From Rust Belt to Artists Belt

Tuesday, October 14, 8:00 am – 9:30 am
Cottonwood A, M1/Street Level

Organized by Deena Epstein, senior program officer, George Gund Foundation, with Tom Schorgl, Cleveland’s Community Partnership for Arts and Culture. Presented by Deena Epstein; Tom Schorgl; and Kristin Tarajack, fellow, Community Partnership for Arts and Culture

From Syracuse to Buffalo to Pittsburgh to Cleveland, older cities are looking at ways in which artists can help revitalize these communities and create a new vision for industrial America. Learn how communities are turning negatives (urban sprawl, foreclosed properties, vacant factories) into positives (affordable housing, unusual spaces and low cost of living)  and crafting strategies to attract the creative class. Tom Schorgl from Cleveland’s Community Partnership for Arts and Culture will share research done for a national conference his organization recently hosted on arts-based community development and lead a conversation based on the final draft of a white paper that explores both the opportunities and the challenges of this work.

The session will include a 10-15 minute overview of the material by Tom followed by discussion and reaction to the paper from GIA members.

Suggested Link:

Getting From Rust Belt to Artist Belt
From Rust Belt to Artists Belt: An Analysis of the Challenges and Opportunities
Found in Rust Belt Cities