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PEER SESSION REPORT-CODA CONFERENCE
MAY 2004, New Orleans
Public Service Groups and Government Agencies
Session
participants: Lee Herrick, Conley Salyer, Becky Anderson, Cela
Burge, Nyree Ramsey, Paul Wilborn, Shirley Trusty Corey, and Fran
Redmon.
Discussion
centered around Lt. Governor’s remarks, and how CODA can get the
“Big Idea”. What are the themes that can become central to
CODA. CODA needs to develop its business sense.
The issue of
influencing public policy was discussed, and some examples of
programming mentioned:
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Paducah Artists Relocation Program
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Texas Craft Initiative
How can CODA use
it’s own creative abilities? How can we identify the people who can
serve as the connectors between CODA, our concerns, and those that
influence public policy? There has been growth of articulate
speakers in this arena (i.e. Richard Florida). How can CODA have a
face in the circles where these issues are discussed?
Spheres of
influence:
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National Governor’s association
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Stu Rosenfeld – Creative Clusters, CraftNet
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American Association of Museums
Note of warning,
groups are a little on the defensive to prove that creative
economies exist. Handmade in America has conducted a real estate
study, to show the amount of real estate creative industries occupy
in Asheville. Cape Charles used a goods and services model based on
ticket sales, etc.
There was
general discussion about how to knock down barriers and reach the
authorizing groups we need to connect with. There was
discussion of the issues faced when dealing with artists, and how to
better connect them to the business community, and methods for best
reaching artists, lessons learned from one-on-one counseling
experience in Kentucky and Louisiana. Discussion sprang from Nyree
Ramsey’s introduction and information she shared about what the
Mayor’s office of New Orleans is doing to support musicians.
Becky indicated
what the current new market trends are including medicine, tourism,
and housing. We have to be able to address current issues.
In summarizing
the discussion, group felt that since our work is labor intensive,
we needed some effort focused on getting to public policy makers.
We should
identify a champion, like Lt. Governor Landrieu that could bring a
think tank of these people together. Might involve leaders of 5
states that are focusing on connections between economic trends and
craft roles. A proposal could be submitted to the Cummings
Foundation, which addresses public policy and the arts.
Further
discussion ensued about how artists, as an industry sector, do not
have a support system that keys them into the trends, such as
housing market and retirement, and the new issues of design.
There is a need for a cross industry integration model.
There was
concern about how to keep this discussion going, and if CODA might
apply for a Rockefeller grant?
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