,” a two-year program developed by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Arts Midwest to transform the cultural arts into an engine of creativity and to strengthen its role in their communities. Arts Midwest is a non-profit regional arts organization headquartered in Minneapolis that serves audiences, arts organizations and artists in nine Midwestern states.
“The six Great Places were chosen to participate based on their willingness to adapt to the changing dynamics of 21st century life in the Midwest,” DCA Director Cyndi Pederson said. “I encourage community leaders and stakeholders in each of these Great Places to become involved in this program.”
Creative economy advocate and acclaimed classical guitarist Robert Bluestone of Santa Fe, N.M., will facilitate the “Iowa 2020” program. In the next few weeks, Bluestone will conduct site tours, meet community leaders and visit cultural arts organizations in each of the six participating Great Places. He will follow up the one-day visits next year with residencies in each Great Place.
As the program unfolds, a diverse group of stakeholders will be invited to participate in a community-wide visioning process that strengthens relationships among constituent groups, including schools, school boards, city councils, service groups, libraries, churches, youth groups, veterans groups, businesses, law enforcement, health care professionals, and leaders from arts, historic and cultural organizations.
Their goal will be to elevate the role of the cultural arts above and beyond entertainment value and transform it into an engine of creativity that supports businesses, attracts new shoppers and tourists, and helps to establish vitality, energy and a positive message about the community.
Ultimately, the program aims to establish a creative culture in communities that keeps existing businesses from closing or leaving, and attracts and retains professionals in the medical, educational and creative industries.
The “Iowa 2020” site tour and meeting schedule for Bluestone and DCA’s Iowa Great Places staff follows:
Date: Monday, Nov. 29, 2010
Iowa Great Place: Hamilton/Webster counties
Meeting site: Iowa Central Community College, Bio Science and Health Science Building
Address: 1 Triton Circle, Fort Dodge, Iowa
Time: 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Contact: Cheryl O’Hern, 515-573-1249
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010
Iowa Great Place: Spencer
Meeting site: Spencer Community Theatre
Address: 518 1st Avenue East, Spencer, Iowa
Time: TBA
Contact: Connie Goeken, 712-262-7336
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010
Iowa Great Place: Turkey River Corridor
Meeting site: Elkader Opera House
Address: 207 North Main Street, Elkader
Time: TBA
Contact: Roger Thomas, 563-245-2770
Date: Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
Iowa Great Place: Cedar River Valley
Meeting site: Waterloo Center for the Arts
Address: 225 Commercial Street, Waterloo
Time: TBA
Contact: Contact Cammie Scully, 319-291-4490
Date: Friday, Dec. 3, 2010
Iowa Great Place: Villages of Van Buren
Contact: Contact Ken Burns, 319-592-3700, for meeting site, address and time
Date: Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010
Iowa Great Place: Fairfield
Meeting site: Sondheim Center
Address: 200 North Main Street, Fairfield
Time: TBA
Contact: Ron Blair, 641-919-2171 or Ed Malloy, 641-472-8421
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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state’s interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.
